Mammillaria theresae

La Mammillaria theresae It is a very small cactus, so much so that even if it reaches adulthood you can pick it up with one hand without any problem. Although it has thorns, they are not dangerous to humans; What's more, when it is handled, for example to change the pot, you have to be very careful because if you don't we could get to remove them.

This would not cause damage, certainly not serious, since they would grow back in a short time. But it is better to do things well, and taking the time that is necessary, trying not to damage the plant. But what is this cactus like? Y, How is it to be cared for?

Origin and characteristics of Mammillaria theresae

La Mammillaria theresae It is a small cactus, endemic to Mexico, specifically to Durango, where it lives in the deserts, often among the rocks, as you can see in the image above. Its body is globose although it tends to grow in the shape of a column over the years, reaching about 5 centimeters high by 1-3 centimeters thick.. It usually grows alone, but it is not uncommon for it to branch.

Like all mammillaria worth its salt, it has several bumps on its body called tubercles. These are cylindrical, and at their end they have the areola, from which arise the 22-35 radial spines of whitish and feathery color that the species has. Also sprout the flowers, which are purple or white and are about 2 centimeters in diameter. The fruit is very small, 1 centimeter, and contains black seeds.

It is in danger of extinction according to the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN for its acronym in English).

How do you take care of yourself?

If you do not have space for large cacti, and / or you like small ones, then it can be very interesting to get one Mammillaria theresae. But it must be said that it is a bit demanding, since for example If it is watered more than necessary it quickly rots, and if it is planted in a very compact soil it also softens and eventually dies.

For this reason, it is important to know what your needs are so that it can have a proper development. Thus, in addition, we will make it bloom every season.

Location

It is a cactus that It must be put in a place where it is exposed to the sun. But be careful with this, because if they had it indoors in the nursery, we should not expose it to the star king as soon as we get home because otherwise it would burn. To avoid this, it is much better to put it outside, in the open air, but in the shade (very clearly).

After about 15 days, we can start to get used to it little by little, exposing it to sunlight every week for a little longer. If at some point we see that it is starting to burn, before it goes to more we will put it back in the shade. Little by little he will get used to the sun.

Soil or substrate

• Garden: it grows on sandy or rocky soils, so it requires the soil to drain water quickly, and also to dry out quickly when it becomes damp. Therefore, if we want to have it in the garden, it is highly recommended to make a hole of about 50 x 50cm, and cover its sides except for the base with shading mesh. This mesh will prevent the substrate that we are going to put, which is the cheekbone, from mixing with the garden soil. Then, we add the aforementioned pomx, and plant the cactus.
• Flower pot: since it is very sensitive to waterlogging, I advise using pumice-type substrates (on sale No products found.), or akadama (for sale No products found.) with kiryuzuna (for sale No products found.) in equal parts, especially if we live in an area where the humidity is high.

Irrigation and fertilizer

Irrigation is the easiest, because we really just have to water the Mammillaria theresae when the substrate is completely dry. It is a plant that resists drought quite well, so we do not have to worry too much about this. In fact, you only need to water once a week, and even less in winter.

On the other hand, the subscriber we will do it periodically in spring and summer. If it is in the ground, it will be good for fertilizers or granulated or powdered fertilizers, but if it is in a pot it will be preferable to use fertilizers or liquid fertilizers for cactus (such as No products found.). In any case, you must follow the instructions on the container so as not to burn the roots.

Multiplication

It multiplies by seeds, and sometimes by cuttings. The ideal time for this is spring, and even early summer. The seeds will be sown in trays that are wider than they are tall, with substrate for cacti. Once in the sun or in semi-shade, they must be kept with the substrate moist but not flooded. This way they will germinate in about a month.

The cuttings are taken from the branches that sprout from the Mammillaria theresae. But they must measure a minimum of 2 centimeters, and they must be cut with a previously disinfected knife. In addition, it is good to impregnate the base with rooting hormones, and then plant them in pots with vermiculite. If they are put in semi-shade, they will root after about 15 days.

Plagues and diseases

It is a cactus that can have mealybugs. Now, the plague that causes the most damage are the snails and slugs, so it is important that they stay away from the plant.

In addition, when more water is added than necessary, the roots become vulnerable to diseases transmitted by fungi, such as phytophthora.

Rusticity

Withstands very weak frosts of up to -1 ° C.

Did you know this cactus?