Asparagus family. Homeland from southern America to the southern states of the United States. Agaves belong to the subfamily of agaves belonging to the family of asparagus (asparagus) (Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 161 (2): 132-136, 2009) There are more than 200 species in the genus.
Agaves are perennial, very beautiful ornamental plants, but most species, due to their large size, are only suitable for flower beds and flower gardens in the southern regions. In indoor conditions, dwarf forms or only young plants are grown.
The most common types of agave
Agave americana is one of the most popular species, introduced to Europe in the 16th century, and since then has been very popular in the Mediterranean countries. The plant has large gray-green or bluish-gray belt-like leaves, in favorable conditions often reaching a length of 1-1.5 m, with sharp spines, in natural conditions reaches a diameter of 2-3 m. Along the edges of the leaf are straight or slightly curved strong brown teeth. The upper side of the leaf is flat, the lower is convex. The inflorescence is a huge apical panicle, in large specimens 10 m or more high, bearing more than 10 thousand flowers. The flowers are yellowish, up to 7 cm in diameter. It is believed that it blooms once a hundred years. In fact, it blooms once in a lifetime, around the age of 15, the peduncle carries numerous flowers in a panicle or brush, then after flowering the plant gradually dies, forming offspring used for reproduction. The forms of this species differ mainly in the color of the leaves: Agave americana marginata - leaves with bright yellow edges; Agave americana mediopicta - leaves with a longitudinal central wide yellow stripe. Due to their size and sharp spines, they are unsuitable for a small room.
Agave attenuata is very beautiful - also a large plant with leaves devoid of sharp spikes (just slightly serrated, like a yucca leaf edge) and a very beautiful shape. The leaves can be green or sizo-green, an almost blue hue. And racemose inflorescences reach a length of 3 m, bending and bending in an arc to the ground.
Agave "Queen Victoria" Agave victoriae-reginae is usually recommended for cultivation as a houseplant. It has a significantly smaller rosette than the previous species, more or less regular spherical in shape. The leaves are very stiff, narrowly triangular or lanceolate, 10-20 cm long, 3-6 cm wide with a short brown stiff point at the apex. Thin white stripes run along the edges of the leaf, which are relatively easily peeled off by white fibers.
Agave filamentous Agave filifera is also suitable for growing in the room, the raised leaves of which up to 30 cm long at the ends have, as it were, dried threads. Agave small-flowered Agave parviflora - a compact plant also has threads at the ends of the leaves.
Agaves are generally undemanding plants. Despite the fact that a cool temperature would be very desirable for them in winter, do not give up this plant, they can overwinter at ordinary room temperatures, but at the same time they need a lot of light. In addition, agaves, growing (in width), take up a lot of space and it is worth making sure that they have enough space on the windowsill.
Agave care
Temperature
In summer, an ordinary room, it is advisable to take the plants out into the fresh air into the garden or onto the balcony, but at first under shade, gradually moving the pots closer to the sun.
In winter, or rather from the end of autumn, with a reduction in daylight hours, agaves must be kept in much cooler conditions. Ideally, they should winter at 6-8 ° C, but not higher than 10 ° C. Otherwise, illumination is necessary.
Lighting
The lighting should be bright, there is no need for shading. The window sill of the south window is best. In summer, it is advisable to keep agaves in the sun outdoors. In winter, when there is little light, agaves stretch out and lose their appeal if they do not have enough light. Therefore, in winter, the brightest place is especially needed, additional illumination, if necessary, is carried out using fluorescent lamps.
Watering
In summer, the plants are watered moderately, but regularly, the soil between watering should have time to dry well. In winter, watering depends on the temperature of the content, the colder, the less often, the soil should dry out completely. Water for watering should be used soft (settled and boiled) and make sure that water does not fall into the axils of the leaves. Otherwise, ugly gray or brown spots form on the leaves. Agave tolerates overdrying well, but it can easily rot from waterlogging.
Air humidity
Agave does not need spraying, it tolerates dry air and heat well.
Fertilizer
Every year from March to August, every three to four weeks, they are fed with fertilizer for cacti or succulents.
Flight connections
Young agaves are transplanted annually, adults every 2-3 years, which gives lush plants over the years. The soil is the 3 part of clay-turf, the 1 part of leaf and the 1 part of coarse river sand. In the soil mixture for agave, it will be useful to add brick crumbs (broken red brick) and pieces of birch coals. Drainage to the bottom of the pot is mandatory.
Agave reproduction
Agave is propagated by seeds, cuttings and branches. Agave can be propagated by rooting the leaf.
Agave seeds can be sown as early as February. Into plates in a mixture of sheet or peat land and sand. Seal to a depth of about half a centimeter. Germination temperature 22-24 ° C, uniform wetting. To prevent the soil from drying out quickly, it is better to place the plate in a bag (regularly ventilated) or sow it in a room greenhouse. Seedlings appear during the week. If the seed (fetal) shell does not peel off for a long time, you need to help it - wet and carefully remove, otherwise the leaves may be curved.
Growing problems
Most often, agaves suffer from a lack of light in winter - while the leaves grind, the plant stretches out. In a properly grown plant, the leaves sit tightly against each other on the stem. With a lack of lighting, the stem stretches and the leaves appear at a certain distance from each other, this spoils the plant.
Stem and root rot - agaves often suffer, at low temperatures and high soil moisture. If in winter agaves are kept cool, then watering is very rare. In summer, decay can begin if there is no drainage in the pot and, moreover, a drainage hole, and watering is plentiful. With an excess of watering, the leaves are made soft, pale and drooping, at this moment the rot of the roots begins. Agaves will more easily tolerate a lack of moisture, like all succulent plants, than its excess.