Scientific Name
Mammillaria plumosa F.A.C. Weber
Common Name(s)
Feather Cactus
Synonym(s)
Ebnerella plumosa, Escobariopsis plumosa, Neomammillaria plumosa
Scientific Classification
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Cacteae
Subtribe: Cactinae
Genus: Mammillaria
Origin
Mammillaria plumosa is native to northeastern Mexico.
Description
Mammillaria plumosa is a clustering cactus that forms a mound of globose stems covered in soft white spines. It can grow up to 5 inches (12.5 cm) tall and up to 16 inches (40 cm) in diameter, and the individual stems can reach up to 2.8 inches (7 cm) in diameter.
The flowers are creamy-white, greenish-yellow, or dull pink. They have a sweet fragrance and appear in late summer.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 9a to 11b: from 20 °F (−6.7 °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, 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 fertilize during the growing season for the best results.
Repot as needed, preferably during the warm season. To repot Mammillaria, make sure the soil is dry before repotting, then gently remove the pot. Knock away the old soil from the roots, making sure to remove any rotted or dead roots in the process. Treat any cuts with a fungicide. Place the plant in its new pot and backfill with potting soil, spreading the roots out as you repot. Leave the plant dry for a week or so, then begin to water lightly to reduce the risk of root rot.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Mammillaria.
Links
- Back to genus Mammillaria
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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