Care of the cactus Mammillaria longiflora or Krainzia longiflora |
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The genus Mammillaria, family Cactaceae, comprises more than 350 species of cacti originating, the vast majority, from Mexico. Some species of this genus are: Mammillaria longiflora, Mammillaria longimamma, Mammillaria carnea, Mammillaria brandegeei, Mammillaria vetula, Mammillaria spinosissima, 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 petterssonii, Mammillaria magnifica. Scientific synonym: Krainzia longiflora. This species is native to Durango, Mexico. They are small cacti with a globose-cylindrical body that reach 5 cm (1.96") in height and sometimes produce suckers. The angular tubercles have areoles with 25-30 light colored radial spines and 3-4 reddish central spines. The showy pink flowers appear near the apex of the cactus. Due to their small size they are used in pots and planters and in mini cactus gardens. Mammillaria longiflora prefers a semi-shady exposure receiving direct sun early in the day. It resists frost down to -10 ºC (14 ºF) if it remains dry. The soil can be a commercial substrate for cacti with 20% coarse sand or a mixture, in the same proportions, of coarse siliceous sand, blond peat, black cloudy and heather soil. Water moderately at the rate of once every 15 days in spring, every 7 days in summer, every 25 in autumn and do not water in winter. A spring fertilizer with mineral fertilizer for cacti is enough. They do not need pruning. They are sensitive plants to excessive watering and high humidity (they need good ventilation). They are propagated from seeds sown in spring in a sandy substrate. |
Images of the cactus Mammillaria longiflora or Krainzia longiflora |
 Mammillaria longiflora  Mammillaria longiflora |