Mammillaria prolifera is a low growing cactus, commonly branching to form colonies often 6 dm in diameter. The species occurs very widely from Mexico (Coahuila, Nuevo León, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí and Tamaulipas), the USA (Texas), Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti. The typical subspecies prolifera occurs throughout much of the Caribbean.
Growth Rate
It is a small growing, but easily flowering species. It offset from the base and can fill a 25 cm pot in just a few years given the best conditions.
Flowering
10-18 mm long, borne in old axils but toward top of plant, small, yellowish white, cream or pinkish yellow. Inner perianth-segments erect, pale yellow, with brownish mid-rib, acute
Water and Feeding/Fertilizer
Water regularly in summer, but do not overwater (very wet-sensitively, especially in light of its succulent root system). Its roots are easily lost in pots that stay damp for any length of time. Keep dry with ample airflow in winter. During the growing season enrich the soil using a fertilizer rich in potassium and phosphorous, but poor in nitrogen, because this chemical element doesn’t help the development of succulent plants, making them too soft and full of water.
Soil
It likes very porous standard cactus mix soil with little organic matter (peat, humus).
Hardiness
Reputedly sensitive to frost, but less so if kept on the dry side prior to, and during, cold weather (hardy to -5° C for short periods).
Light
Outside bright sun, filtered sunlight or afternoon shade, inside it needs bright light, and some direct sun. Subject to sunburn if exposed to direct sun for too long. Tends to bronze in strong light, which encourages flowering and heavy wool and spine production.
Propagation
Direct sow after last frost or (usually) cuttings. Seeds germinate in 7-14 days at 21-27° C in spring, remove the glass cover gradually as the plants develops and keep ventilated, no full sun for young plants!
Some of the information in this description has been found at desert-tropicals.com, llifle.com and cactus-art.biz
Growers Quick Reference Guide - Key Features
- Description
- Key Plant Features
Mammillaria prolifera is a low growing cactus, commonly branching to form colonies often 6 dm in diameter. The species occurs very widely from Mexico (Coahuila, Nuevo León, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí and Tamaulipas), the USA (Texas), Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti. The typical subspecies prolifera occurs throughout much of the Caribbean.
Growth Rate
It is a small growing, but easily flowering species. It offset from the base and can fill a 25 cm pot in just a few years given the best conditions.
Flowering
10-18 mm long, borne in old axils but toward top of plant, small, yellowish white, cream or pinkish yellow. Inner perianth-segments erect, pale yellow, with brownish mid-rib, acute
Water and Feeding/Fertilizer
Water regularly in summer, but do not overwater (very wet-sensitively, especially in light of its succulent root system). Its roots are easily lost in pots that stay damp for any length of time. Keep dry with ample airflow in winter. During the growing season enrich the soil using a fertilizer rich in potassium and phosphorous, but poor in nitrogen, because this chemical element doesn’t help the development of succulent plants, making them too soft and full of water.
Soil
It likes very porous standard cactus mix soil with little organic matter (peat, humus).
Hardiness
Reputedly sensitive to frost, but less so if kept on the dry side prior to, and during, cold weather (hardy to -5° C for short periods).
Light
Outside bright sun, filtered sunlight or afternoon shade, inside it needs bright light, and some direct sun. Subject to sunburn if exposed to direct sun for too long. Tends to bronze in strong light, which encourages flowering and heavy wool and spine production.
Propagation
Direct sow after last frost or (usually) cuttings. Seeds germinate in 7-14 days at 21-27° C in spring, remove the glass cover gradually as the plants develops and keep ventilated, no full sun for young plants!
Some of the information in this description has been found at desert-tropicals.com, llifle.com and cactus-art.biz
