Image – Wikimedia/cultivar413
Mangave is an exotic type of agave, elegant, which has really beautiful colors. It’s a plant not usually found for sale, and when it is found, the price tends to be much higher than the maguey Mexicans would say. But since we like you to be informed about as many plants as possible, we are going to tell you about these beauties.
So without further ado, let’s get started.
Contents
What is mangave and what are its characteristics?
Officially, mangaves are plants that belong to the genus Agave. However, at the beginning of the 21st century, they belonged to their own genus x Mangave, and at that time they were said to be hybrids resulting from the cross between Agave and Manfreda. But currently Manfreda is an obsolete scientific name, since it was included in that of agaves.
But in any case, know that our protagonists have as father or mother a kind of agave, like Agave mitis, Agave macroacanthaeither Spotted Agave. SO We are talking about plants that withstand high temperaturessince agaves or maguey live in regions where the climate is very hot.
Image – Wikimedia/cultivar413
If we focus on its physical characteristics, we must know which are plants that grow in a rosette of succulent leaves that can measure about 50 centimeters in height by about 40 to 60 centimeters in width, although they may be twice as large on rare occasions. These leaves are warm in color, visually pleasing. From the center of the rosette arises a flower stalk in summer, at the end of which grow brown flowers. Like the agave, it blooms only once in its lifetime and then dies.
What is mangave care?
These plants look very pretty in succulent gardens and in large pots. In addition, and as you will see, it is not difficult to keep them healthy:
Location
manga They have been placed in a place where there is a lot of light, they can even get direct sun for a while in the morning or afternoon. In addition, you should know that they resist temperatures down to -4°C, so you can leave them outside all year round if the winter is mild in your area.
soil or substrate
- Garden: if you want to plant your specimen in the soil of your garden, you should take into account that the roots of this plant fear waterlogging, and therefore they will do well only if the soil drains water quickly.
- Flower pot: if on the contrary you prefer to plant it in a pot, either because you don’t have a garden, or because you no longer have enough space to put it in, or because you simply want to keep it in a container, you need to fill it with cactus substrate.
Irrigation
Since it has agave genes, or rather, since it is a type of agave, It is not a plant that needs to be rehydrated frequently. In fact, you will only have to do this if the land is very, very dry, which will happen if, for example, it does not rain for a long time.
If in doubt, it is best that you do not water it yet. Wait a few more days, until the soil dries out more. If the plant does not show any symptoms of lack of water such as the rapid browning of new leaves, nothing will happen to it not to hydrate yet.
Now well, when you go to water it, pour water on it – down to the soil – until you see that it is soaked.
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You can pay your mangave from mid-spring to late summer. In case you are in a tropical location, you can do this throughout the year.
Since it is a succulent, you can fertilize it with specific fertilizers for this type of plant. But yes, it is highly recommended to buy liquid fertilizers because their effectiveness is faster.
Multiplication
The easiest way it is by the separation of offspring. As these already have their own roots, it is as simple as digging a little with a small shovel and extracting it. If it is in a pot, then you can choose to remove the mother plant when dry – remember that after flowering it dies – and leave the young ones there, or take the opportunity to separate them.
This do it in spring or, at the latest, in mid-summer. They will need at least two months of good weather to survive the transplant and resume growth.
hardiness
manga It withstands temperatures down to -4°C minimum and 40°C maximum more or less. It is therefore a plant highly recommended for the Mediterranean region, but also for any other that benefits from a mild or warm climate.
What do you think of the manga?