Consulta Plantas

Care of the cactus Mammillaria pringlei or Lemon ball cactus

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

Common name: Lemon ball cactus. Scientific synonyms: Cactus pringlei, Neomammillaria pringlei. This species is native to the State of Mexico, Mexico.

They are small cacti with a greyish-green cylindrical or globose body that branch and reach 18 cm (7") in height. They have conical tubercles with white woolly armpits and oval areolas with 15-20 yellowish central spines and 5-7 longer yellow central spines. The flowers are red and appear in a crown on the upper part of the plant. The fruits are red and 1.5 cm (0.59") long.

Lemon ball cactus is used in rockery and in pots as indoor plants, greenhouse plants and for balconies, terraces and windows.

Mammillaria pringlei needs very sunny exposure and a hot, dry climate. It does not resist temperatures below 3 ºC (37.4 ºF).

The soil can be a commercial cactus substrate with 20% coarse sand. Cactus pringlei is only transplanted (in spring) if the pot is too small.

In spring and summer water moderately waiting for the substrate to have completely dried. In autumn water every 20-25 days and do not water in winter.

Lemon ball cactus does not need pruning or fertilizers.

The biggest danger for Mammillaria pringlei is excess moisture.

Cactus pringlei propagates from seeds sown in spring.

Images of the cactus Mammillaria pringlei or Lemon ball cactus