Mammillaria albilanata
| Light | Bright light with some direct sun; a few hours of full sun brings out the whitest spination |
|---|---|
| Water | Moderately in the growing season; allow to dry fully between waterings, keep dry in winter |
| Soil | Fast-draining mineral mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Keep above freezing; roughly USDA zones 9b–11 |
| Propagation | Seed; occasionally by offsets from older, clustering plants |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic to cats and dogs |
Mammillaria albilanata is a Mexican pincushion cactus grown for its dense coat of short white radial spines and the heavy woolly fleece that fills the axils between its tubercles. The plant is cylindrical to shortly columnar, and in season it produces a neat ring of small, deep-pink flowers around the crown. Its overall snowy appearance — reflected in the epithet albilanata, "white-woolly" — makes it a favourite among collectors of white Mammillaria.
Description
Mammillaria albilanata is usually solitary when young, becoming columnar with age and sometimes offsetting to form small clusters. The stem is firm and green, closely set with conical tubercles arranged in the spiral rows typical of the genus. Each areole carries numerous fine white radial spines that lie against the body, together with a few short, darker-tipped central spines. Between the tubercles the axils are filled with dense white wool, and it is this combination of white spines and white axillary fleece that gives the plant its characteristic pale, felted look.
The flowers are small and carried in a ring near the top of the stem, in shades of deep pink to purplish-pink, opening over the warmer months. As with most Mammillaria, successful flowering is followed by slender club-shaped fruits, often reddish, that ripen among the tubercles.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to central and southern Mexico, where it grows on rocky slopes and outcrops in seasonally dry scrub and woodland. Several regional forms and subspecies have been described across its range, varying in body size, spine density and flower colour, which reflects how widespread and variable the species is in the wild. Like all members of the cactus family it is listed under CITES Appendix II; nursery-grown plants are common and legal to trade, while collecting from habitat is not.
Cultivation
Mammillaria albilanata is an undemanding and rewarding plant for anyone with a bright windowsill or greenhouse. Grow it in a very free-draining, mostly mineral mix and give it as much light as you can — a good dose of direct sun keeps the spines tight and brilliantly white, whereas too little light stretches the body and dulls the wool. Water thoroughly through the growing season once the soil has dried, then reduce watering sharply and keep the plant dry and cool in winter; this winter rest both prevents rot and encourages the spring ring of flowers. See Watering and Repotting for general technique.
Propagation
Seed is the usual method and germinates readily on a warm, damp mineral surface; seed-raising also preserves the natural variation that makes the species interesting. Older plants that have begun to cluster can be increased by removing offsets and rooting them once the cut surface has calloused. See Propagation — seed and Propagation — offsets for full walkthroughs.
Common problems
- Rot — the commonest cause of loss, almost always from overwatering, a slow-draining mix, or water left standing in the crown; the base or interior softens and discolours.
- Etiolation — too little light makes the stem stretch and pale, spoiling the compact, snowy form.
- Pests — mealybugs hide readily in the dense axillary wool (look for white fluff that does not brush away), and red spider mites can bronze the growing point in hot, dry air. See Pests and diseases.
See also
- Mammillaria — the genus overview
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Repotting · Propagation — seed · Propagation — offsets · Pests and diseases