Care of the cactus Mammillaria laui or Escobariopsis laui |
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The genus Mammillaria, family Cactaceae, includes more than 350 species of cactus native to Mexico mostly. Some species are: Mammillaria laui, Mammillaria longimamma, Mammillaria karwinskiana, Mammillaria hahniana, Mammillaria haageana, Mammillaria geminispina, Mammillaria discolor, Mammillaria crinita, Mammillaria compressa, Mammillaria carmenae, Mammillaria candida, Mammillaria bombycina, Mammillaria backebergiana, Mammillaria marksiana, Mammillaria parkinsonii, Mammillaria lenta, Mammillaria magnimamma, Mammillaria pringlei, Mammillaria spinosissima, Mammillaria vetula, Mammillaria petterssonii, Mammillaria magnifica. Scientific synonyms: Escobariopsis laui. This species is native to Tamaulipas, Mexico. They are small cacti of cespitose bearing and globose body that reach 6 cm (2.36") in height. They have tubers with woolly areoles 3 mm (0.11") in diameter. The dark green epidermis is hidden by the large number of white radial spines (up to 50); the central spines do not always appear. The flowers are small and red. They produce claviform fruits. They are used in pots as balcony and terrace plants, as indoor and greenhouse plants. Mammillaria laui needs exposure to full sun, light shade or, indoors, filtered light. In winter the temperature should not be less than 4 ºC (39.2 ºF). The soil can be a commercial cactus substrate with 20% coarse siliceous sand. Water moderately at the rate of one watering every 15 days in spring, every 7 days in summer and every 20 days in autumn; do not water in winter. Fertilize in spring with mineral fertilizer for cacti. Pruning is not necessary. They are plants resistant to pests but sensitive to excessive humidity. They propagate by separating suckers in spring or from seeds sown in spring. |
Images of the cactus Mammillaria laui or Escobariopsis laui |
 Mammillaria laui |