Agave flower drawing. A variety of types of room Agave on one page: Queen Victoria, Marginata and other names with a photo. What is agave - description
Agave is a plant that many people confuse with cacti and aloe. Indeed, it is also a succulent, which, however, has its own, even more pronounced, unique beneficial properties used in cooking, cosmetology and medicine. For example, as a sweetener, it is included in syrups that can be found in stores. To understand what else the benefits and harms of agave are, it is worth getting to know the plant closer.
What does agave look like and where does it grow?
Succulents are a type of plant that can store water in special tissues. In agave, they are found in thick, fleshy leaves, most often attached to a dense, stiff stem.
This plant, common in the southwestern United States and northern South America, is about one and a half times sweeter than sugar, and therefore it is often used to make tequila and various syrups. Due to its unpretentiousness to water, it is also actively used for decorative purposes in hot, dry climates.
Agave blooms only once, after which the original plant dies, and new shoots appear from the base of the stem. There is a common misconception that agaves are a type of cactus. As you can see from the photo, the agave plant has specific external differences. In addition, its medicinal properties as a succulent are much more pronounced.
In its homeland, the plant is considered useful and nutritious. One of the most common ways to consume agave is as nectar, which is a liquid syrup used as an alternative to traditional granulated sugar. The plant can also be eaten raw or dried. It is believed that in this form it brings more benefits to the body.
Chemical composition and calorie content of agave
In its natural form, agave is an excellent source of iron, a mineral that carries oxygen from the lungs to other parts of the body. A 100-gram serving of a raw plant contains 1.8 mg of iron, and the same amount of dried contains 3.65 mg. This is 46% of the daily requirement of this mineral for men and 20% for women. All this testifies to the great benefits for the body.
Other useful properties are as follows. A serving of raw or boiled agave provides about 40% of an adult's daily calcium requirement, while dried agave provides almost three-quarters of that. In addition, the plant is a good source of zinc, a mineral essential for wound healing.
The calorie content of a raw plant is 68 kcal per hundred grams. Agave syrup has a much higher nutritional value at 310 kcal per 100 g. It is a moderate source of vitamin C and several B vitamins.
The syrup consists of 76% carbohydrates, 23% water, 0.4% fat and a small amount of protein, so it can harm people with a tendency to obesity.
What is useful agave for the body
The plant contains several compounds with protective benefits. It contains saponins, which bind to cholesterol and may help lower your overall cholesterol levels. These compounds can also inhibit the growth of cancerous tumors, which are of undoubted benefit.
In cosmetology, agave is used to improve the condition of the skin of the face.
Agave also contains inulin, a type of fiber that is a probiotic or beneficial type of bacteria. A natural plant, unlike, also provides the body with a good dose of fiber and a large amount of fiber, which can reduce the risk of constipation.
Indications for the use of agave
Agave syrup is made up of fructose, not glucose, so it's easier to digest. The body needs less insulin to digest it. slowly absorbed into the bloodstream, reducing blood sugar highs and lows. This beneficial property means that the plant has a very low glycemic index (GI), meaning it does not significantly increase blood sugar levels. This makes the product especially suitable for people with sensitivities to simple carbohydrates. Agave syrup is a good healthy alternative to honey, dates, sugar and other sweeteners.
The most common use of the product is to add it to dishes as a source of sweet taste. It should be borne in mind that agave is sweeter than sugar and honey, so you need to add it to food less.
Traditional medicine recipes based on agave
The juice squeezed from the agave contains various alkaloids, an estrogen-like isoflavonoid, coumarin and vitamins K, C, B1, B2 and D, as well as provitamin A.
The plant has healing, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, in folk medicine, it is used to resolve bruises, treat burns, minor muscle strains, bruises, abrasions and skin irritations provoked by insect bites.
In some regions of America, the juice of the plant, along with the protein of the egg, has been used for many centuries as a compress for the treatment of wounds.
But its usefulness does not end there. It has traditionally been used to treat stomach problems, ulcers, jaundice and other liver disorders, as well as tuberculosis, syphilis and gynecological problems.
