Mammillaria cacti have won the hearts of many succulent lovers. They are particularly robust and require little care. However, you should know the requirements of these species so that you can enjoy lush flowers every year.
What are special features of Mammillaria cacti?
Mammillaria cacti are easy-care succulents with a striking warty structure and a variety of flower colors. They prefer full sun locations, well-drained substrate and moderate watering. Propagation occurs through children or seeds. Popular varieties include M. vetula, M. elongata and M. spinosissima.
Origin
The genus Mammillaria is a cactus family with 180 species. Their name indicates the warty structure of the shoots. A main distribution area of the genus extends over Mexico. Mammillaria species are found in the southwestern United States, Venezuela and Colombia. Some representatives have discovered niches for themselves on the Caribbean islands.
Growth
The succulent plants develop elongated to spherical growth forms. Their shoots stand upright individually or develop side shoots that give the cactus a cushion-like shape. Unlike other cacti, Mammillaria species develop warts instead of the typical ribs that dot the surface. A clear species identification is possible based on the number of warts. Wooly hairs or bristles can be found in the depressions between the warts. In some species these areas are completely bare.
leaves
Severely reduced leaves are typical for cactus plants. They appear as thorns, the shape and number of which vary depending on the species. They can appear straight or curved. Some of the thorns are reminiscent of the shape of a hook. These reduced leaves arise on the warts. They can appear smooth or rough to finely hairy, coarse and bristly or softly hair-like.
Thorns are useful structures:
- protect against excessive evaporation
- make it more difficult for animals to eat parts of plants
- repel direct sun rays
Bloom
Mammillaria cacti develop lateral flowers that arise in the older spaces between the warts. They have a hermaphrodite structure and can be tubular, bell-shaped or wheel-shaped. In some species the flowers reach a diameter of between four and seven centimeters.
The succulent plants develop flowers with numerous bracts that shine in a wide variety of colors. They range from white to yellow to different shades of red. The flowers are magnificent from spring to autumn.
Fruit
When the flowers have withered, the fruits are pushed out on the spaces between the warts. The green or red fruits are only visible when they are fully ripe. The yellowish to black seeds are surrounded by a juicy pericarp.
Usage
Mammillaria species are cultivated in pots. They beautify greenhouses and, as robust and easy-care cacti, are also suitable for beginners in succulent cultivation. The prickly plants feel at home on the windowsill.
Which location is suitable?
Mammillaria feel particularly comfortable in a location with full sun. Green species are an exception because they prefer a bright location without direct sunlight. Warm temperatures between 20 and 24 degrees Celsius promote he althy growth. When exposed to sunlight all year round, the cacti develop aesthetically colored thorns. The flowers appear in lush splendor when there is sufficient light.
During the summer months, the succulent plants enjoy an outdoor location. If you do not have the opportunity to cultivate them outdoors, you can easily place Mammillaria indoors. They like a spot on the south-facing windowsill. Avoid frequent changes in location as the plant is sensitive to changing conditions.
What soil does the plant need?
The suitable substrate consists of one part sharp-grain sand and two parts compost. As an alternative to sand, you can use perlite. Pumice gravel and lava rock improve permeability and increase the mineral content in the substrate. Make sure you use a lime-free mixture, as the plants cannot tolerate lime. Special soils for cacti and succulents are optimally tailored to the needs of the plants. They provide you with all the important materials.
Substrate properties:
- pH value in acidic or neutral range
- good nutrient availability
- coarse structure for high water permeability
Propagate Mammillaria
Some species develop young plants at their base, which can be used for vegetative propagation. These children are fully developed and have enough of their own roots to be able to survive independently.
Separate the seedlings from the mother plant with a sharp knife and let the wound dry for two to three days. Place the cut surface of the young plant in a pot with fresh substrate. Species that do not develop children can be propagated from seeds.
Sowing
When berries appear on the cacti in autumn, you can pick them for seeds. Press the fruit pulp with the seeds onto an absorbent cloth and let the fruit mass air dry for a few days. Collect the seeds and store them in a cool and dry place until sowing next spring.
Mammillaria in the pot
Mammillaria are cultivated in pots. Species that tend to form groups through side shoots are planted in a wide bowl. Here the plants can spread unhindered. Tightly upright growing species that develop few or no side shoots feel comfortable in a deep planter. A cactus with a diameter of five centimeters needs a pot with a diameter of ten centimeters.
