Mammillaria microhelia

Mammillaria microheliaOrigin and habitat: Queretaro, Mexico Description: Mammillaria microhelia is a particularly attractive small columnar, perennial cactus both solitary or forming clumps and bearing cream or brown spines, discolouring with age. Has creamy white to purplish flowers in spring. Spines are arranged like the rays of the sun. Growing rate: It is a slow growing species that rewards the patient grower with a beautiful displays of flowers since from an early

Origin and habitat: Queretaro, Mexico

Description: Mammillaria microhelia is a particularly attractive small columnar, perennial cactus both solitary or forming clumps and bearing cream or brown spines, discolouring with age. Has creamy-white to purplish flowers in spring. Spines are arranged like the rays of the sun.

Growing rate: It is a slow growing species that rewards the patient grower with a beautiful displays of flowers since from an early age.

Watering: Water should be carefully applied and only when the soil is dry to the touch, as this cliff-dwelling species is very prone to root rot. Allow soil to drain thoroughly before watering again. Additionally, water should not be applied from above, as the feathery spines will retain water and add to rotting problems, but in good conditions with excellent ventilation, in bright light, it usually grows without particular difficulty. Do not water in the winter.

Light: Outside full sun or afternoon shade, inside it needs bright light, and some direct sun. Direct sun encourages flowering and heavy spine production.

Hardiness: Protect from frost. But it's hardy to -5°C if kept dry. A winter rest that allows the plant to shrivel (perhaps losing up to 25% of its summer height) will encourage flowering and long time survival.

Some of the information in this description has been found at desert-tropicals.com, llifle.com and cactus-art.biz