In addition, the succulent can cause sweating, so it is used to bring down the heat.
A poultice made from the root and leaves of the plant can be helpful in relieving toothache.
For back pain
In the treatment of back pain, the plant can bring significant benefits. It is especially effective when painful sensations appear from prolonged sitting in place or sharp bends.
Agave will also help with muscle spasms. For this purpose, it is required to rub the sore spot with its juice. The first time you need to be careful, as this can cause irritation. If no harm to the skin is noticed, the rubbing should be repeated twice a day. After the procedure, it is advisable to wrap yourself up for a couple of hours.
With arthrosis
The benefits of this succulent in the treatment of arthrosis have been known for a long time. There are several well-known popular recipes based on it.
The two most common ways to prepare agave tincture for permanent use are:
- Cut off the leaves of the plant and immediately finely chop or grate.
- Squeeze fresh juice using gauze.
- For 800 ml of juice, add 200 ml of pure medical alcohol (96%).
- Leave for a week in a dark place.
The second option is prepared like this:
- Cut fresh leaves as small as possible.
- Put them in a glass bottle.
- For each tablespoon of raw materials, pour 150 ml of 70% alcohol.
- Carefully close the container and put in a dark place.
- Insist for ten days, then strain.
For a headache
Succulent is also taken as a fever and pain reliever. The method of application is simple - just drink a few drops of agave juice.
For gout
The use of agave leaves will help in the treatment of gout and other ailments associated with the deposition of salts. As a medicine, a tincture of them is used.
For its preparation you will need:
- Finely chop the leaves of the plant.
- For every 10 g of raw materials, take 100 ml of 70% alcohol.
- Close the container tightly and put for two weeks in a dark place.
Important! You can not take more than 20 drops of tincture at a time, because in such a concentration it can become poison.
For constipation
Since the plant contains a lot of fiber, its beneficial properties include improving bowel function. To use it as a laxative, you need to cut the leaves, add water and cook a decoction over low heat. The finished product is insisted for about an hour and filtered.
To get rid of boils
Succulent has an anti-inflammatory effect, so it is very useful in the treatment of abscesses and boils. For this purpose, gruel is made from the leaves, which is applied every day to the affected area.
Advice! For sensitive skin, raw materials can be half diluted with olive oil.
With hematomas
The healing properties of room agave can be used to quickly heal hematomas. The most common are two recipes for a folk remedy:
- In the first case, juice is squeezed out of the pulp of the plant and mixed with boiled water in a ratio of 1:3. In the prepared product, clean gauze is moistened and applied to the bruise for 15 minutes.
- In the second version, a teaspoon of freshly squeezed agave juice is mixed with two tablespoons of fresh aloe juice. In this solution, a swab is moistened and applied to the site of the hematoma.
Important! In case of skin irritation, the lotion should not be repeated. Moisturizing cream will help to remove the unwanted side effect.
To improve immunity
Plant juice is also used as a universal remedy that benefits the entire body, including increasing immunity. To prepare it, you will need:
- 350 g of peeled walnuts;
- 200 ml fresh spring honey;
- 100 g raisins;
- 100 ml fresh agave juice.
To prepare this folk medicine, you will need to grind nuts and raisins in a food processor or meat grinder. Melt honey in a water bath, mix with plant juice and other components. Store the prepared mixture in a closed jar in the refrigerator. It should be taken in small amounts before meals.
For diseases of the liver and gastrointestinal tract
The beneficial properties of agave have long been used to treat poor digestion, intestinal gas, and in cases of constipation.
Since the juice has antibacterial properties, it can be used to fight bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. Despite being a laxative, succulents can be used to treat diarrhea and even dysentery without harm. Diluted juice is good for dealing with stomach problems.
Interesting! The properties of the agave extract are also provided by the content of hecogenin, a substance used in the production of a number of steroid preparations.
With bronchitis and SARS
In diseases of the respiratory system, the setting of the plant is also used. To prepare it, you need:
- 700 g crushed agave leaves;
- 500 ml of vodka;
- 500 ml fresh honey.
