Caring for a mammary cactus at home, planting rules and breeding methods
Succulents are popular in indoor floriculture. They do not require complex maintenance, even a novice plant lover can handle this. Mammillaria is often grown among cacti; caring for a flower at home is quite simple. All that is needed for a desert plant is proper lighting, correct soil, scant fertilizing and watering. If you study the recommendations for growing a cactus in advance, the process will be fascinating, and the flower will delight you with a decorative appearance, and perhaps flowers.
Description and peculiarities of the plant
Mammillaria belong to one of the most numerous genera of cacti, along with the prickly pear. There are about 180 varieties, but not all of them are grown in apartment conditions. The first mentions of a succulent are found in the description of Carl Linnaeus, a Swedish scientist and botanist. It happened in 1753.One of the distinguishing features of the mammary is the presence of tubercles or tubercles.
The succulent is a miniature plant, so it is quite easy to care for it at home. In addition, it does not take up much space on the windowsill. Mammillaria has a small fleshy spherical stem. Reaches a maximum height of 40 cm and a diameter of not more than 20 cm. The flowering period of the cactus falls on spring, flowers are formed in the axils of the succulent, which is not typical for other representatives of the cactus .
Main varieties
The main representatives of mammaries grown at home include the following varieties.
golden haired
This representative of the mamillaria came to us from Mexico. It has a single dark green stem reaching a height of 4-6 cm. Its shape is slightly flattened, slightly resembling a ball, about 6-8 cm in diameter. Elongated tubercles that do not touch each other are rarely located. The succulent root is fleshy and quite dense. The flowers look like bells, have a diameter of about 3 cm, their color is cream or beige, each petal has a pink longitudinal strip.
bokasana
The cylindrical shape and dense stem are characteristics of bokasana. The stem has a dark green tint and a height of 4-6 cm. Dark thorns with hooks at the ends are quite long, they are framed by a long white bunch in the form of a bouquet. During the flowering period, the cactus is characterized by pale pink bell-shaped flowers. If you follow all the care recommendations, the succulent blooms every year.
wilda
The stem of this succulent is dark green and barrel-shaped.In the middle there is a hard thorn resembling a hook, it is framed by filiform thorns. A distinctive feature of the wilda is that many side children are formed on it. They do not fall off on their own, but continue their development on the mother's trunk.
Zeilman
A crown of small, bright pink flowers adorns Zelman's mammillaries during the flowering period. In addition, this process is quite long, with proper care the cactus can bloom for up to six months. The stem of the succulent is barrel-shaped and the central spine is surrounded by fine white spines gathered in clusters.
Escape
One of the smallest species with many side shoots. Stems are round and small. Hair-like needle-like spines densely cover the shaft of this mammary. In addition, in the center they are golden in color, and on the sides are white. White flowers adorn the shoot during flowering. The fruits that appear after this have a bright red tint. In addition, they appear on succulents even without pollination and become an additional decoration for mammillaries.
Carmen
This highly branched cactus forms groups very quickly. The dense, elongated stem is up to 15 cm wide and does not exceed 5 cm in height. There are brown or dark yellow spines all over its surface. Carmen adorns herself with many white flowers that appear on her in the spring.
Luthi
The pear-shaped dark green stem and miniature appearance are characteristic of this mammary. Unlike other species, a small number of spines form on it, and they are rarely located. But the flowers of Mammillaria Luthi are quite large, 2-3 buds appear on one stalk. Their diameter is about 3 cm, and the color of the petals is dark purple or lilac at the edge and white at the base.
Zelman
In young mammillaries of this species, the stem has a spherical shape, then it extends up to 7 cm in height and about 15 cm in diameter. At its base there are numerous side shoots, located quite densely. The central spine is red. Tselman cactus is one of the most flowering mammillary species and the least demanding to maintain. It's a great option for your first experience in floriculture. Its flowers are dark pink, large, located at the top of the stem. The flowering of the succulent is long - from early spring to the very autumn.
Plumosa
The spherical stems of this cactus have a diameter of about 7 cm. In general, this mammary is one of the most attractive and decorative. However, caring for such a succulent plant is quite difficult, so it is not as often used in home floriculture as other varieties. It is decorated with tiny white flowers no more than 1.5 cm in diameter.
Conditions of detention
From the quality of creating conditions for the growth of mammaries, its decorative effect and the duration of flowering depend.
Lighting
In the natural environment, this succulent grows well in the most well-lit places, so it should be provided in indoor conditions. The cactus is not at all afraid of direct sunlight, it only becomes more beautiful. If it is not possible to place a succulent on the south window sill, you will need to provide additional lighting for it so that it does not lose its decorative effect.
air humidity
Mammillaria has no particular preference for this indicator. She tolerates prolonged dryness of the air without problems, since it is to such conditions that she is accustomed in the natural environment.
