Care of the cactus Mammillaria dioica or Strawberry Cactus |
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The genus Mammillaria, family Cactaceae, includes more than 350 species of cactus native to Mexico mostly. Some species are: Mammillaria dioica, Mammillaria longimamma, Mammillaria crinita, Mammillaria compressa, Mammillaria carmenae, Mammillaria candida, Mammillaria bombycina, Mammillaria backebergiana, Mammillaria elongata, Mammillaria karwinskiana, Mammillaria marksiana, Mammillaria hahniana, Mammillaria parkinsonii, Mammillaria lenta, Mammillaria discolor, Mammillaria laui, Mammillaria magnimamma, Mammillaria pringlei, Mammillaria spinosissima, Mammillaria haageana, Mammillaria vetula, Mammillaria petterssonii, Mammillaria magnifica. Common names: Strawberry Cactus, California Fishhook Cactus, Coastal Fishhook Cactus, Nipple Cactus, Strawberry Pincusion, Fishhook Cactus. Scientific synonyms: Chilita dioica, Cochemiea dioica, Neomammillaria dioica. This species is native to Baja California and California. They are cacti with a cylindrical, solitary or cespitose body, reaching 35 cm (13.77") in height and 10 cm (3.93") in diameter. The cylindrical tubercles are bluish-green in color and have woolly armpits. Circular areolas are wooly in their youth. They have 11-22 black and white radial spines and 1-4 longer, dark colored central spines. The flowers are small and cream and purple in color. Very young plants can flower. They are used in pots for balconies, terraces or interiors and in rockeries. Mammillaria dioica prefers exposure to full sun or filtered light indoors. In winter they should rest at 8-10 ºC (46-50 ºF). The soil can be a mixture of 25% coarse siliceous sand and 75% leaf mulch or heather soil although or a commercial substrate for cacti. Water once a week in summer, every 2 weeks in spring, every 25 days in autumn and do not water in winter. Fertilize in spring with mineral fertilizer for cacti. They do not need pruning. They are resistant to pests but sensitive to excess moisture that rots tissues. They propagate from seeds sown in the nursery in spring. |
Images of the cactus Mammillaria dioica or Strawberry Cactus |
 Mammillaria dioica  Mammillaria dioica |