Mammillaria

Family. Cactaceae.

Plant's homeland: Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, southern USA.

Description. The large genus "Mammillaria" consists of more than 250 species of cacti that grow solitary or form large colonies. The stems are spherical and can become cylindrical with age. The tubercles are arranged spirally. The color and size of the spines vary greatly depending on the species. These cacti bloom in spring or early summer, with many buds forming at the top of the stem, often forming something like a wreath or crown. The flowers are very bright, small, white, cream, red, pink and yellow, up to 5 cm in diameter, and often have a pleasant aroma.

Height. Small species up to 25 cm in height are often grown in indoor culture.

How to care

When it blooms 

Spring Summer. 

Reproduction, growing from seeds

Seeds are sown in spring in damp sand, placed in a warm place, covered with glass or a plastic cap to maintain uniform humidity, and watering is replaced by spraying. Seeds germinate within 1 - 2 weeks at a temperature of 22 - 25 ° C. Some species reproduce by lateral shoots, which are separated with a sharp sterile knife, and the cut sites are dried for several days. By daughter offspring or grafting.

How to replant 

Mammillaria are transplanted in the spring months, before flowering. Cacti can remain in the same soil for several years and do not require annual replanting. Surround the root collar of the mamillaria with a layer of coarse sand or fine gravel for better moisture drainage. After transplantation, watering is stopped for 7 - 10 days. 

Diseases and pests 

Plants rot when there is excess moisture in the soil or air. Mealybugs, spider mites, nematodes, thrips, aphids, nematodes, sciarids, scale insects. If kept outside in the summer months, the flower can be attacked by snails and slugs.

Watering 

Even during the growing season, the soil should dry out to half its depth between waterings. In autumn, the frequency of watering is reduced, and in winter they simply protect the soil from completely drying out.

Home care 

A very unpretentious and spectacular genus, representatives of which can be grown even by beginners. In summer, the pot can be taken outside to protect from rain.

Soil 

The soil should easily pass water and air, pH not higher than 6.5. A mixture of leaf humus, turf soil with a large amount of coarse river sand or perlite to improve drainage and small pieces of charcoal is suitable. You can use a ready-made substrate for cacti and succulents.

Temperature

In spring and summer, a temperature range of 18 to 24°C is suitable; in the winter months, coolness is necessary - take the pot into a room with a temperature of about 10°C.

Lighting

Like many cacti, mammillaria will enjoy direct sunlight in the morning and evening, requiring light shade during the daytime hours.

Feeding

During the growth period, feed with fertilizers specially designed for cacti and succulent plants on a monthly basis. During the dormant period, feeding is stopped. 

Spraying

It does not require spraying and easily tolerates dry air in living spaces. Provide the flower with a place where there is good air circulation without cold drafts.

Purpose

Mammillaria are very miniature and will be appreciated by collectors, as a large collection of species can be placed on a small windowsill.

Note

When working with plants, use gloves to protect your hands from sharp thorns.

Varieties:

Mammillaria bocasana

A very delicate, fluffy, spherical cactus, whose appearance is very deceptive. Under the long, white fluff hide hook-shaped, thin, strong needles. As plants age, they often develop lateral shoots at the base of the main stem. The stems reach 12 cm in height, and in diameter from 3 to 8 cm. The areoles are numerous, bear one central, curved, brown, strong spine, surrounded by a very large number of thin, fluffy radial spines 1 - 2 cm long. The flowers are funnel-shaped, small, appear at the top of the stems, often forming a flower wreath. Shades of flowers include white, cream, yellow, pinkish, the diameter of the flowers reaches 1.5 cm. The petals are thin, long, and have a silky sheen. 

Mammillaria wildii

Compact cacti with dark green, tuberous, rounded stems, often branched at the base. With age, the stems can take on a cylindrical shape. The areoles are located close to each other at the tops of the tubercles, bearing many long, thin, white, soft radial spines and one central, yellowish-brown, recurved central spine. The flowers are small, pastel shades, funnel-shaped, with many long, narrow petals with a silky sheen. The flowers appear at the top of the stem and form a floral wreath. 

Mammillaria prolifera

A compact, abundantly branching cactus, which with age can form a colony with a diameter of up to 60 cm. The stems are round, dark green, up to 9 cm high and about 5 cm in diameter. The stems are abundantly covered with high tubercles, at the tops of which areoles are located. Each halo can bear up to 40 thin, soft, yellowish or brown radial spines resembling hairs, up to 1 cm long. The central spines are hard, straight, often darker than the radials. The flowers are small, delicate, funnel-shaped, 1 to 2 cm in diameter, cream, yellowish, pink. As the plants fade, they produce oblong, pink, small fruits. 

Mammillaria plumosa

Spherical, abundantly branched cacti, abundantly covered with thin, white spines, resemble snowballs from a distance. With age, plants form colonies with a diameter of up to 40 cm. The stems are spherical or slightly flattened, 4 to 7 cm high. Each stem has a large number of tubercles. The areoles are abundantly covered with light cream or white, soft, thin, radial spines. This species does not have thick central spines. The flowers are funnel-shaped, with numerous thin, long, outwardly curved petals in shades of cream, pink, lemon yellow. Flowers appear at the top of the stems, their petals have a silky sheen. 

