AGAVE VICTORIAE.

ORIGIN AND CHARACTERISTICS

This succulent belongs to the Agavaceae family and is native to northern Mexico, more specifically the Chihuahuan desert and Lagunera de Coahuila, although it is found in much of the Mediterranean area.

It is a small and compact plant, the succulent can grow to about 4 meters, it grows in the shape of a rosette and its leaves are rigid and hard, standing out for that intense green color and for the white stripes that contour and give it the shape of a geometric figure. The thickness of this can reach from 4 to 6 cm and its height can vary from 15 to 30 cm.

In the upper part of the leaf we will find thorns (the amount varies depending on the leaf, between 1 and 3), black in color and with a maximum length of 3 centimeters. The leaves are not pointed, but you have to be careful with the thorns.

It blooms only once in its life and dies, leaving behind a large quantity of seeds. Its flowering comes with the maturity of the plant, appearing from the center of this, a spike with yellowish flowers 5 years after the birth of the plant. This single inflorescence can reach up to 8 m in height.

DECORATION OF ... EXTERIOR OR INTERIOR?

Succulents can be found inside and outside the home.

Traditionally we usually find it in gardens, its magnificent shape is perfect for decoration, it has very particular leaves that make a difference with the rest of the agaves, but we can also incorporate them into our house with a vase that has holes in the bottom part so that drain properly (30-liter pot).

As long as they are in a bright area of ​​the garden or house and take good care of watering and substrates, there should be no problem.

CARE OF CACTUS AND SUCCULENTS

They are showy, very pretty plants that hardly require much maintenance.

- They prefer places with direct or well lit light, preferably next to a window, on a balcony, a terrace or in your garden.

- They can withstand low temperatures, around -5 degrees.

- It is essential that they have good drainage, both in the ground and in pots.

- The ideal substrate for cacti must be combined with sand and gravel, so that they have good drainage, humidity and excess water are not good.

- Irrigation should not be excessive. From spring to autumn, which would be its growth period, water every 15 days, water abundantly and wait for the soil to be very dry again. In winter, do not water or give one watering per month.

- Fertilizer. During the growing season (spring - fall), you can fertilize them with worm castings. Eggshells are a good home fertilizer, they contain (calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium and phosphorus) these nutrients are very important and favor their growth, it is necessary to crush them and mix them with the substrate, administer them a few times a day. year.

- Treatment against fungi due to excess humidity, disinfect the area with a copper-based fungicide.

- If you want to transplant them from the pot or the ground, the best time would be from spring.

And do not forget that to work with cacti you need to wear good gloves.