Balcony
During the warm summer months, mammillariums enjoy a sunny spot on the balcony. Slowly acclimate the plant to the outside temperatures. A sudden change of location from the living room to the balcony can cause damage. The shoots must develop a protective layer against UV radiation in order not to burn. Damage caused by excessive sunlight appears as irregular brown spots.
How to re-habit Mammillaria:
- Put outside in a shady place for one to two weeks
- Morning and evening sun does not harm the plants
- then place in the final location in the sun
Watering Mammillaria
The water requirement of mammillaria is moderate. As succulent plants, they store water in their fleshy, thickened shoots. During the growth phase between spring and autumn, the cacti enjoy regular watering. Give the plants fresh water as soon as the top layer of soil has dried out.
Make sure you water sparingly to avoid waterlogging. The robust plants survive dry periods without any problems. They will forgive you if you forget to water. The substrate should not dry out during the winter months.
How to water correctly:
- at the base of the plant
- alternatively place the pot in a bowl filled with water
- Remove the planter as soon as the top layer of soil appears moist
- allow excess water to drain away.
Fertilize Mammillaria properly
When the cacti are growing, they need a potassium-rich complete fertilizer every four weeks (€6.00 on Amazon). You can use a cactus fertilizer because it supplies the plants with important nutrients. Fertilization is carried out until autumn. Then stop the nutrient supply completely.
How do I transplant correctly?
Once the succulents have completely rooted through the substrate and the first roots are growing out of the drainage holes, you should transplant your Mammillaria. The ideal time for this measure is early spring, before the new growing season starts. Use cucumber tongs to handle them so you don't injure yourself on the prickly thorns. Particular caution is required with mammillaria with hook-shaped thorns. If the hooks are anchored in the skin, they are difficult to remove without damaging the sensitive warts.
Remove the root ball completely from the old substrate. You can gently shake and tap the plant to loosen any remaining soil. Fill a larger planter with fresh substrate and place the cactus in the middle of the soil. Fill in any gaps and water the plant.
Wintering
The cacti need a rest period of at least 16 weeks so that they can develop flowers. Winter is perfect for the break you need. Place the planter in a cool room with temperatures between six and ten degrees Celsius. If the plants are overwintered at room temperatures, they will continue to grow and require more water than when they are dormant. Under these conditions there will be no flowering next year.
Frost-free basement rooms and garages with north-facing windows are suitable as winter quarters. Since the plants need light even in winter, you should hang plant lamps in dark rooms. Fluorescent tubes are also suitable. Make sure there is a distance of 20 centimeters between the light source and the plant.
Pests
Mammillarias are considered robust plants that are rarely attacked by pests. The most common unwanted guests include mealybugs and spider mites.
Mealybugs
These pests are often observed on mammillaria. They leave behind flaky excrement that resembles cotton balls. If the infestation is very advanced, the affected plants show growth disorders. You can combat pest infestations with beneficial insects such as ladybirds, parasitic wasps and bedbugs. The thorns make it difficult to get rid of the lice. For targeted control, you can spray the plant with oil-based preparations. Severely infected and visibly weakened shoots should be cut off.
Spider mites
These pests appear as bright dots on the plant parts. They damage the plant so that the shoots are covered with light gray spots after a severe infestation. Spray solutions with rapeseed oil combat the insects. The oil film encloses the spider mites so that they suffocate. Predatory mites, ground beetles and predatory bugs are considered natural enemies of the pests.
Tip
Mammillaria awaken a passion for collecting. Combine different flowering species in a disused aquarium. In combination with figures you create a miniature desert world.
Varieties
- Mammillaria vetula: Abundantly sprouting, spherical shoots, gray-green. Flowers lemon yellow, up to 18 millimeters. Fruits whitish-yellow. Up to ten centimeters tall.
- Mammillaria elongata: Elongated shoots, cylindrical. Whitish to golden yellow thorns. Flowers pink to pale yellow, later red.
- Mammillaria spinosissima: Cylindrical growth, blue-green. Densely covered with thorns. Outer petals brownish with a pink edge, inner leaves carmine red. Up to 30 centimeters high and seven centimeters wide.