Mammillaria gracilis

Low-growing, abundantly branched cacti at the base with cylindrical, dark green stems. The stems have large, high tubercles. At the tops of the tubercles there are areoles bearing strong, straight, light, sharp radial spines from 3 to 8 mm long. In the warm season, plants form delicate cream, funnel-shaped flowers at the tops of the stems. 

Mammilaria elongata

Compact cacti with cylindrical, dark green stems up to 20 cm high. With age, cacti form a colony with a diameter of up to 30 cm. The stems have a large number of low, closely spaced tubercles. The areoles located at the tops of the tubercles bear from 15 to 25 radial needles of a brown or yellow hue, slightly curved, up to 1 cm long. The flowers are lemon yellow, about 1 cm in diameter, appear mainly in the upper part of the stems. The flower petals have a silky sheen. 

Mammillaria zeilmanniana

Solitary cacti, sometimes forming lateral shoots, with glossy, round, dark green stems. The stems reach a height of 6 to 12 cm and a diameter of 5 to 8 cm. The tubercles are round, tall, and simplified. The areoles bear numerous thin, straight, flexible spines of light shades. The flowers are attractive, funnel-shaped, bright pink, forming a floral wreath at the tops of the stems. The flowers reach 2 cm in diameter. Each flower remains open for about 1 week. 

Mammillaria luethyi

Miniature spherical, slightly flattened cacti with dark green, almost black, glossy stems up to 4 cm high. The roots are thick, turnip-shaped. The stems bear a large number of tall, cylindrical tubercles, at the tops of which areoles are located. At the tops of the areoles there is a large number of very short, light, soft spines, reminiscent of small fluff. The bright, fairly large flowers reaching a diameter of 3 cm and having wide, lilac petals are very attractive. Closer to the center, the petals may have a white tint. In the center of the flowers there are golden-orange stamens. An interesting feature of this species is that the fruits and seeds ripen right inside the cactus stem. At a time favorable for plant development, when there is sufficient rainfall, the stems swell. During periods of drought, the stems shrink in size and sow seeds in close proximity to the mother plants. Thus, adult cacti form fairly large colonies. 

Mammillaria theresae

Miniature cacti with cylindrical, short stems no more than 4 cm high. An interesting feature of the plants is that in the upper part the stems have a dark green tint, and between the tubercles and at the base they are burgundy. The stems have high, cylindrical tubercles, at the tops of which there are small areoles with short, light spines resembling light fluff. The flowers are lilac or pink, funnel-shaped with many thin, wide petals, reaching a diameter of 4 - 5 cm. These plants readily bloom even at a young age, when the stems do not exceed 2 cm in diameter, respectively, the bright flowers that appear can completely hide the cacti underneath.

Mammillaria backebergiana

Small spherical cacti with bluish-green stems, which elongate with age and take on a cylindrical shape. The stems of the plant reach a height of 30 cm and a diameter of 5 - 6 cm, covered with tall, round or pyramidal tubercles. At the tops of the tubercles there are halos containing straight yellow or brown spines 7 - 8 mm long. The flowers are bright, pink, with silky petals, up to 2 cm in diameter. These cacti often grow solitary, but sometimes lateral shoots appear at the base of the stems. 

Mammillaria bombycina

Young cacti have small, spherical stems that can become club-shaped with age. With age, plants form large colonies with a diameter of up to 90 cm. Stems are up to 15 cm high, sometimes form lateral shoots at the base, and bear high rounded or pyramidal tubercles. At the top of the tubercles are areoles with thick, brown, hook-shaped central spines. The radial spines are white, thinner than the central ones, up to 8 mm long. The flowers are pink, funnel-shaped, appearing at the top of the stems in the form of a floral wreath. 

Mammillaria hahniana

Solitary cacti with round, dark green stems that can elongate and become cylindrical with age. The stems are covered with tall, numerous tubercles. The areoles bear short, strong, white central spines and thin, flexible, long radial spines. The flowers are funnel-shaped, bright pink, with silky petals, collected at the top of the stems into flower wreaths. 

Mammillaria carmenae

Very spectacular spherical cacti, which with age form numerous lateral shoots at the base of dark green stems. The stems can reach 5–10 cm in height and 3–5 cm in diameter. The tubercles are tall and conical. Each areole is capable of bearing up to hundreds of golden or light brown, thin, long, straight radial spines. The flowers are white, cream or lemon yellow, funnel-shaped.

Mammillaria spinosissima

Single spherical, cylindrical cacti with age, with bluish-green or dark green stems, abundantly covered with tubercles. The areoles, located at the tops of the tubercles, bear many straight, light brown, golden or silver spines 1 - 2 cm long. In the summer months, the plants decorate themselves with a floral wreath of small, bright, lilac or pink silky flowers up to 2 cm in diameter.