All components are mixed until a homogeneous composition, then placed in a closed container in a dark place for 9 days. Drink 1 tbsp. l. three times a day before meals.
With tuberculosis
For the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis at home, a mixture of succulent juice and fresh honey is used, prepared in a ratio of 1: 3.
The medicinal properties of the agave flower can be beneficial for tuberculosis of the larynx.
Folk medicine consists of the following components:
- 20 g crushed agave leaves and flowers;
- 15 g of aloe tree;
- 10 g Kalanchoe;
- 10 ml of sea buckthorn oil;
- 150 g honey.
All components are mixed a day before use and insisted in the refrigerator.
How agave is used in cosmetology
Widely known and moisturizing mask with agave, which is prepared from the juice of the plant, diluted with water. It improves the elasticity and tone of the skin, and also allows you to get an even, beautiful tan if you apply it before going to the beach.
Agave in crop production
The benefits of the agave plant at home can also be decorative. The succulent perfectly decorates the design of the yard and garden, it can be grown even in apartments. It is very convenient to take care of it, because it does not require too frequent watering.
For industrial purposes, it is used in crop production for the production of alcoholic beverages and some medicines.
The use of agave in cooking
In addition to its beneficial properties and wide use for medicinal purposes, agave also serves as a food source.
The stems and large leaves of the plant can be roasted and dried. The juice can be drunk as a syrup or used to make alcoholic beverages.
In culinary recipes, agave syrup is used one third less than sugar. In addition, the total liquid content in the recipe is reduced by one quarter.
In some parts of the US and Mexico, agave is toasted and even eaten raw, such as adding the stems to a salad. The flowers of the plant are also edible. Syrup is the most common way to consume agave. However, passion for a product can be harmful, especially if it is a low-quality, non-certified product.
Harm agave
Possible harm to health of agave may be from the use of its syrup. The world's alarming obesity epidemic and the emergence of millions of people with prediabetes have caused the term "low glycemic" to suddenly become very attractive. When food is designated by this property, it is immediately referred to as useful.
As a result, people with blood sugar problems are genuinely deluded into thinking that agave is the healthiest sweetener. In fact, the plant has a low sugar content, but at the same time, it has a lot of fructose, the concentration of which in agave is even higher than in corn syrup.
Agave does not dramatically raise blood sugar like glucose, but this fact does not make it unconditionally beneficial and harmless. Using a concentrated fructose product may ease the burden on the pancreas, but can harm the liver.
Warning! Excessive consumption of fructose in agave can cause manifestations of metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, fatty liver, dangerous fat in the abdomen.
Contraindications to the use of agave
Agave damage can become very significant during pregnancy. Saponins are present in the plant in large quantities. This toxic steroid derivative destroys red blood cells. They should be avoided during pregnancy, due to the risk of miscarriage as a result of stimulation of uterine blood flow.
There is an opinion about the benefits of saponins, as they increase hydration and cellular water absorption. Actually, it's just a marketing ploy.
Some people also happen to be allergic to the plant, so care should always be taken. There are many alternative sweeteners that carry fewer side effects and possible harm: honey, or dates.
Conclusion
Given the above, the benefits and harms of agave definitely deserve attention. The plant can help with many diseases, while making folk medicines from it is very simple. When used in moderation, agave syrup can help people with diabetes.
Homeland agave from South America to the south of North America. Very luxurious ornamental plants, however, most species, due to their large size, are suitable for decorating small flower beds and flower gardens.
Types and varieties of agave
Dwarf species or young flowers are grown as indoor flowers. Agave has more than 50 species. The most common types are:
Agave american- large bluish-gray or gray-green leaves, in favorable conditions can reach a length of 1-1.2 m, with small spines, in the Caucasus it reaches a diameter of 2-3 meters.
Along the edge of the leaves have straight or slightly curved dense brown teeth. The upper side of the agave leaf is flat, while the lower side is slightly convex. The inflorescence is a large apical panicle, in large specimens 10 m or more in size, having more than 10 thousand flowers. The flowers are yellowish, about 7 cm in diameter.
