Have you ever seen a cactus so strange? Continue reading and discover all the secrets of the mammillaria gracilis fragilis “thimble cactus”.
Characteristics of the mammillaria gracilis fragilis “thimble cactus”.
This small and delicate plant is native to the Mexican deserts.
And more specifically from the regions of Guanajuato, Hidalgo and Queretaro.
However, currently, this plant has spread throughout the world as an ornamental cactus par excellence, due to its easy handling, its beauty and its resistance.
This succulent is a small plant.
Not exceeding 10 centimeters tall and growing in beautiful groups of dozens of individuals.
Its growth is slow and its flowering is not very striking.
Notwithstanding the appearance conferred by his kind and crashed thorns, one of the indoor cactus preferred worldwide.
The toughest Mexican cactus
The mammillaria gracilis fragilis “thimble cactus” can survive long seasons without water, so it is ideal if you consider that you have low experienced in the care of this type of plants.
However, whether you are an expert or a novice, these plants are the perfect succulents to grow inside your home, given its beauty, its impressive and impressive presence, and its easy handling.
This plant almost immortal.
Flower of the mammillaria gracilis fragilis “thimble cactus”
After maturing, if you have taken good care of the plant, in spring, this succulent will begin to generate small and delicate yellow florets,
of no more than 1 centimeter in diameter, which will end up forming small constellations that cover the plant almost completely.
The flowering of the mammillaria gracilis fragilis “thimble cactus” is not something very striking compared to other Mexican cacti, but it will give that special touch, surely you were looking at your desk.
Tips to take care of the mammillaria gracilis fragilis “thimble cactus
The main characteristic of this plant is its great resistance.
However, like the rest of the succulent style, the cultivation of the mammillaria gracilis fragilis “thimble cactus” is a very specific process but nothing complex.
Substratum
The best substrate for this plant will be the one that does not contain practically organic material.
Being mainly mineral and sandy.
This feature will allow you not to retain excess water, preventing plant rot.
I recommend acquiring a substrate for specific cactus that has the properties that this plant needs.
Watering
To water, a mammillaria gracilis fragilis “thimble cactus you will have to check the humidity of the soil.
Trying to keep it continuously wet, but not wet or flooded, to prevent root rot.
Remember the great capacity to accumulate water that succulents have.
It can withstand long periods of drought without problems.
Fertilizer
I recommend paying the mammillaria gracilis fragilis “thimble cactus” once every 2 or 3 weeks.
Use a specific cactus fertilizer.
Perform this process during the flowering of the plant, to take advantage of its full potential.
Transplant
The growth of the mammillaria gracilis fragilis “thimble cactus” is very slow but steady, so you will have to be attentive to the transplant
If you want to allow the plant to grow naturally.
The best way to know how to grow it is to remember its origin.
In this case, this plant both exterior and interior.
So these are the four basic tips.
1. It places in full sun and high temperatures.
2. Bo get below 3 ° C
3. It is a plant that does not need maintenance
4.No need to prune
The best time to transplant is during spring.
During this process, try to eliminate all the roots that are taking grayish colors, since this is an indicator of the possible presence
mushroom.
Also consider placing pieces of cooked clay over the drainage holes of the new pot, to prevent the roots from the guest they plug it and undesirably increase the humidity of the soil.
A tip to consider when transplanting the mammillaria gracilis fragilis “thimble cactus” is to use newspaper sheets or thick gloves since their spines can really be a nightmare.
This process is not difficult.
Go around the pot holding the soil with one hand and tapping the sides of the bowl with the other.
Help yourself with tools to remove the plant without hurting the roots or exposing them too much to direct sun.
I recommend you use tools for cactus that ensure that the plant does not suffer in this process.
These are usually delicate and sized tools correct that do not damage the roots or leaves of the cactus in the process
Propagation
Like its sisters, the mammillaria gracilis fragilis “thimble cactus” can be made using cuttings or seeds.
Although the method by seeds is much more complete and beautiful, I recommend you to carry out this process through cuttings, since you will get the same replicas as the mother and the probability of failure is almost none.
To reproduce this plant through this method you will have to separate one of the basal children when it has reached maturity.
Remove it, let the wound dry for 24 hours and plant it in a pot with a specific and clean substrate, giving it normally.
If you opt for seed reproduction, keep in mind that this is a slower process but much more beautiful.
The mammillaria gracilis fragilis “thimble cactus” gives seeds during the months of March-April.
To succeed in this task, you will prepare pots with a mixture of soil for cactus and vermiculite in an approporcion2-1.
Then you will submerge the pots in water until the soil is soaked well.
After this, we will introduce the seeds to a depth not exceeding 1.5 centimeters.
Then you will cover the pots with transparent film paper and we will try to water it with a sprayer every time the earth is dry.
Opening the plastic once a day to remove condensation water.
After 1 or 2 months you will have the newly germinated babies and ready for a new life.
Wait until these small plants reach a sufficient size to be manipulated, before transplanting them to the final pot.
Plant diseases
When cultivating this plant you have to be careful with certain vital aspects such as irrigation and the type of substrate to avoid
the most common evil, the fungus.
Usually, with excess watering, the stem rots.
Giving the plant a wrinkled and straight appearance.
Unfortunately, if there are already symptoms of rot on the stem, there is not much to do.
So I recommend having cautious with water.
Trust you plant, she can take care of herself almost alone.
If your mammillaria gracilis fragilis “thimble cactus” does not bloom, do not worry.
Depending on the variety you may have, this plant will bloom periodically or not.
And only when you have received the right nutrients.
Succulents are plants that usually need some space to grow.
Therefore, if your plant does not grow, It will be sending you signals that pot transplant is needed, when you do it and give it enough fertilizer, it will grow as never.