€7,95

🌱 Morphology
A slow-growing Mammillaria, initially solitary, although it can produce lateral offsets with age and form clusters. The stem is globose to shortly cylindrical, light green, reaching up to 9–10 cm in height and about 10 cm in diameter. The tubercles are conical, about 5–6 mm long, and the axils are covered with wool and fine white bristles, which in some specimens can grow extraordinarily long and almost completely envelop the body. It features 20–36 white radial spines, fine and hair-like, up to 1.5 cm long, and 2–4 shorter central spines, whitish and usually with a dark apex. This abundant hairiness is responsible for its characteristic "old lady" appearance.

🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family
Native to Mexico, with a distribution ranging from Tamaulipas toward the center and west of the country, especially including Guanajuato and Querétaro. It is found at approximately 600 to 2,200 m, forming part of xerophytic scrub, tropical deciduous forests, and Pinus and Quercus forests. The population in the Sierra de Jalpan constitutes a classic reference for the species.
Family Cactaceae · Subfamily Cactoideae · Tribe Cacteae 

❄️ Temperature · USDA Zone 9a
It tolerates minimum temperatures down to −6 ºC for brief periods and with the substrate completely dry. For specimens grown in pots, extreme caution is recommended with cold humidity. Cultivation records indicate variable resistance depending on dryness and acclimatization conditions.

☀️ Lighting
It requires plenty of light to maintain compact growth and correctly develop its characteristic covering of wool and spines. Direct sun or very intense light is recommended, with progressive adaptation to avoid burns. As a reference, a DLI PAR of 20–30 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹ is adequate during active growth.

💧 Growth cycle and irrigation
Winter dormancy. During active growth, it is recommended to water deeply and allow the substrate to dry completely before the next watering. In autumn, water intake is progressively reduced until the plant is kept dry throughout the winter. Ventilation and fast drainage are especially important to keep the wool of the axils intact.

🌸 Flowering
It produces a spectacular crown of flowers around the apex, pink to purple-red in color, with an approximate diameter of 1.5–1.8 cm. In natural populations, flowering has been recorded between April and May, while in cultivation, it may occur mainly in May and June. It is a relatively precocious species: the first flowering has been documented approximately 4–5 years after sowing.

🌿 Nutrition
During active growth, Desert CHOICE® Cactaceae NPK (Ca-Mg) 4-4-7 (4-4) is recommended once a month along with watering. Assimilable calcium promotes the formation of firm tissues and the maintenance of turgidity, while magnesium participates in chlorophyll synthesis. Before flowering, it can be supplemented with Desert CHOICE® Flowering.

This is an inimitable xerophyte grown in Madrid in a technical square pot with the substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi.

📏 The sizes of our basic collection xerophytes are as follows:

S -> 9cm x 9cm

M-> 14cm x 14 cm

L->16cm x 16 cm

* As this is an online purchase, the appearance of the sent specimen may vary slightly from the product image. The measurements of the plant are specified in the photo description, but this may also vary slightly because it is a living being! Each of the Desert CITY plants has unique characteristics.

• Hassle-free returns

• Free Shipping on orders over €79.99

• Secure and protected payment guaranteed.