Mammillaria

Mammillaria, more broadly known as pincushion cactus, is a very large genus of cacti and contains hundreds of species and varieties.  Most of the mammillaria cacti are native to Mexico, but some originate from the southwest United States, the Caribbean, Colombia, Venezuela, Guatemala, and Honduras.  Unfortunately, the common name "pincushion cactus" is used to refer to many cacti that are not included within Mammillaria, which can make identification difficult.  Light or dark-colored bumps from which clusters of spines grow are called areoles, and they appear in a split configuration on pincushion cacti; a spineless base covered in bristles or wool, and an apex that is covered in spines.  Ranging from spherical to cylindrical, pincushion cacti typically have a round, dark green exterior covered by thorns and flowers.  Funnel-shaped flowers in yellow, pink, red, green, and white are often produced in the spring, providing a lovely splash of color to their environment.  As most have their surfaces completely covered with thorns, they should be kept out of the reach of pets and children.

Unobstructed, continuous sun exposure throughout the day is ideal for pincushion cacti, and they should be placed directly under a window when grown indoors.  Well-drained, sandy soil is essential for growing a pincushion cactus, as they are very sensitive to overwatering.  An additional measure to help reduce excess moisture in the soil is to plant in an unglazed clay pot, as they evaporate water through their walls.  Allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings and do not water during the winter dormancy.  To increase the chance of blooming, apply cactus food and delay returning to the normal watering cycle for 3-4 after the arrival of spring.  Mulching around the base of the plant to its root zone with loose gravel can help prevent stem rot.  When pincushion cacti reach maturity, they will produce offsets that can be removed from the mother plant and repotted.  Alternatively, they can be grown from seed by surface-seeding a container filled with cactus soil mix, covering the seeds with a sprinkling of sand, and evenly moistening the soil.  After allowing the seeds to germinate in a warm environment while maintaining moist soil, seedlings ready for transplant should begin to crop up.  

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3-6 hours of sun per day, with protection from intense mid-day sun

Water moderately, allowing the top 3cm to dry out between watering.

Mammillaria

Mammillaria

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