Agave is said to bloom once every hundred years. But in fact, it blooms once in a lifetime, at about the age of 15, the agave peduncle bears numerous flowers in a brush or panicle, after flowering the flower gradually dies, forming offspring that are used for reproduction.
Variants of this species differ mainly in the color of the agave leaves.
The leaves are very hard, triangular or lanceolate, 10-20 cm long and 3-6 cm wide with a short, hard brown tip at the top. There are thin white stripes along the edges of the sheet, which peel off quite easily with white fibers.
Agave Care
Agave Lighting
The lighting should be bright, the indoor flower does not need shade. The window sill of the south window of the room is best suited. In the summer, it is recommended to keep agaves in the sun, in the fresh air.
In winter, with low light, the agave stretches and loses its visual appeal. In this regard, it is better to put the flower in a well-lit place.
Watering the agave
In summer, the plant requires moderate but regular watering. Winter watering depends on the temperature of the flower content. If the agave is kept in a relative cool of 10 ° C, then watering should be rare, about once a week, so that the soil does not dry out completely.
If it is not possible to keep the flower in a cool place in winter, and the agave is kept at room temperature and above, then watering should be 2-3 times a week. The soil should dry out in winter without drying out completely.
Agave transplant
Young agave plants are transplanted annually, adults once every 2-3 years, this gives the plants splendor over the years. The soil should contain 1 part leaf, 3 parts clay-turf and 1 part coarse river sand.
Agave is propagated by cuttings, layering and seeds.
Agave is more popular among lovers of strong drinks. Mexican tequila is made from this plant. But even in indoor floriculture, a flower can be found quite often. It can become a decoration of any interior. Among the species of this plant there are specimens of various sizes, with blue or gray leaves, with stripes and specks.
Botanical description
Agave is a perennial evergreen plant from the asparagus family. It does not have stems, and the leaves are collected in a rosette growing from the root. The leaves are bluish, green or gray in color.
During flowering, the agave is very beautiful, and this phenomenon is quite rare. The peduncle can reach a height of ten meters and is decorated with numerous funnel-shaped yellow flowers.
Agave blooms once every 10-15 years, and when grown in the garden even less often - once every 20-30 years. After she fades, she dies, and offspring remain in her place.
For growing at home and in greenhouses or winter gardens, varieties of much smaller sizes are used. In addition to its decorative value, agave is valued for its medicinal properties.
Types of agave for indoor growing
Not all agaves can be grown indoors. Some grow to such gigantic sizes that such a plant will not fit in more than one apartment. Therefore, varieties specially designed for growing at home were bred and cultivated.
- Great as a houseplant. The rosette reaches a diameter of 60 cm, and the size of the leaves is about 10-15 cm long and 5-7 cm wide.
Agave potatorum is a miniature specimen. The size of the rosette is only 20-25 cm in diameter, and the length of the leaves reaches 30 cm. The color of the leaf is gray-green, there is one spine at the end.
These two varieties are the most suitable for indoor maintenance, and are also very beautiful.
Agave Properties
The homeland of the agave is South America, and it was brought to Europe at the end of the 16th century. This plant quickly became popular and common for ornamental cultivation. They learned about the healing properties of the plant by chance, when stories from the natives began to reach that agave was used as a medicinal plant.
Despite the rather long history of the use of agave as a remedy, its chemical composition is still poorly understood. It is known that it contains vitamins, carbohydrates, fiber and macro-microelements.
This plant is used in different areas. The plant is widely used in cooking, folk medicine and the production of alcohol.
Use in cooking
The juice of the plant is used to make syrup, which is several times sweeter than sugar. Desserts are prepared from syrup, added instead of sugar to pastries or consumed with pancakes and pancakes.
Use to improve the functioning of the digestive system
The healing properties of agave are to improve bowel function. Agave has a good laxative effect. For constipation, the plant is crushed and poured with boiling water. Boil about on low heat, insist for an hour and filter.
With conjunctivitis, an infusion of a plant with honey is used.
