Care of the cactus Mammillaria elongata or Golden Stars |
The genus Mammillaria, family Cactaceae, includes more than 350 species of cactus native to Mexico mostly. Some species are: Mammillaria elongata, Mammillaria longimamma, Mammillaria discolor, Mammillaria crinita, Mammillaria compressa, Mammillaria carmenae, Mammillaria candida, Mammillaria bombycina, Mammillaria backebergiana, Mammillaria karwinskiana, Mammillaria marksiana, Mammillaria hahniana, Mammillaria parkinsonii, Mammillaria lenta, Mammillaria laui, Mammillaria magnimamma, Mammillaria pringlei, Mammillaria spinosissima, Mammillaria haageana, Mammillaria vetula, Mammillaria petterssonii, Mammillaria magnifica, Mammillaria matudae. Common names: Golden Stars, Lady Fingers. Scientific synonyms: Chilita elongata, Neomammillaria elongata, Krainzia elongata, Leptocladia elongata. This species is native to Guanajuato, Hidalgo and Querétaro, Mexico. They are small cacti with a creeping bearing that form highly branched colonies that reach 15 cm (5.9") in height. The body is cylindrical, deep green in color and has 4 mm (0.15") long conical tubercles. Round areolas have up to 28 star-shaped curved radial spines and 0-3 central spines. The flowers are white or yellowish and appear in the upper half of the stems. They bloom from mid-winter to late spring. Golden Stars is a fast growing and easy growing plant that is used in pots, in rockeries and in cactus and succulent gardens. Mammillaria elongata need full sun or semi-shade exposure and hot, dry climates. It resists occasional frosts but it's better that the temperature does not drop below 3 ºC (37.4 ºF). The soil can be a commercial cactus substrate or a mixture, in the same proportions, of leaf mulch, coarse sand, and light garden substrate. Lady Fingers is very resistant to drought; water moderately waiting for the substrate to dry completely. Do not water from mid-fall to early spring. Fertilize with cactus fertilizer once in spring and again in summer. Golden Stars does not need pruning. Mammillaria elongata is a very sensitive plant to excess watering. Lady Fingers propagates easily by separation of suckers; they can produce roots in a week. |
Images of the cactus Mammillaria elongata or Golden Stars |