€7,95

Mammillaria schiedeana C.Ehrenb.

Schiede's pincushion · Feather cactus

🌱 Morphology
  Rare and threatened in its habitat... Small cactus, dark green body, globose to somewhat flattened, about 2.5–10 cm tall and 4–6 cm in diameter, forming dense clusters with age. The tubercles are narrow, cylindrical, and slightly tapered toward the tip, with axils that may have white wool. It stands out for its numerous fine, white or cream-colored spines, with yellowish bases, arranged in several series and appearing like small, interlaced hairs. It does not present clearly differentiated central spines in the typical form.

🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family
Cactaceae, Cactoideae, Cacteae. It is native to Mexico, from Guanajuato to Veracruz, with populations particularly well-known in Hidalgo and other states in central-northeastern Mexico. It lives in xerophytic scrublands and dry environments, often on limestone terrain, at altitudes around 1,300–1,500 m. The species currently includes three accepted subspecies: subsp. schiedeana, subsp. dumetorum, and subsp. giselae.

❄️ Temperature
USDA 10b. It tolerates minimum temperatures down to 1.7 ºC according to the horticultural references consulted; due to its mountain origin and traditional cultivation, it can withstand lower temperatures when kept completely dry, but it is not considered a suitable cactus for hard frosts.

☀️ Lighting
It needs plenty of light to maintain the compactness of the body and correctly develop the dense spine covering. Gradual direct sun is recommended, avoiding sudden changes from shaded situations. An approximate PAR DLI of 18–30 mol/m²/day is adequate during growth.

💧 Growth cycle and watering
Winter dormancy. Although it can produce flowers during winter in cultivation, it is advisable to keep it practically dry during cold periods. During active growth, it is recommended to water abundantly and allow the substrate to dry completely before watering again. It is sensitive to excess moisture, especially at low temperatures.

🌸 Flowering
It produces small white or creamy-white flowers, arranged in a ring around the apex. In cultivation, it can flower from 3–4 years after sowing, although the timing depends on growing conditions and the plant's development. Flowering has been recorded from winter through spring, and at other times of the year depending on origin and conditions. The fruits are narrow and red or carmine.

🌿 Nutrition
During the active growth period, a fertilizer with high content of assimilable calcium and low nitrogen levels, such as Desert CHOICE® Cactaceae, is recommended, applied once a month when watering. Before flowering, it can be supplemented with Desert CHOICE® Flowering.

This is an inimitable xerophyte grown in Madrid in a high-tech square pot with 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.

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