The infusion is made at a high temperature so that caustic substances that can irritate the eyes evaporate.
Application in diets
Agave is used to combat excess weight.
Wound healing agent
The sap of the plant is used to treat wounds, scratches and ulcers. It effectively heals, disinfects damaged skin. To do this, take a freshly cut leaf of the agave, cut it and apply the cut place to the wound. The sheet must be fixed on the wound, and changed to a fresh one after drying.
For the treatment of diseases associated with the liver
Agave leaves are used. They are cut, washed and divided into strips. The strips are dried in a dark place, and then ground into powder using a coffee grinder. Powder of 0.5 grams is consumed with water.
pain reliever
Agave is used to treat and relieve pain in radiculitis, inflammation of the sciatic nerve and rheumatism. An ointment is made from the plant, which has medicinal properties. It consists of the pulp of the plant, honey and vegetable oil.
The ointment is placed on a gauze napkin and applied to a sore spot. The compress must be attached with a bandage. The bandage is left for 30 minutes, then everything is removed and the remnants of the ointment are removed from the skin with a damp cloth.
For gout and osteochondrosis, use a tincture of leaves on alcohol
Apply a few drops before meals.
Natural contraceptive
Thanks to the substances anordin and dinordin, which are part of the composition, the ability of a woman to become pregnant is reduced.
In addition, the houseplant agave is used as an antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, expectorant and analgesic. For sore throats, the juice of the plant will help destroy bacteria. Nectar collected from the flowers of the plant has useful properties.
The taste qualities of nectar are similar to honey, but the nectar has a more liquid consistency. It can be used as a sugar substitute, it is low in calories and therefore does not harm the figure.
Contraindications
Although the leaves and juice have medicinal properties and are used for many diseases and health problems, their use is not possible for all people. There are a number of contraindications.
- The use of the flower and any means based on it is contraindicated for people with any form of hepatitis and gallbladder disease.
- People with a predisposition to allergies should not use agave products.
- Agave is contraindicated for people with hormonal disorders and women during pregnancy.
In any case, the use of the plant and its products should be agreed with the doctor, as there may be individual intolerance to the components of this plant. The benefits of agave products can be a good adjunctive therapy, but should be used with the permission of a physician and in conjunction with medical treatment.
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With wide, fleshy leaves, folding into a dense rosette. There are more than 300 types of aloe in the world, and many of them are successfully grown at home.
Home plant lovers choose aloe, as many of its species are highly decorative. There are also flowers similar to aloe, which also form a beautiful rosette of succulent leaves.
A characteristic feature of plants similar to aloe is fleshy, elongated leaves, collected in a dense rosette.
Agave is a stemless perennial from the asparagus family native to Mexico, North and Central America. Agave leaves are large, fleshy, widened or narrowed, forming a dense basal rosette. At the ends, a solid point is formed. Most species are equipped with straight or curved spikes along the edge.
The color of the leaves of the agave is grayish, green or bluish-green. The leaves of some types of agave are decorated with yellow or silvery-white stripes, similar to threads. The surface of the leaf plate is covered with a rich wax coating.
Under natural conditions, agave blooms once every 10-15 years. On a high peduncle, a spike-shaped or paniculate inflorescence is formed with many yellowish flowers. After flowering, the plant begins to age dramatically and soon dies.
Hechtia is a ground bromeliad, close to succulent plants. Hechtia is native to Central America and Mexico. Hechtia texas is similar to aloe. Its leaves are long, fleshy, pointed, hard, notched along the edge, with rare spines. The leaves form a dense, dense rosette with a diameter of about 50 centimeters.
Hekhtia flowering is inconspicuous: small flowers of white, greenish, pink or red-burgundy color are collected in small spikelets.
Bergeranthus is a plant that is not common in our country, and mostly true lovers and connoisseurs of succulents are familiar with it. Bergeranthus is native to South Africa. Under natural conditions, this succulent forms clumps that stretch for many kilometers.
