Consulta Plantas

Care of the cactus Mammillaria marksiana or Neomammillaria marksiana

The genus Mammillaria, family Cactaceae, includes more than 350 species of cactus native to Mexico mostly. Some species are: Mammillaria marksiana, 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, Mammillaria matudae.

Scientific synonyms: Neomammillaria magnimamma, Mammillaria macracantha. This species is native to Durango and Sinaloa, Mexico.

They are cacti with a globular body and light green color with a depressed apex that reach 15 cm (5.9") in height. They have pyramidal tubercles, woolly axils, and areoles with few central and radial spines. They produce yellow flowers that form a crown on the plant. They bloom in summer.

Neomammillaria magnimamma is used in pots, in rockeries and in cactus and succulent gardens.

Mammillaria marksiana prefer full sun exposure but also grow in semi-shade. It resists cold up to 3 ºC (37.4 ºF).

The soil can be a commercial cactus substrate or a mixture of heather soil with equal parts siliceous sand.

In spring and summer water regularly waiting for the soil to be completely dry. In autumn reduce watering; do not water in winter.

Fertilize in early spring with mineral fertilizer for cacti.

Mammillaria macracantha does not need pruning.

If there is not excess humidity, Mammillaria marksiana does not usually present problems of pests and diseases.

Neomammillaria magnimamma propagates from seeds sown in spring; it rarely produces suckers.

Images of the cactus Mammillaria marksiana or Neomammillaria marksiana