Temperature
Temperature readings for a cactus should be between 22 and 27 degrees. If the flower is in a room that is rarely aired, then it is provided with bright shading at the height of solar activity. Otherwise, it will burn and wrinkle.
Soil and capacity
For the cultivation of mammillaries, they acquire a wide, but not deep pot; this requirement is due to the fact that the succulent is characterized by multiple side shoots. The soil is purchased at a garden store, the packaging should be marked "For succulents". If desired, you can prepare the soil for a desert flower yourself.
For this, take:
- turf land (1 part);
- fine gravel (1 part);
- leafy ground (1 part).
You will also need to add a few pieces of crumbled birch charcoal. It should be remembered that rotten humus should be applied in minimum quantities for this flower.
top dresser
To fertilize succulents, special fertilizers are purchased in the store. This procedure is carried out monthly, from early spring to late autumn. During the winter months, the feeding of the cactus is completely stopped.
Dormant period
Mammillaria has a standard rest period for the winter. At this time, the succulent does not need fertilizer and irrigation, the air temperature in the room is reduced to 15 degrees.
Bloom
The flowering period begins in all mammary species without exception in early spring. But its duration directly depends on the variety. For some cacti it is only a month, while for others the period extends to 3-4 months. During this time, the succulent receives a regular supply of nutrients, moderate humidity and sufficient sunlight.
Size
This procedure is optional for the plant. However, in order to increase the decorativeness of the culture, the faded inflorescences are periodically pinched.
Seasonal Care Features
The care of a desert dweller will be slightly different at each time of the year. It depends on the stage of the vegetative process.
Spring
This is the time when the cactus comes out of dormancy and prepares to please the owner of stunning beauty with flowering. Gradually increase the air temperature to optimal values, resume fertilizing and organize regular, but not too abundant irrigation.
Summer
Caring for cacti of this variety in the summer is reduced to the organization of full-fledged lighting, nutrition and irrigation.
Autumn
Gradually they begin to prepare the mammaries for the rest period. They reduce the amount of fertilizer and soil moisture. Arrange light shadows.
Winter
The quality of the growing season in the new season depends on a good winter rest. Fertilizing is completely stopped, watering is rarely carried out, as the soil dries out. Temperature indicators in the room where the succulent will overwinter should not be below 15 degrees, otherwise the plant will get sick and will not please with abundant flowering with the onset of spring.
How to plant and replant
Young cactus specimens should be moved to new containers every year. Adult mammaries do not need this procedure more than once every 3 years. A pot is prepared, at the bottom of which a drainage layer is placed. Then, transferring the succulent plant to a new container, it is filled with prepared soil. The first time after the procedure, the cactus is not irrigated, it must completely adapt to a new place.
Advice! The best way to grow a desert plant is to use plastic containers.
the reproduction
Breeding a succulent is possible in two ways.
Children
A fairly simple method, most often used by gardeners. Children are separated from the mother plant and removed for a week in a shady place. After the sections dry, they are planted in moist sand. After about six months, young cacti will already have a full-fledged root system, then they will be transferred to a permanent place of growth.
Seeds
This breeding method is quite laborious and does not always end successfully, therefore it is rarely used in indoor floriculture. It is more often used by breeders to obtain new mammary varieties.
Solve common problems
Problems growing this succulent are rare, but they cannot be completely ruled out.
Care errors
The absence of beautiful flowers on the mammaries is most often associated with a violation of care during the dormant period or insufficient fertilizing. Due to insufficient watering, the cactus begins to dry out.
Diseases
Among diseases, mammaries are most often affected by root rot. This is a consequence of irrigation disruptions. With its excess, the trunk softens and changes its shade. To save the plant, the soil is dried, and the damaged roots are treated with a fungicide. "Fitosporin" has proven itself to solve the problem.
pests
As a rule, insect pests appear on the mammaries if infected plants are nearby. It can also be due to too dry air. Then the cactus is attacked by scale insects or spider mites. To get rid of parasites, use the drug "Actellik", applying it according to the attached instructions.
Nematodes are dangerous for cactus roots.They are fought with the help of charcoal, with which the roots are treated, having previously soaked them in water at a temperature of 50 degrees.
Additional tips and tricks
When using the cactus in indoor floriculture, useful recommendations have appeared, which must be observed in order to grow a full-fledged specimen of mamillaria:
- Avoid excessive soil moisture.
- Provide the plant with the necessary conditions for rest.
- Use top dressing during the growing season.
- Do not leave the cactus in the scorching rays of the sun for a long time.