Of the 12 plant species, two are grown under room conditions:
- Bergeranthus multiheaded. The leaves of this species are smooth, collected in rosettes up to 10 pieces each, tightly pressed against each other. The shape of the leaves is an elongated trihedral prism 6 centimeters long, pointed at the end. The plant blooms with yellow, single flowers with a diameter of 3 centimeters.
- Bergeranthus arrow-bearing. The leaves are dark green. evenly colored. about 10-12 centimeters long, wide below and tapering at the ends, 10 centimeters long. Notches are located along the edge of the sheet. The flowers are orange-yellow, on long peduncles like a cactus.
Ariocarpus is a cactus with leaves resembling aloe. The plant is mainly found in Mexico, where it thrives during the rainy season and hides in the soil during periods of drought. It is distinguished from cacti by a very non-traditional appearance.
Ariocarpus is a thornless cactus. The fleshy triangular leaves are covered with warty tubercles and protrusions. The surface of the leaves looks like the skin of reptiles. In nature, Ariocarpus blooms with large flowers of red, white or yellow. At home, flowering is extremely rare.
Sansevieria is a stemless perennial of the Agave family native to Africa. India, Indonesia and other Asian countries. This plant, popular in indoor floriculture, is also called "pike tail" or "mother-in-law's tongue."
Sansevieria is a plant with succulent, dark green lanceolate leaves that form a dense, dense rosette. Powerful leaves grow up to 120 centimeters in height. Depending on the variety, the leaves of the plant are complemented by a contrasting edging or vertical and horizontal stripes of a darker tone.
Faucaria is a succulent from the Azizaceae family native to South Africa. Translated from Latin, the name of the plant is translated as “mouth” (“faux”) and “many” (“αρι”).
The plant received this name because of the shape of the leaves, which are equipped with sharp growths along the edge, white in color, similar to the teeth of a predator. The leaves are collected in round rosettes. Each rosette consists of 3-6 pairs of leaves growing crosswise.
Faucaria blooms in single flowers with a diameter of 6-7 centimeters. Thin petals of flowers are painted in various shades of yellow. Flowers open only during the day, and at night they fold their petals, turning into a bud. Each flower lives on the plant for about a week.
Gasteria is a succulent from the Asphodelaceae family native to the deserts of South Africa. Gasteria leaves are shortened, fleshy, dark green with a slight wax coating. Stripes of brown or silver hue run across the leaves. There are species with white specks densely covering the leaves.
Gasteria blooms with flowers of medium (2-2.5 cm in diameter) size with pink flowers. Orange, white or red. Flowers are collected in brushes or panicles, formed on an oblong peduncle.
Haworthia is an unusually beautiful plant from the steppes and deserts of South Africa. There are more than 150 types of haworthias that differ in appearance and color of the leaves: blunt and fleshy, sharp and thin, covered with small spikes, yellow, silvery stripes or white pimples that look like convex warts.
The leaves of the plant form a symmetrical, beautiful rosette with a diameter of up to 30 centimeters. The leaves are very dense. Haworthia is similar to aloe or miniature agave. When grown at home, the plant almost never blooms.
All about in the full review.
| 1. Growing temperature: in summer the plant is kept at a temperature of - 18 - 24 ° C, in winter a dormant period is desirable at a temperature of 6 - 8 ° C. |
| 2. Lighting: home agave can take sunbaths in the evening and morning, develops well under artificial lighting. |
| 3. Watering and humidity: between watering, dry the soil a few centimeters deep, does not need high humidity. |
| 4. Features of cultivation, care: Trim old dry houseplant leaves at the base of the rosette. |
| 5. Priming: alkaline substrate with high sand content. |
| 6. top dressing: monthly in spring and summer, when the agave is actively growing, with fertilizer for cacti and succulents. |
| 7. reproduction: daughter rosettes, less often - seeds. |
botanical name: Agave.
Agave plant - family. Agave.
Where does agave grow?.The plant originates from Central and South America, Mexico. Agave is also native to the Mediterranean, where it grows in mountainous areas at altitudes of about 2000 - 3000 meters above sea level.
