Agave is native to the hot and arid regions of Mexico and the Southwestern United States. Some species are also native to tropical areas of South America. Agaves were introduced to Europe in the second half of the 16th century and quickly spread as exotic ornamental plants. In the countries of the Mediterranean and on the Black Sea coast of the Crimea and the Caucasus, they are grown in open ground, in temperate and northern latitudes, as hothouse and indoor plants.
Agave also called as Century plant, is a genus of the Asparagaceae family. This genus was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753.
IDENTIFY AGAVE PLANT
Agave is native to the hot and arid regions of Mexico and the Southwestern United States. Some species are also native to tropical areas of South America. Agaves were introduced to Europe in the second half of the 16th century and quickly spread as exotic ornamental plants. In the countries of the Mediterranean and on the Black Sea coast of the Crimea and the Caucasus, they are grown in open ground, in temperate and northern latitudes, as hothouse and indoor plants.
They are perennial stemless plants, only a small number of species form short woody trunks with the leaves are collected in the basal rosette, often very large, fleshy, solid, wide or narrow, the top of the leaf ends with an styloid solid tip, most species have strong curved or straight spikes on the edges of the leaves. Leaf color is gray, green, bluish-green, in some species yellow or white stripes are drawn along the edges of the leaves, or whitish yarns split off from the edges. The leaves are covered with a thick wax coating.
Blooming agave is a wonderful and rare sight. On a huge, up to 10 m peduncle, an inflorescence is formed in the form of an ear or a panicle with thousands of yellowish funnel-shaped flowers. It blooms once in 10-15 years in natural conditions; in gardens with a tub culture - on the 20-30th year of life; after flowering, the plant dies, leaving numerous root suckers.
Agaves are mainly used as ornamental plants in the design of winter gardens, interiors, expositions in greenhouses and open ground. Large plants are less suitable for rooms, but there are species that are small in size and slow to grow.
Some common species and hybrids of this genus: Agave americana; Agave striata; Agave attenuata; Agave stricta; Agave victoria-reginae; Agave toumeyana; Agave parrasana; Agave lurida; Agave potatorum; Agave horrida; Agave funckiana.
AGAVE PLANT CARE AND CULTURE
Cultural information should only be used as a guide, and should be to be adapted to suit you. Your physical location; where you grow your plants, how much time you have to devote to their care, and many other factors, will need to be taken into account. Only then can you decide on the cultural methods that best suit you and your plants.
Light:
All members of the Agave genus are very unpretentious plants. They prefer direct sun without shading even at the hottest noon. Still, the plant does not do well near sources of high reflection, such as white colored concrete from sidewalks or mirrored materials such as windows. They can be grown without sunlight using LB lamps for 16 hours per day.
Temperature:
Agave need the moderate temperature from spring to autumn. In winter (October-February), resistant species are kept at a temperature of 6-8 ° С, and thermophilic at 10-12 ° С.
Substrate and growing media:
The soil is not demanding, they are often grown on poor sandy and rocky lands. The best for it are dry, well-drained and sandy soil. A substrate mixture of equal parts of turf leaves and sand is recommended.
Transplant the plants in the spring, only when it is really necessary. Young plants are transplanted first annually, then in 2-3 years, and adult specimens - only when the tub or pot becomes small.
When planting, do not deepen the neck of the plant: it should rise slightly above the soil level. Sand can be poured around the root of the plant's neck, in order to avoid rotting during the winter period.
Watering:
Although agave plants are desert plants and highly drought tolerant once established, many thrive on consistent watering throughout their lives. They are watered moderately in the summer, the room should be aired, does not need spraying. in the winter they rarely try to prevent water from getting into the outlet of the plant, they do not need spraying.
Rest period:
In winter, these plants need a rest period with sparse watering, air temperature - 8-10 ° C. High temperature and abundant watering can lead to the death of the plant.
Propagation:
Agaves are propagated by seeds and offspring. Seeds are sown in February-March at a depth of 0.5-1 cm. At a temperature of 20-25 ° C, seeds germinate within 5-7 days. 15-20 days after the first leaf appears, the second leaf develops, after 20 days the third leaf develops, which in two weeks reaches 8 cm long. and 1.5 cm wide. By this time, the third adventitious root appears. After 2-3 weeks, the fourth sheet is shown and an outlet is already formed; shortened underground stem reaches 1-1.5 cm in diameter. Shortly after the fourth sheet, the fifth one appears.
Agaves are also propagated by offspring, by separating them; there should be one knot on each separated piece. The cut pieces are dried (2-3 hours), and then they are sprinkled with charcoal powder and planted in sand at a temperature of 20° C. Separated offsprings are planted in pots. The composition of the earth mixture is as follows: turf, leaf, sand (1: 1: 1 h). After planting, watering plants start in 2-3 days. In the summer with young plants, it is advisable to make in the greenhouse. In the first year of vegetation, young agaves form 4-6 leaves, in the second - 7-9, in the third - 10-12 leaves.
BUY AGAVE PLANT AND RELATED PRODUCTS
SOME SPECIES AND VARIETIES OF AGAVE WITH CARE TIPS AND CULTURE SHEET:
- Agave albopilosa - The White Hair Agave
- Agave americana - Century plant - Maguey or American aloe
- Agave applanata - Gray Agave - Gray Century Plant
- Agave asperrima - Rough Agave
- Agave attenuata - Lion's Tail Agave - Swan's Neck Agave - Fox Tail Agave
- Agave avellanidens - Calmalli Agave
- Agave boldinghiana
- Agave Desert Diamond - Desert Diamond Agave
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