Agave (Agave) is a succulent plant from the Agave family. The flower is found both in the American continent and in the Mediterranean and India.
Numerous agave species vary in size. There are miniature varieties up to 30 cm in height and two-meter giants. Agave has an average growth rate, but it can bloom only in natural conditions. Moreover, it belongs to the number of unpretentious perennials and therefore is very often found in home floriculture.
As a succulent, agave has fleshy leaves collected in a rosette. At the same time, thorns are located at the edges or at the top of the leaf. The stem of the plant is almost invisible in most cases.
Description of agave
Agave belongs to perennial, stemless, rosette plants, and is considered the closest relative of aloe, cacti and haworthia.
The very name agauos was given in honor of the daughter of the mythical Greek king, which translated means - glorious, noble, magnificent, worthy of surprise. The people dubbed the plant an agave, thinking that flowering occurs once every 100 years. There are some agave varieties that really bloom so rarely, but there are also those that give flowers for the fifteenth year of life in natural conditions, at home this period is doubled.
Blooming agave is an amazing sight. The flower of some species rises to the sky almost ten meters in height and resembles a yellow panicle. It is a pity that after flowering, the agave dies. Some species instead of flowers give offspring with roots on the inflorescence, which can then take root on their own.
The plant is used for landscaping premises, winter gardens, as well as decorating parks, flower beds.
Features of agave
Agave is not only a beautiful but also a useful home flower. It is capable of releasing phytoncides, disinfecting the air and removing part of the harmful microflora from it. The ability of this plant to purify the home atmosphere is so great that the air in the apartment becomes almost as clean as in the forest. At the same time, planting agave is also able to scare off harmful insects.
Parts of the plant are also used for production. Dense fibers are obtained from the leaves, suitable for making ropes and nets. The waste is used to make tissue paper. The aerial parts of the agave are considered edible. So from the juice of the plant, syrup, vinegar, as well as some alcoholic beverages, including tequila, are obtained.
Brief rules for growing agave
To grow agave at home, you need to know the basic requirements of this plant. The table shows brief rules for caring for agave at home.
| Lighting level | Direct and very bright sunlight is required. The flower feels great on the southern windows. |
| Content temperature | The temperature in summer should not fall below +16 degrees, while the flower tolerates the heat calmly. In winter, the optimal interval will be from +10 to +17 degrees. |
| Watering mode | The plant is very drought-resistant, in summer it is watered regularly, but not abundantly, and in winter - once in a long period. |
| Air humidity | The humidity level should be lowered. |
| The soil | Usually, heavy, but moisture-permeable, purchased soil is used for planting agave. You can add some sand to it. The optimum acidity should be about 7. You can make the soil mixture yourself, for example, by mixing 3 parts of sand (perlite) with 2 parts of humus and garden soil. Lime, shells or bone meal are added to the resulting mixture. Only pots with drainage holes are suitable for planting. |
| Top dressing | Soluble fertilizers are preferred. To maintain the health of the plant, you need to carry out at least two dressings: in the middle of spring and summer. |
| Transfer | A transplant is necessary depending on the growth rate of the agave. Slow-growing ones move when they reach one year of age, fast-growing ones - every few months. A new pot can be 3-4 cm larger than the previous one. In the future, transplants are carried out every 2 or 3 years. |
| Pruning | No pruning needed. |
| Bloom | At home, agave practically does not bloom. |
| Dormant period | The plant rests in autumn and winter. |
| Reproduction | Agave propagates by offspring or seeds. The first method is considered the most common. The offspring are planted in wet sand and put in the shade, periodically spraying. Plants obtained from seeds develop very slowly, but some species can only reproduce in this way. |
| Features of the | Low-growing agave species can be grown hydroponically. Variegated forms grow especially slowly. |
| Pests | Spider mite, scale insect. |
| Diseases | Major plant diseases due to care errors. |
Agave care at home
Despite the general unpretentiousness, the beauty of agave leaves largely depends on the observance of the conditions of care necessary for it.
Planting (sowing)
Not all flower varieties are suitable for indoor cultivation. Usually the smallest ones are preferred. Most often, three varieties of agave can be found in apartments:
- Small-flowered (rosette up to 25 cm);
- Filamentous (leaves up to 30 cm long);
- Queen Victoria (rosette up to 40 cm).
