Image - Flickr / Guillermo Huerta Ramos
Don't have a lot of experience in succulent plant care? If so, or if you are looking for a cactus that you don't have to worry too much about, you have to know that Mammillaria are one of your best options; and of all of them, the Mammillaria elegans it is one of the most beautiful.
With our care guide you can have your cactus decorating the patio year after year. We assure you. 😉
What are their characteristics?
Our protagonist is a native cactus from the north of San Luis de Potosí (Mexico). Its scientific name is Mammillaria haageana ssp elegans, although for a long time - and still today - it was known as Mammillaria elegans. It is globose in shape, and measures 5 to 8cm in diameter by 7-8cm in height.
From each areola sprout 16-18 radial spines that look like somewhat curved needles 1 to 5mm long, and 1-2 central awl-shaped spines 5 to 8mm long. The flowers are reddish-pink in color, 15-20mm long, and sprout to form the "flower crown" of the cactus.
How do you take care of yourself?
If you want to get a copy, we recommend providing the following care:
- Location: outside, in full sun.
- Substratum: it can be 100% akadama (you can get it here), 100% pumice, or mixing any of these with some universal growing medium (like this one from here).
- Irrigation: once or twice a week in summer and every 15-20 days the rest of the year.
- Subscriber: from spring to late summer with a liquid cactus fertilizer following the instructions specified on the product packaging (if you cannot find it, you can click here).
- Transplant: every two springs, when the temperature starts to rise above 15ºC.
- Multiplication: by seeds in spring or summer.
- Rusticity: resists up to -4ºC if the substrate is dry.
Image - Cactus-art-biz.com
What did you think of Mammillaria elegans?
Beautifull. I have one and now I know, thanks to you, how to treat it. Thanks.
It is certainly a very pretty cactus. We are glad to know that you liked the article 🙂