Care of the cactus Mammillaria geminispina or Twin Spined Cactus |
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The genus Mammillaria, family Cactaceae, includes more than 350 species of cactus native to Mexico mostly. Some species are: Mammillaria geminispina, 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. Common names: Twin Spined Cactus, White Cactus or Whitey. Scientific synonyms: Cactus geminispinus, Neomammillaria geminispina. This species is native to Central Mexico. They are globular-bodied cacti that can form colonies 2 meters (6.56 feet) in diameter and 18 cm (7") high. They have small tubercles 0.7 cm (0.27") long with white woolly armpits. The areolas are oval and have 20 radial spines and 4 central white spines. The flowers are small, purple or red in color and appear in a crown on the top of the cactus. They bloom from mid spring to early summer. They are used in rockeries, in cactus and succulent gardens and in pots for balconies, windows, interiors and greenhouses. Mammillaria geminispina prefers a semi-shade exposure, especially in subtropical, arid or Mediterranean climates; in cooler summer regions locate in full sun. The winter safety temperature is 5 ºC (41 ºF). The soil can be a commercial cactus substrate with 20% coarse sand. Water moderately in spring, summer and fall, hoping that the substrate has completely dried. In winter do not water. They do not need pruning or fertilizers. They are plants quite resistant to pests and diseases, but sensitive to excess humidity. They propagate from seeds sown in the seedbed in spring or by rooting of suckers. |
Images of the cactus Mammillaria geminispina or Twin Spined Cactus |
 Mammillaria geminispina |