How to care for mammilaria at home

Breeding cacti due to their extraordinary diversity and exoticism is a very common hobby. One of the most popular genera of cacti is mammillaria, and this popularity is well-deserved: they are mostly unpretentious, they are easy to breed, they are not very susceptible to pest attacks. In addition, the number of species belonging to this genus is truly enormous.

a brief description of

Mammillaria’s homeland is the southern region of North America and Central America. Now more than 250 species of cacti of this genus are known, which can be quite different from each other. Usually they are miniature, shaped like a small ball or cylinder. A distinctive feature of all members of the mammillaria genus is the absence of ribs, instead of them there are papillae (tubercles) on the stem, arranged in spiral rows. This structure allows Mammillaria to effectively resist the evaporation of moisture from its surface.

Hair and spines grow from the tubercles, and flowers appear between the papillae. Mammillaria bloom bright and bizarre. After flowering fruit boxes are formed, which contain seeds that ripen within 7-12 months. These plants are not afraid of either heat or cold and are considered the most resistant members of their family. Since the Mammillaria cactus in nature lives in very harsh conditions, taking care of it at home is simple and does not present any difficulties. Even the most inexperienced kaktusovody can easily cope with this.

Optimal conditions for growing in the house

Mammillaria do not require special care. They are unpretentious and will grow in almost any conditions. But if you want to admire the colors of your spiny pet, you will have to try a little.

Location and lighting

The cactus tank should be placed in a brightly lit place with access to direct sunlight. Window sills or terraces on the south side will do.With a lack of lighting cacti are drawn out and deformed, leaning toward the sun. In the summer of Mammillaria is better to make on the street. Some species have little daylight, they need to be further illuminated, up to 16 hours a day, especially during flowering.

It is better to protect undressed mammillaria from intense direct sunlight, in the middle of the day they should be shaded or hidden under a shed.

Temperature conditions

Mammillaria calmly tolerate even extreme heat, so in the summer they do not cause problems. However, the optimum summer temperature for them is 20-23 ° C. Daily temperature difference is also desirable, it is usually achieved in a natural way. This mode promotes good growth of the cactus. In winter, for these plants comes a period of rest. In order not to knock down the Mammillaria annual cycle, it is necessary to adhere to a temperature of not more than 13 ° C at this time (but it is better to keep fluffy species at a temperature of at least 15 ° C). Winter rest is needed for Mammillaria for subsequent flowering.

Peculiarities of home care

The main principle of caring for mammillaria - do not overdo it, because, despite all its stamina, the cactus can not survive too much unqualified attention.

Watering

Like most cacti, Mammillaria do not like frequent watering. In the summer, when there is an active growth, two irrigations a week are more than enough. Watering in a day or two, after the top layer of the earth has dried in a pot. In winter, they irrigate or, rather, moisturize the earth in a pot no more than one, rarely two times a month. The colder in the room, the less need for watering.

Air humidity

Mammillaria prefers dry air and even drought. Additional moisture does not require, especially in winter.

In summer, you can sometimes spray a plant from a small spray gun, but not under direct sunlight (preferably after sunset).

Top dressing

Mammillaria is fertilized only in summer, once a month is enough. Suitable complex fertilizers for cacti.

Pests and diseases: prevention and treatment

Perhaps the most common pest infecting cacti is the red spider mite. It is especially dangerous for not stocked species.

To prevent infection, the stem of the plant is treated with a brush moistened with alcohol. To control the tick, insecticides are used (for example, a weak solution of "Aktellika"), they should be treated with cactus within two to three weeks. It will not be easy for an inexperienced cactus grower to recognize another pest that is not less dangerous for Mammillaria cacti - the cactus shield represented in the photo.

These are small insects (up to 2 mm in size) whose body is covered with a wax shield. Struggling with them is the same: carefully wipe the stem with a brush moistened with alcohol, sprayed with insecticides during infection.

Quite often, the roots of cacti affect root nematodes.The reason for their appearance is usually poor-quality, infected substrate. It is very difficult to notice them, because they live in the root, and often the plant does not have time to save. The part of the root on which the bubbles appeared is cut with a knife. Then the rest of the root is placed for 10 minutes in hot water with a temperature of about 50 ° C (water should be avoided on the neck of the root) and treated with coal.

When and how to transfer

Young cacti are transplanted annually, and adult plants need only one transplant every two to three years. Mammillaria is best transplanted in the spring when the plants start to wake up with warming and get used to the new place more easily. The pot fits both plastic and ceramic. It should not be deep, but wide (the root system of cacti develops mostly shallow, but over a large area).

A drainage layer is laid on the bottom, for example, expanded clay, then it is filled with a soil mixture for cacti.The soil should be porous, permeable. Well suited mixture of sand, sheet and sod land. The components are taken in the ratio, respectively, 1: 2: 2, with the obligatory addition of brick chips. In addition, you can add charcoal and shell rock or limestone.

Breeding methods

Mammillaria is excellent for breeding with young shoots (children). But with many years of growing from plants, the plants degenerate, therefore, to save the variety, breeders periodically grow cacti from seeds.

Children

Escape the plants are cut at the base and left to lie for a week in the air, in order to dry the place cut. Then cut the baby planted in the wet sand and watered little by little.

Seeds

Before planting, the seeds for disinfection are soaked in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Then they are planted in shallow containers filled with wet sand, cover containers with film or placed in a special greenhouse. Germinate seeds at a temperature of 22-25 ° C. After the emergence of shoots, the film must be removed, and with the appearance of the first spikes, young mammillaria are seated in separate pots.

Mummillaria, perhaps, is an ideal choice in order to deal with the peculiarities of growing and breeding spiny pets, try to master a new hobby and love cacti.