Are your cactus charge skills worthy of the spiky challenge ? Keeping that cute little Mammillaria bombycina ( slick pincushion cactus ) alive is trickier than you intend ! Make one wrong move , and you ’ll be stuck with a sad , withered plant life buddy . But do n’t panic – we ’re here with a life line of tips to rescue your cactus parenting game . clasp up and get ready to slew those killer misunderstanding !
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About Mammillaria bombycina
This petite cactus , native to Mexico , is top - nick eye candy with its fuzzy white tufts and chocolate - brown spines . fairly pink peak bloom in warm calendar month too . Despite its cuddly looks , the silken pincushion has a feisty side – over - loving it can spell calamity ! That ’s why we need to analyse up on the coarse flub that ’ll harsh this cactus ’s mellow .
Related Post:39 Mammillaria Cactus Types and Care [ With Pictures ]
Soil Slip-Ups to Sidestep
guide clear of stocky , moisture - hogging soil without drainage . Your Mammillaria will drown and molder in that sloppy wretchedness ! Theperfect cactus mediumis a breathable blend of :
This grainy , fast - draining portmanteau ease up those root the oxygen they lust .
Container Conundrums to Conquer
Cramming your cactus into a petite muckle is cruel ! It postulate a roomy casa to debase out . mint size should be around 2 - 4 inches wide than the cactus soundbox . And ensure that baby has a drainage trap at the bottom to avoid get down its feet wet .
Every 2 - 3 years , graduate your stocky pal to a more or less big mint , gently . This allow for uninterrupted increase without getting rootbound and nettlesome .
Watering Wipeouts to Waylay
Drenching your cactus is a surefire way to further rot and fungus . Only water when the land is bone dry , about every 2 - 3 weeks in summer . Give just enough to moisten the ground , let any excess drainage out .
In winter , put down the tearing can ! Mammillaria goes dormant during thesechilly months , so overwatering will make it vulnerable to disease .
Light Deficiency Disasters to Dodge
A cactus this furred needslots of sunshineto thrive ! Your thorny darling should get at least 6 - 8 hours of direct sun day by day . An ultra - bright windowsill or sunroom run great for indoor plants .
If you ca n’t provide sufficient rude brightness level , using agrow light setupis a game - modifier . aim your Mammillaria about 6 - 12 inches below the hopeful grow bulbs for 12 - 16 time of day per day .
But do n’t sunlight - shock it by exposing it to intense rays or turn light withoutgradually building uptolerance . Take it slow and increase light in small intervals over a couplet workweek to keep off blacken those frail spine and tufts .
Temperature Meltdowns to Minimize
Heat around 75 - 85 ° F keeps a Mammillaria bombycina energized ! Protect it from frigid night below 50 ° F though , as the cold can kill its roots .
Find originative room to put up that cosy , summer - like heat it craves . A heat lustrelessness , grow lights , or bake in a sunny fleck study wonders . ”
Fertilizer Fiascos to Forestall
Mammillaria like a balanced , water - solublefertilizer feedevery 2 - 4 weeks in spring and summer . But not any old brewage ! calculate for a cactus - friendly formula broken in N and high in P .
And for Pete ’s saki , cut off the buffet entirely from gloam to recent wintertime when it ’s dormant . Trying to labor growth at this sleepy time can try it out .
Pest and Fungus Freak-Outs to Fend Off
These spiky brother can fall victim to tiny terrorist invader – pests and fungal diseases . Keep your guard up against these menaces !
Pests like mealybugs , spider mites and scale can spread like wildfire from plant to engraft . Inspect your Mammillaria regularly , quarantine any infested ones . Blast bugs awaywith a steady stream of water or pass over them off with a cotton Lucille Ball rob in isopropyl alcohol .
Fungal infection and decompose are usually induce by humid , fuddled conditions . deflect kill your cactus with kindness by allowing the soil to dry out completely between waterings . right drain is crucial too .
At the first sign of discoloration or mushy daub , act tight ! cautiously rationalize away any shitty section with a clean blade . Then rent the remaining cactus dry out before replant in fresh , sterile soil .
