Care of the cactus Mammillaria lenta or Chilita lenta |
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The genus Mammillaria, family Cactaceae, includes more than 350 species of cactus native to Mexico mostly. Some species are: Mammillaria lenta, Mammillaria longimamma, Mammillaria laui, 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 magnimamma, Mammillaria pringlei, Mammillaria spinosissima, Mammillaria vetula, Mammillaria petterssonii, Mammillaria magnifica. Scientific synonyms: Chilita lenta, Escobariopsis lenta, Neomammillaria lenta. This species is native to Coahuila, Mexico. They are very slow-growing cacti with a globular body flattened at the tip that produce suckers and reach 18 cm (7") in height. The small, conical tubercles are spirally arranged, have wool and white bristles and 30-40 radial spines on the areoles. The showy white or pink flowers reach 2.5 cm (0.98") in diameter. The decorative fruits are deep red. Due to their small dimensions and slow growth they are used in pots and planters; when they are adults they are used in rockeries. The slow Mammillaria needs full sun exposure and a hot, dry climate. The winter safety temperature is 4 ºC (39.2 ºF). The soil can be a commercial cactus substrate with 20% coarse siliceous sand. Water once a week in summer, every 2 weeks in spring, every 30 days in autumn and do not water in winter. Fertilize once in spring with mineral fertilizer for cacti. They do not need pruning. Excess moisture rots the roots. They propagate from seeds sown in spring but it's a slow process. |
Images of the cactus Mammillaria lenta or Chilita lenta |
 Mammillaria lenta  Mammillaria lenta |