Care of the cactus Mammillaria longimamma or Long Nipple Cactus |
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The genus Mammillaria, family Cactaceae, includes some 350 species of small cacti native to Mexico and the US. Some species are: Mammillaria longimamma, Mammillaria petterssonii, Mammillaria magnifica, Mammillaria longiflora, 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. Common names: Long Nipple Cactus, Finger Mound, Finger Cactus, Pinapple Cactus. This species is native to Guanajuato, Hidalgo, and Querétaro (Mexico). They are small caespitose cacti with a globular body that reach 10 cm (3.93") in height. The long ovoid-oblong tubercles measure 7 cm (2.75") in length. In the whitish areoles they have 9-10 radial spines of 2 cm (0,78") in length and 0-3 central spines of 2.5 cm (0.98") in length of dark color. The small but showy yellow flowers form crowns at the apex of the plant. The green fruits are large relative to the size of the cactus. Due to their small size they are used in pots for windows, balconies and patios but they are also ideal for rockeries and mini-gardens of cacti and succulents. The Mammillaria longimamma needs semi-shade exposure, avoiding direct sunlight in the middle of the day. The temperature should not be less than 4 ºC (39.2 ºF). The soil can be a commercial cacti substrate with 20% coarse sand. Water every 15 days in spring, every 7 days in summer and every 20-25 days in autumn. Do not water in winter. They do not need fertilizer or pruning. They are plants resistant to the usual pests and diseases but sensitive to excess moisture. They are propagated from seeds sown in spring or by separation of suckers in summer or spring. |
Images of the cactus Mammillaria longimamma or Long Nipple Cactus |
 Mammillaria longimamma  Mammillaria longimamma |