Care of the cactus Mammillaria candida or Snowball |
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The genus Mammillaria, family Cactaceae, includes more than 350 species of cactus native to Mexico mostly. Some species are: Mammillaria candida, Mammillaria longimamma, Mammillaria bombycina, Mammillaria backebergiana, Mammillaria carmenae, Mammillaria elongata, Mammillaria karwinskiana, Mammillaria marksiana, Mammillaria hahniana, Mammillaria parkinsonii, Mammillaria compressa, Mammillaria crinita, Mammillaria lenta, Mammillaria discolor, Mammillaria laui, Mammillaria magnimamma, Mammillaria pringlei, Mammillaria spinosissima, Mammillaria haageana, Mammillaria vetula, Mammillaria petterssonii, Mammillaria magnifica. Common name: Snowball. Scientific synonyms: Chilita candida, Mammilloydia candida. This species is native to Northeastern Mexico. They are small cacti with a solitary spherical body and bluish-green color that become tussocks and reach 10 cm (3.93") in height. In the axils of the tubercles they have white hairs and in the areolas they have 30-50 white radial spines (5 mm/0.19" long) and 12 more rigid white or pink central spines. The pink flowers appear in a crown on the top of the cactus. They bloom in spring. They are used in pots for patios, terraces, balconies, windows and in well-ventilated interiors. Mammillaria candida needs full sun exposure and high temperatures. The winter temperature should not be less than 5 ºC (41 ºF). The soil can be a mixture of leaf mulch and coarse sand in the same proportions or a commercial substrate for cacti and succulents. The transplant is done in early spring. These cacti need less water than usual; water in spring and summer waiting for the soil to be completely dry. From mid-autumn to early spring there is no need to water. They do not need pruning or fertilizers. They are sensitive plants to excess humidity. They propagate from seeds sown in spring or by rooting suckers also in spring. |
Images of the cactus Mammillaria candida or Snowball |
 Mammillaria candida  Mammillaria candida |