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Mammillariaplumosa ( mam - mil - AR - ee - uh plum tree - OH - suh ) is a penis of the flora family Cactaceae ( kak - TAY - see - eye ) hailing from Nuevo Leon , Mexico . The plant is unremarkably refer to as Feather Cactus because of its soft , sericeous appearance .
In its aboriginal environment , Mammillaria plumosa is a perennial . If planted alfresco away from its home desert , these cacti are well used as annuals . Kept indoors , or brought indoors during cold weather , they will live for years .
Feather cactus can grow outdoors class - round in the southwest United States and in northerly South America .
Mammillaria Plumosa Care
Size & Growth
The spiny Mammillaria plumosa cacti may grow into a columnar or globular form , usually in clusters . They have multiple big tubercles with prime uprise in a ring at the top of the theme .
These dispirited produce cacti attain their ultimate summit of about 4 ” inches and cluster width of about 3.5′ feet in a 5 to 10 year time period .
The soft , feathery looking spikelet of plume cactus Mammillaria plumosa commence out as very pure white in color , but they can become dusty and stain with the handing over of time .
It ’s crucial to understand that even though Mammillaria plumosa see flaccid and cuddly , it is not . The longer feathery prickle on the surface are not especially pointy , but just under them are young , shorter one that are quite crisp .
Flowering & Fragrance
The doughnut of flowers that grow around the top of the cactus is made up of daisy - like blooms .
These blossoms are very powerfully and sweetly perfumed . They may change in colouring material with some being ivory , others off - white-hot and some pink .
They are extremely attractive to hummingbirds , bees , butterflies and other pollinators .
Light & Temperature
The desert Mammillaria plumosa feather cactus ask a great pot of bright , direct Inner Light . If you ’re keeping your cactus as a houseplant , place it in a southerly or western face window .
You may also need to supplement the light with a grow light .
Be careful not to put your Mammillaria into direct full Dominicus as before long as you get it . Start out with it in bright , indirect sunlight and transition it to a full sunshine placement bit by bit .
Kept outdoors , Feather Cactus wish a sheltered location and direct sunlight through most of the day , but it will appreciate calorie-free shade in the afternoon .
Be aware that extravagant amounts of shade will cause the flora to get fewer spur , and it will lose its blue unripened coloration .
Mammillaria plumosa plume cactus is wintertime brave in USDA hardiness zones 9a to 11b and from 20 ° to 50 ° degrees Fahrenheit .
Watering & Feeding
As with most cacti , undue watering will cause your feather cactus to rot .
During the hot months of summer , water supply on a regular basis , but be certain that the Mammillaria plumosa feathering cactus never stands in piddle . Use a sharp well draining soil , and permit all spare weewee to go off every time you water .
If continue out of doors in an surface area that gets a comme il faut amount of rainfall , you may not need to water at all . If keep indoors , your tearing schedule will motley depending on your indoor weather .
If your home is quite blistering and juiceless , you may need to irrigate every duet of weeks . If you have a high stage of humidness in your home , you may need to water every six week .
palpate the dirt . If it is entirely dry , it ’s time for thorough watering .
implement slow firing fertilizer once a year in the springtime , or provide a weak feeding of a effective complete limpid fertilizer once early in the spring and again in midsummer .
ruffle at about a after part or half the amount advocate on packaging instructions .
Soil & Transplanting
When store your Mammillaria as a houseplant , apply a high - quality , well drainingcactus or succulent commixture .
outside , make a high percentage of coarse Baroness Dudevant and/or okay crushed rock into the soil to offer the drain that your Feather Cactus needs .
These cacti are not picky about pH stratum and can do well in acidic , alkaline or neutral soil .
Plumosa does not need to be repot frequently , and you’re able to only allow for your industrial plant with a slenderly larger flock and only sweet substratum every couple of years .
Grooming & Maintenance
Mammillaria is a very small - to - no maintenance flora . No pruning is necessary . You may occasionally need to separate offsets into new hatful .
How To Propagate Mammillaria Plumosa
Plumosa Mammillaria cactus can be propagated by removing offsets as they seem and plant them in their own pots to be do by as mature plants .
You could also divide your plant life when you repot if there are lots of first .
If no parent plant is available , you may propagate Mammillaria cactus by seed sown indoors , ahead of time in the springtime .
Mammillaria Plumosa Pests or Diseases
If water aright and kept in sharply draining grime with plenty of bright lighting and good air circulation , your Mammillaria plumosa plume cactus should have few or no gadfly or disease trouble .
Overwatered plant keep in inferior conditions are capable to attack by mealybug . Overwatering also causes fungous infections and putrefaction .
More onSucculent Pests Control
Is Plumosa Considered Toxic or Poisonous?
These cacti are not toxic but remember they are also not soft and cuddly . Keep your Mammillaria out of the reach of kids and favourite to avoid uncomfortable injuries .
Is Plumosa Considered Invasive?
Plumosa cacti is a bit challenging to get away from their native desert setting . For this reason , they are not invasive .
Suggested Uses For Mammillaria Plumosa
off from the desert , these attractive cacti are best kept as container plants .
They make an interesting houseplant that can be moved outdoors to the pack of cards or patio in the summertime .
In a very warm setting , your Mammillaria may do well as an accession to your rock garden or cactus garden . If you live in a desert , these cute cacti make a pretty addition to your butterfly and pollinator garden .
