Consulta Plantas

Care of the cactus Mammillaria microhelia or Krainzia microhelia

The genus Mammillaria, family Cactaceae, includes more than 350 species of cactus native to Mexico mostly. Some species are: Mammillaria microhelia, Mammillaria longimamma, Mammillaria magnimamma, Mammillaria lenta, Mammillaria laui, Mammillaria karwinskiana, Mammillaria hahniana, Mammillaria haageana, Mammillaria geminispina, Mammillaria discolor, Mammillaria crinita, Mammillaria compressa, Mammillaria carmenae, Mammillaria candida, Mammillaria bombycina, Mammillaria backebergiana, Mammillaria parkinsonii, Mammillaria pringlei, Mammillaria spinosissima, Mammillaria vetula, Mammillaria petterssonii, Mammillaria magnifica.

Scientific synonyms: Krainzia microhelia, Neomammillaria microhelia, Leptocladia microhelia. This species is native to Durango and Queretaro, Mexico.

They are light green cacti with a cylindrical body that reach 15 cm (5.9") in height and can produce suckers. Elliptical areolas have 40-50 light colored central spines and 0-5 reddish central spines. The flowers appear in a crown on the top of the cactus and can be yellowish, cream or white.

They are used in pots, in mini cactus gardens, in greenhouses, in rockeries and in gardens of succulents and cacti.

Mammillaria microhelia prefers full sun exposure and a hot, dry climate. In winter the temperature should be above 3 ºC (37.4 ºF).

The soil can be a commercial cactus substrate or a mixture of equal parts blond peat, coarse siliceous sand and vegetable substrate.

Water moderately in spring and summer, waiting for the substrate to dry. In autumn reduce watering; do not water in winter.

Fertilize once in spring and again in summer with mineral fertilizer for cacti and succulents.

They do not need pruning.

They are plants quite resistant to pests but sensitive to excess humidity.

They propagate by separation of suckers or by seeds sown at the end of winter in a humid sandy substrate.

Images of the cactus Mammillaria microhelia or Krainzia microhelia