Scientific Name
Mammillaria bocasana 'Multilanata'
Common Name(s)
Powder Puff Cactus, Powder Puff Pincushion, Powderpuff Pincushion Cactus, Snowball Cactus, Fishhooks
Synonym(s)
Mammillaria bocasana var. multilanata, Mammillaria bocasana f. multilanata
Scientific Classification
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Cacteae
Subtribe: Cactinae
Genus: Mammillaria
Description
Mammillaria bocasana 'Multilanata' is a cactus with clumping blue-green stems covered with hair-like radial spines and 1 to 7 (one hooked) central spines. The stems are spherical and up to 3 inches (7.5 cm) in diameter. The radial spines are white and up to 0.8 inches (2 cm) long, while the radial spines are reddish-brown and up to 0.4 inches (1 cm) long.
The flowers are creamy-white, creamy-yellow, or pinkish. They are up to 1 inch (2.5 cm) long and up to 0.6 inches (1.5 cm) in diameter. Fruits are rosy-pink to red, cylindrical, and up to 1 inch (2.5 cm) long.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zone 8a to 11b: from 10 °F (−12.2 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
To encourage better flowering, allow the plants to enjoy a cooling period in the winter and suspend watering. Unlike many other cacti, which use their ribs as storage devices, the Mammillaria feature raised tubercles, from which spines emerge. When you water, the tubercles will expand to allow for increased water storage. The flowers emerge from the axils of these tubercles on the previous year's growth, which accounts for their interesting halo effect. The cactus mustn't be exposed to prolonged dampness and sitting water. Never let your cactus sit in a dish of water. Lastly, make sure to fertilizer during the growing season for the best results.
Repot as needed, preferably during the warm season. To repot a cactus, make sure the soil is dry before repotting, then gently remove the pot. Next, knock away the old soil from the roots, making sure to remove any rotted or dead roots in the process.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Mammillaria.
Origin
Mammillaria bocasana 'Multilanata' is a cultivar of Mammillaria bocasana.
Links
- Back to genus Mammillaria
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
Photo Gallery
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