Agave (Agave) is a succulent plant with a rosette of thick leaves, as a rule, there are thorns along the edges of the leaves. Plants with fleshy leaves are called succulent plants, in which moisture can be stored. The birthplace of agave is Central America, where some types of agave are used as raw materials for tequila production. Agave blooms once every 10 to 25 years, after which the plant dies.
Agave American ‘Marginata’ (Agave americana ‘Mediopicta’)
Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com Digigalos
The leaf color of agave is extremely varied. The most popular American agave “Marginata” (Agave americana “Marginata”), it has green leaves with yellow stripes, serrate at the edges, reaching 1 – 1,3 m in length with age. The variety “Mediopicta” (Agave americana “Mediopicta”) has cream leaves with green edges. Due to its large size, American agave is more suitable for conservatories and office spaces than for apartments. An interesting look in the filamentous agave (Agave filifera), in which the leaves about 30 cm long are raised up, and thin hairs hang down from their tips. Queen Victoria’s agave (Agave victoriae-reginae) is well suited for growing in apartments, it has dark green triangular leaves with a white border and black spines, the plant height is about 15 cm.A very colorful, but rarely found type of agave – agave parrasana (Agave parassana ), its blue-gray leaves with bright red thorns are immediately striking. The filaments on the leaves and compact size are also found in small-flowered agave (Agave parviflora). Agave narrow-leaved “Marginata” (Agave angustifilia “Marginata”) forms a rosette of narrow 70-100 cm long green leaves with white stripes, which have small teeth at the edges. In addition, on sale you can find such types of agave as Agave attenuata, Agave striata, Agave perrine, Agave sisalana, Agave ferox, Franzosini agave ( Agave franzosinii) and bright red agave (Agave coccinea).
Agave flower
Agave is a very unpretentious plant. Prefers bright lighting and is not afraid of direct sunlight. In summer, the temperature should be high, in winter, it is desirable to keep it at 10 – 12 degrees, although it tolerates a drop of up to 6 degrees. Agaves like to have a sufficiently large amplitude between night and day temperatures. Agave does not need spraying, the room where it is kept must be often ventilated, in the summer it is good to take the plant out into the open air.
Agave should be watered regularly in the warm season, and very rarely in winter (1 – 2 times a month). Agaves are fed little, no more than once a month in summer, transplanted as needed, the plant does not require a large amount of soil. Either soil for succulents is chosen for planting, or a soil mixture is prepared from turf and leafy soil, humus and sand in a ratio of 2: 1: 1: 0,5. Agaves are propagated by root suckers or seeds.
Agave leopoldii
Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com Stan Shebs
Agave is rarely affected by pests or diseases. Most problems are caused by excess moisture, especially during the winter. In this case, the base of the stem may rot, and the leaves turn pale and wither. It is necessary to cut off the top of the agave and re-root it, water less, taking into account previous mistakes. If there is not enough moisture in the summer, then dry brown spots may appear on the leaves, then you need to increase watering.
Ropes, ropes, twine, rugs, packaging and other rough fabrics are made from the leaves of many types of agave; paper is produced from waste, mainly wrapping paper. Some agave species are bred in tropical regions of both hemispheres for fiber. The most valuable are Agave sisalana, which gives the so-called sisal, Furkree-like Agave, or Yucatan hemp (Agave fourcroydes) – genequin (Yucatan sisal), Agave cantala – cantala, and others.
Agave bovicornuta
Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com Derek Ramsey
From the sugary juice of dark green agave (Agave atrovirens) and others, collected before flowering, an alcoholic drink is prepared – pulque, and strong alcoholic drinks – tequila and mezcal – are produced from the core of the agave. Blue agave (Agave tequilana) is used to make tequila.
The roots of some agaves in Mexico are used in medicine. The leaves of American and Sisal Agave contain steroid saponins used for the synthesis of steroid hormonal drugs – cortisone, progesterone. In China, both types of substances have been obtained that make up a new group of contraceptives, which have an important advantage – it is enough to take them 1-2 times a month. American agave (Agave americana) is used in homeopathy. American Agave, Agave attenuata, Queen Victoria Agave (Agave victoriae-reginae) and many others are bred as original indoor and greenhouse plants.
