Agave
Agave (Latin from Greek Agáve. Αγαυε – name of the daughter of Cadmus, Pentheus mother) – genus of plants of the family Agavovye (Agavaceae).
Motherland from South America to the southern U.S. states.
Very beautiful ornamental plants, but most species because of their large size suitable for decoration only flower beds and flower gardens. At room conditions grow dwarf forms or only the young plants. In a culture more than 50 species of agaves.
The most common types:
Century plant – Agave americana
The large gray-green or bluish-gray leaves remnevidnye, under favorable conditions, often reaching lengths of 1-1.2 m, with sharp spines, in the Caucasus reaches a diameter of 2-3 m. The edges of the sheet straight or slightly curved teeth of strong brown . The upper side of the sheet is flat, the lower convex. Inflorescence – a huge apical brush, in large specimens a height of 10 m or more, carrying more than 10 thousand flowers. The flowers are yellowish, up to 7 cm in diameter. It is believed that it blooms once every hundred years. In fact, blooms once in a lifetime, about 15 years of age, stems with numerous flowers in panicles or brush, then after the flowering plant gradually dies to form offspring that are used for breeding. Forms of this species differ mainly in the color of the leaves: A. marginata – leaves with bright yellow edges; A.mediopicta – leaves with wide yellow longitudinal center stripe. Because of their size and sharp thorns, they are unsuitable for a small room.
Agave “Queen Victoria” – Agave victoriae-reginae, virtual desktops.
Her outlet is much smaller than the preceding species, more or less regular spherical shape. The leaves are very rigid, narrowly triangular or lanceolate, 10-20 cm long, 3-6 cm wide, with short brown stiff tip to tip. Along the edges of the sheet are thin, white stripes, which are relatively easy to peel off the white fibers.
Ahava – not very demanding plants. Despite the fact that in the winter for them would be welcome very cool temperatures, we should not abandon this plant, they can overwinter in normal room temperatures, but they need a lot of light. In addition, Agave, growing (in width), occupy a lot of space and need to be concerned about the fact that they have enough space on the windowsill.
Temperature: Winter agave thrive at temperatures that we have been able to move only in winter coats, 4-10 ° C. The rest of the year the temperature is normal.
Lighting: Lighting should be bright, pritenenie not necessary. Would be the best southern window sill. In summer it is desirable to keep the agave in the sun outdoors. In winter, when little light agave stretch and lose their appeal if they do not have enough light. Therefore, especially in winter need the light place.
Watering the plants watered summer moderately but regularly. In general, winter watering depends on the temperature of the contents – if the plant is found in cool conditions – up to 10 ° C, the rare watering – weekly, so that the soil did not dry up completely. If you can not keep the agave cool conditions in winter, and it is contained at a temperature near room temperature or higher, more frequent watering – 2-3 times a week. Thus, the soil should dry out in winter, but do not dry up completely.
Fertilizer: Every year from May to August every three to four weeks feed fertilizer for cacti or succulents.
Transplanting: Transplanted agave young annually, adults every 2-3 years, giving over the years, lush plant. Soil – 3 parts of clay and turf, a part of the leaf and a large part of river sand. Drainage is required.
