Mammillaria polythele grow and care – cactus of the genus Mammillaria also known as Nipple cactus, Mammillaria polythele perennial used as ornamental drought tolerant plant, can grow in desert, mediterranean or subtropics climate and growing in hardiness zone 10-11 possible with the right care in hardiness zone 12.
Stem color is green the spine color white and can be without spines, the stems can be in cone shape connected in the base and grow cone shape.
How to grow Mammillaria polythele growing and care:
More than -2C, well-drained soil More than -2C, well-drained soil
What is the best way to start growing?
Plant / Seed / Vegetative reproduction by daughter plants or cutting, Daughter plants mostly need to take care when pull it from the ground you take all the roots, take a plastic spatula or something harder depend the soil and uncover the roots, dig around the plant and better to use air blower machine or wash it with stream (but let it dry after) / Cutting – better to take all the cactus and cut it for pieces or else it’s just looks cut in the middle, cut with sterile knife after this let the cut part to stay on the shade to heal it’s might take few weeks and even months, put it on the soil with support (stick or something that won’t fall) cover lightly and lightly from the side and water it small amount of water.
Is it necessary to graft or use vegetative reproduction? No
Difficulties or problems when growing: Spines
Recommended planting season? Spring to summer in hardiness zone 10, spring to autumn in hardiness zone 11, possible all the year in hardiness zone 12
Pests and diseases: Just for design and dead part
Pruning season: All year
How to prune:
Just for design and dead part
Size of the plant? 5-15 cm, 2-6 inches
Growth speed in optimal condition: Slow growing
Water requirement: Small amount of water
Light conditions in optimal condition for growing: Full Sun
Is it possible to grow indoor as houseplant? No
Growing is also possible in a planter /flowerpot / containers: Yes, container or clay pot that will be 20-50% bigger (no need deep because the root shallow) for good drainage that important use in the bottom of the container with little rocks like: gravel, lava rocks or pebbles it will take care of the drainage, soil should be cactus potting mix, make holes in the container for good drainage, after 2-4 years switch the soil after need to make soil stable that the plant won’t fall, sometimes when it’s not stable better to add some stick that will hold the cactus.
Blooming information
Bloom season: Summer
General information about the flower Trumpet shape flower in pink color flowers grow on the top and create crown shape, surround the flowers is white like white velvet.