2. What is agave - description
The genus includes approximately 300 species, of which about 50 are cultivated and brought to Europe around the 16th century, they were used as ornamental plants. Currently, agaves are successfully grown in open ground on the Black Sea coast.
There is a belief that the plant blooms only once, which is not far from the truth. If the peduncle is located in the center of the outlet - at the so-called growth point, then after flowering and fruiting the plant dies, that is, this plant belongs to monocarpics. However, if the peduncle is located on the side, then the plant continues to live and develop.
Word " agave" comes from the Greek "amazing", "excellent". The name is due to the fact that during the flowering period, the succulent really is a unique sight. Peduncle plants rise to 8 meters in height or more.
In areas where the minimum temperature is not less than 8° С, for example, in the Crimea, the Caucasus and America, it grows well in open ground. In more northern regions, the bush is cultivated in rooms and greenhouses; it can be exposed to the open air in the warm season.
Agave is not only an ornamental plant, it is used in the textile industry, paper production, for the manufacture of alcoholic beverages in Mexico - pulque, mezcal and tequila, in medicine to protect against insect bites.
Despite the fact that the appearance of the plant resembles some types of cacti (for example, leuchtenberg) agave- This not a cactus and has nothing to do with the Cactus family, just as agave is far from the Liliaceae family, to which aloe belongs.
These plants have a completely diverse appearance, although their structure is approximately the same - they all have a rosette. Since succulents grow preferably in deserts and semi-deserts, they tolerate moisture deficiency.
Plants are characterized prickly leaves the most diverse colors, collected in a rosette. The color of the leaves can vary from bluish to grayish green with a variety of white and yellowish stripes. Transplanted spring in a larger pot with very good drainage. Large adult specimens cross once every 3 years or simply change the top layer of the substrate to a fresh one. Old specimens can be transplanted after 5 to 7 years. Under no circumstances when landing do not deepen the root neck- it should remain above the ground. Very growing slowly, tough and beautiful plant. Has tight sockets up to 45 cm in diameter(rarely above 22 cm). Some varieties
3. What does agave look like
5. Agave transplant
11.4.Agave direct - Agave stricta
A small evergreen species with long leaves, spherical in shape, forms shoots to create a rosette colony. The stem is straight, thick, branched. Individual rosettes, with hundreds of thin leaves, 30 to 100 cm high, narrow, painted in yellow-green, green or grayish-blue, rounded in cross section, without spines along the edges; thick at the base and tapering towards the end. Separate forms have longitudinal red stripes on the leaves. Flowers range from green to red-brown or purple, and the plant blooms from July to September, first blooming at 8 to 10 years old.
11.5. Blue or Mexican agave - Agave Tequilana
Among all the variety of the genus, the blue agave stands apart, since the famous drink is obtained only from the syrup of this agave - tequila. The juice has a pleasant, sweet taste and is used in the manufacture of tequila. Forms a beautiful symmetrical rosette of basal, hard, pointed leaves, covered with a bluish wax coating. Flowering in this species occurs at the age of 5 - 8 years. The flowers are yellow, collected at the top of the peduncles. After flowering, the agave plant dies, leaving several small daughter outlets.
11.6. Agave Parr and - Agave Parryi
One of the brightest and most decorative representatives of the genus, it has a beautiful, compact, symmetrical rosette of wide gray-blue leaves with long dark tips and dark brown spikes on the edges. Red or pink buds open into bright yellow flowers. A. parryi is extremely drought tolerant. The roots should be in well-drained soil, and will rot if the plant is overwatered. Needs good lighting, but can grow inlight shade. blooms at the age of 10 - 15, and sometimes more than 20 years.
11.7. Agave awesome - Agave ferox
Perennial evergreen plant. The leaves are glossy dark green, often striped, with sparse but large dark brown to black spines. Flowers up to 8 cm long and yellow.
11.8. Agave dwarf - Agave pumila
about 12 cm. in height and width.
11.9. Agave simple
A plant without thorns, and its inflorescence in the form of a swan's neck is simply a miracle. This is a very compact form, which, however, is rarely seen. plant size about 12 cm. in height and width.
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