Consulta Plantas

Care of the cactus Mammillaria spinosissima or Spiny pincushion cactus

The genus Mammillaria, family Cactaceae, includes more than 350 species of cactus native to Mexico mostly. Some species are: Mammillaria spinosissima, Mammillaria longimamma, Mammillaria schumannii, Mammillaria painteri, 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 pringlei, Mammillaria vetula, Mammillaria petterssonii, Mammillaria magnifica.

Scientific synonyms: Cactus spinosissimus, Neomammillaria spinosissima. This species is native to Central Mexico.

They are cacti with a columnar body that reach 30 cm (11.8") in height and 10 cm (3.93") in diameter; they can be solitary or produce colonies. The tubers are wooly in the armpits, conical and dark bluish-green. The areolas are circular and have 20-30 whitish radial spines 1 cm (0.39") long and 7-15 central reddish spines. The flowers are small, pink, purple or red in color and appear in a crown at the top of the plant.

They are used in pots as indoor, greenhouse and balcony and terrace plants, on rockeries, on dry slopes, and in cactus and succulent gardens.

The Mammillaria spinosissima prefers full sun exposure and warm climates. The winter temperature should not be less than 4 ºC (39.2 ºF).

The soil can be a commercial cactus substrate with 20% coarse sand.

Water moderately, always waiting until the substrate has completely dried. Do not water from mid-fall to early spring.

Fertilize once in spring with mineral fertilizer for cacti.

They do not need pruning.

Excess humidity is the main enemy of these plants.

They propagate from seeds sown in spring in a sandy substrate or by separating suckers.

Images of the cactus Mammillaria spinosissima or Spiny pincushion cactus