If agave is grown from seeds, it is recommended to start sowing them in the spring. The optimal period is February or March. The seeds are buried by 0.5-1 cm, the container with them is covered with glass and kept in a warm place, periodically ventilated. At a temperature of about +23 degrees, the first shoots may appear within a week. In a couple of months, a rosette can already form in the sprout, and the size of the stem under the ground will reach 1.5 cm. Until the plants are six months old, they are kept in diffused light. Then they gradually begin to be exposed to the bright sun during the day and in the evening. One year old seedlings can be in the sun for a full day.
When placed in a pot, the root collar of the agave should be above the soil level. It is impossible to deepen it - the flower may begin to rot. At the same time, the earth around the plant is not compacted so that more oxygen flows to the roots. As a preventive measure, you can sprinkle the area around the neck with sand or surround with stones for additional fixation.
Illumination
For agave, very bright lighting is preferable, therefore it is advised to keep it on windows in the south or southeast direction. At the same time, small plants try to shade a little: direct rays can leave burns on the leaves. After keeping in the shade, any agave should be taught to light gradually.
So that in winter the flower does not reach for the light and does not stretch in length, losing the decorative effect of the leaves, it is placed in the most illuminated place or artificial lighting is used.
Temperature
In the summer, the flower is recommended to be kept at a temperature of 20 to 29 degrees. In warm weather, the plant can be transferred to the air or even planted in the front garden. The heat is not terrible for the flower, but if there is no way to transfer it to the street, it is recommended to ventilate the room with the agave more often.
In winter, agave rests and can stay cool. At this time, the plant is best kept at a temperature of about +10 degrees, some species grow well in slightly cooler rooms and can even tolerate slight frosts.
Watering mode
In spring and summer, homemade agave is watered regularly, but not very abundantly. For a growing specimen, 2-3 times a week will be enough. In winter, especially on cool days, watering is reduced to a minimum. When moistening the soil in a pot, you need to try so that drops do not fall on the leaves - stagnating there, water can lead to the development of diseases.
You can water the flower only with warm and well-settled water. After each watering, it is necessary to wait for a slight drying out of the soil.
Air humidity
Indoor agave calmly tolerates dry air (about 40%) and does not need special spraying. If the plant is grown outdoors, it should be placed in an area protected from heavy rainfall.
Household agave leaves can be periodically cleaned of dust, which slows down the process of photosynthesis.
Pot selection
Agave is easiest to grow in ordinary pots, whose diameter is approximately equal to their height. For certain types, wide and low containers are suitable. The root system of a flower grows most actively in the first years of its life, therefore, for young plants, pots will have to be selected "with a margin". An adult agave almost does not change the size of the root system; in the case of transplantation, a pot of the same displacement can be used for it.
The soil
Agave is undemanding to the soil, in its natural environment it grows on sandy and rocky ground. For its cultivation, a universal soil for cacti, palms or yucca is suitable. In the case of self-preparation, you can take 3 parts of sod-clay soil and part of coarse sand and lime. Charcoal or bone meal is sometimes added to the resulting mixture. In this case, the soil will become more fertile and additionally disinfected.
It is imperative to use drainage, its layer should be at least 2-3 cm. Sometimes brick chips are added to the upper part of the finished soil mixture in order to improve the quality of the substrate.
Top dressing
You can feed indoor agave only during its growth. Fertilizers can be applied up to 2 times a month. At the same time, it is important to select compositions without an excess of nitrogen: its excess will have a bad effect on the health of the plant, the foliage may grow too much and the flower will get sick. You can use specialized formulations for succulents or cacti. In winter, the plant is not fed.
Transfer
Agave is transplanted as its root system grows, if the plant has ceased to fit in the old pot. Usually this procedure is performed every 2 or 3 years. For small specimens under 4 years old, this will have to be done more often, moving them to a larger pot once a year. Plants obtained from seeds are first placed in pots with a diameter of up to 6 cm, after a year they are moved to 8 cm ones.
It is best to transplant in the spring. After completing the procedure, the flower should spend some time in partial shade.
Pruning
Agave does not need pruning.
