Among the list of popular houseplants, agave is very often found, surprising by the way its bloom looks in combination with fleshy leaves. This guest came to us from the dry regions of North and Central America. In natural habitat it grows to 4-5 m in diameter and blooms. From the rhizome appears a long flower spike (up to 10 m) on which there is a large number of small flowers collected in the inflorescence.
But not all of its species are grown at home. To do this, only fit the short: American, whitish, threaded, Queen Victoria, drawn, Funk and pale yellow. In this article we will consider the peculiarities of agave care as an indoor plant, and you will learn how it can be used for the benefit of a person.
Planting and caring for agave
Agave is a succulent , living long enough (longer than 50 years), provided it creates optimal conditions for growing.
- Location. Since this flower is very photophilic, so it can be placed on the southern window even without shading. But you should carefully monitor that water does not remain on the leaves. Since the agave will get burns during direct rays of the sun on them. At the end of spring, it is best to take a flower pot with fresh air, a balcony or a front garden.
- Temperature regime. Agave is a thermophilic plant. Proceeding from this, that she felt comfortable, in the summer in the room where she is, should be + 20-25 °, and in winter - not below + 8 °.
- The soil. For planting agave, you need a nitrogen-poor land. Make the necessary substrate can be from leaf land, clay-turf and coarse sand, taken in the proportion 1: 3: 1. An obligatory condition is laying on the bottom of the drainage system's capacity, to prevent an overabundance of moisture.
- Watering. In summer, the flower is recommended to water sparingly 3 times a week, and in winter - 1 time. For this, only warm water is taken. When watering it is important that the liquid does not fall on the outlet itself. Sprinkle agave is absolutely not necessary.
- Top dressing. During the period of active growth (in spring and summer) it is recommended to apply fertilizer for cacti every 2 weeks. When planting in the prepared substrate, add superphosphate or bone meal.
- Transfer. For a young agave to be fluffy, it should be transplanted annually, and adults - in 3 years. When planting, you can not greatly deepen the neck of the plant. In this case, it can corrupt, and the flower will die.
- Pest control. Agave is susceptible to damage by scab and mealy worms. To combat them, you should simply rinse every 5 days with soapy water or a solution of boric acid.
On the tips of the leaves of this plant are very often located sharp spikes. In order not to injure them, it is recommended that they be carefully trimmed. But it should be borne in mind that then the plant will grow faster in width.
Reproduction of agave
Agave breeding can be done in several ways:
- children . Only after the death of the mother plant;
- root offspring or rosettes . Not suitable for all flower types;
- cuttings . To do this, the sheet is cut off, the cut site is dried and planted immediately in a substrate or sand;
- seeds . Not widely used method.
Using Agave
In addition, that agave is used to decorate residential
Blue agave, despite the fact that it is not a cactus, but succulent, is used in Mexico for making tequila. They grow it on large plantations in the mountainous regions of this country.
For medicinal purposes, agave juice obtained from its leaves and cores is used.
Due to the chemical elements and compounds contained in it, it helps in the treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, such as colitis or Crohn's disease.