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Cactus Mammillaria: how to properly care for, photo of a cactus
Mammillaria cactus in blooming state resembles a child’s head, crowned with a wreath woven of delicate fresh flowers. Even without a bright crown, it looks very beautiful. His homeland is America. In our area, a miniature plant is planted in pots on a windowsill.
How to properly care for a mammillaria cactus
In Latin, the name is spelled Mammillāria. Translated as “nipple”. This indicates an important feature of the indoor flower – tubercles located on the surface of its stem. The plant was first described by the Englishman Adrian Haworth in 1812.
Mammillaria cactus is represented by hundreds of species
It is enough to see a photo of the Mammillaria cactus to get excited with the desire to plant it in your home.
Representatives of the genus mammillaria are easy to care for. Follow a few mandatory rules, and the flower will thank you for taking care of its flowering. These are the rules:
- Water the flower during the warm season with small portions of water at least once every 8-10 days. In the fall, the amount of watering should be reduced. In winter, moisten the flower no more than once a month.
- Spray Mammillaria in the summer. She is not afraid of dry air, but in a humid environment she feels better.
- Place the plant pot in a place with direct sunlight. This will stimulate flowering.
- Watch your temperature. In the summer months, it should be 20-23 ° C, in the winter – 10-12 ° C.
- Feed the plant once a month during the flowering and growing season with a special cactus mix.
As for planting, mammillaria loves a soil mixture containing brick chips, sod and leafy soil, and sand. The easiest way is to purchase a ready-made substrate for cactus plants. Be sure to install a drain at the bottom of the pot.
Protection of mammillaria from pests and diseases
The cactus has two main enemies: the red mite and root nematodes. The latter are difficult to calculate, since they settle at the root. A sign of an attack by these insects is the appearance of bubbles on the roots. The bulges should be cut off and the root placed in warm water at about 50 ° C. 10 minutes of soaking is sufficient. Then treat the root system with charcoal. Good prophylaxis against insects – 15% actellic solution.
In most cases, a cactus becomes infected from a poor-quality substrate already affected by pests.
Mammillaria is not only an interior decoration. The plant purifies the air and protects its owners from harmful radiation.