Bloom
At home, it is very rare to admire the flowers of agave. During this period, the plant forms panicle inflorescences with a large number of small funnel-shaped flowers. They are colored yellow or reddish. Due to their gradual opening, the flowering period can last for several months.
In its natural environment, agave blooms no earlier than the 10th or even 15th year. In indoor conditions, only specimens at least 20 years old can bloom.At the same time, the flowering agave forms fruits - boxes with dark seeds folded in bunches, and then dies, leaving behind many basal processes.
Dormant period
The plant rests in autumn and winter. At this time, it can be kept in a cool room, where the temperature is low above zero. During this period, the agave does not need to be watered. The exception is when the room is too warm and the soil in the pot dries out very quickly.
Agave breeding methods
Agave can be propagated in three ways: by offspring, cuttings and seeds.
With the help of the offspring
The plant can form offspring at the base of the trunk. For reproduction, they are separated with a sharp instrument and the cut site is dried. The place of separation should be treated with charcoal powder.
Prepared offspring are planted in a container with wet sand or other light soil. Such landings do not need shelter. After a couple of days, the seedlings can be watered a little. Until the offspring have taken root, this process is rarely carried out and act very carefully, trying not to wash out the soil.
Cuttings
Usually it is done during plant transplantation. Cuttings are cut from the rhizome, trying to each have at least one bud. They are dried for several hours, and then additionally sprinkled with charcoal. Delenki are placed in a sand pot. Periodically, they need to be watered with lukewarm, settled water. In the first year of life, up to 6 leaves are formed on such a seedling, by the third year their number increases to 12.
In nature, agaves tend to propagate by seed. This process is considered the longest, but some species (for example, Queen Victoria's agave) can only reproduce in this way.
Pests and diseases
Agave can be affected by pests or sore. The causes of problems with a plant can usually be judged by its appearance.
- Yellowing of leaves may be due to a lack of micronutrients, as well as poor lighting, little watering, or too hot weather, especially at night.
- If a foliage turns yellow at the edges, the reason may be overdrying of the soil or an excess of calcium.
- Complete yellowing of the aboveground part plants can indicate both a number of problems (overdrying or overflow, excessively dense and unsuitable soil for the plant), and preparation for the winter dormant period.
- Withering leaves or dropping them abruptly - lack of moisture or incorrect temperature of the content, especially in winter.
- If the agave is covered with cobwebs, the spider mite may be the culprit. In addition to it, the plant can be harmed by scabies. You can get rid of small lesions with the help of folk remedies, wiping the leaves of the flower with soap or alcohol solution for several days. It is better to treat heavily affected areas with an insecticide.
The main types of room agave with a photo
American agave (Agave americana)
A non-blooming species, in natural conditions capable of reaching three meters in height. Ornamental varieties suitable for indoor cultivation are more compact. The species is notable for its large striped foliage with jagged edges.
Popular varieties:
- Mediopicta with light yellow stripes along the leaf;
- Mediopicta Alba - with a white stripe.
Queen Victoria's Agave (Agave victoriae-reginae)
Creates a small spherical rosette of dense rigid leaves up to 12 cm long. On the upper side, the green foliage is covered with bright white stains. There is a thorn at the top of each leaf. Young plants of this species should be protected from direct sun. At the same time, adults grow up calmly in bright light, and in winter they are able to endure frosts down to -7 degrees.
Agave attenuata
A large perennial with a stem up to 1.5 m in size. The leaves are thin, reaching 70 cm in length and painted gray-green. The edges of the leaf blades are smooth, there are no thorns on them. During the flowering period, a large peduncle with small flowers of a light yellow color is formed on the plant.
Agave filifera (Agave filifera)
A common species, notable for the presence of hairs on the edge of the leaves. They form a tight ball-shaped rosette. Each leaf has an oblong shape and is pointed upwards. The length of the leaves reaches 20 cm. The species can form numerous offspring with their own roots, which are convenient to use for reproduction. In winter, the plant can be kept at temperatures from +4 degrees.
Drunkard agave (Agave potatorum)
A small plant with spatulate foliage. On the edges of the leaf blades, denticles and spines are located, which have a different color (usually red). It has a slow growth rate.
