The most common type of agave is the American one. Its homeland is Mexico, named after the agave (in the translation "the place of the agave").
The house plant of agave is a perennial plant with a very short stalk or its complete absence. Large fleshy leaves are collected in a neat rosette rosette, firm to the touch and with spines at the ends and sides of the leaves. The leaves can be of different colors from gray, green, to bluish shades. In some varieties of agave, the leaves have white or yellow threads and stripes along the edges. The surface of the leaves is covered with a thick waxy coating.
Agave is a plant that blooms only once, after which it immediately dies. When flowering, the plant throws out a huge flower stalk (up to 10 m), on which the inflorescence-colossus is located by thousands of small funnel-shaped flowers of yellowish color. In the flowering process, numerous root offspring are formed, which replace the dying plant.
In our latitude the agave is known as an ornamental-deciduous plant, which is used in the design of flower beds, gardens and parks with flowers, as well as in the greening of winter gardens and large rooms. As an indoor plant, agave is rare.
As a pot plant, those varieties of agave are used, which differ in their small size and small growth for the year. The agave plant reproduces well by growths, which are fairly easy to take root. Reproduction is also produced by seeds, offspring, which form at the very base of the trunk. The offspring is initially trimmed and allowed to dry a little bit of the cut, then planted in a nursery. The best for growth are unshaded, bright and sunny places. Plants like moderate watering. In winter, plants should be kept in a cool and dry place, where there is a lot of light. With a lack of daylight, a light day is artificially lengthened. Watering is very mild.
Location. Agave belongs to the category of unpretentious plants. She feels great even in the hottest days in the sun, grows well in the penumbra. So the nutrient soil for this plant type consists of large river sand and vegetable humus. This mixture is thoroughly mixed and wetted. At the bottom of the pot, drainage should be poured (it is best to use broken brick and pottery shards). When planting it is necessary to make sure that the neck of the plant is not cut off, otherwise the plant will rot in this place and eventually die. The cervix should rise about 1, 5-2 cm. Plants that do not reach a height of 15 cm are transplanted annually. Once this size is achieved, the transplant is performed once every few years.
Care. In summer, the plant is watered fairly moderately, make sure that the soil dries slightly, try not to transfuse the plant. In winter, watering is done about once a month. The plant is often not sprayed, the best combination for sprinkling is foliar top dressing (in summer). For this, a solution of the "Buton" preparation is used, which is diluted in a ratio of 1 g per liter of water. For better adhesion of the solution to the leaves of the plant, ch. liquid soap, it is best to use soap without any flavoring additives.
This houseplant is sensitive to top dressing, which should be done regularly (not more often 2-3 times a month). Nitrofosc (L) and liquid "Sodium Humate" (st.l), "Agricola" for decorative cultures (tsp) and liquid fertilizer "Ross", art. l. ). All fertilizers are recommended to alternate. From what will be chosen the approach to root top dressing depends on the strength and stagnancy of the plant. For watering and top-dressing, the settled water of room temperature is used. Do not pour cold water, you risk forever ruining your pet.
Pests. Like all plants, the agave is attacked by pests and suffers from disease. The main enemies of the agave are spider mite, aphid and scab. In the fight against them using drugs such as: "Iskra" (take 1/10 tablets per half-liter of water). And against the scabbard, the drug "Aktara" is effective, which is diluted in a ratio of 1g to 5 liters of ordinary water.