Mammillaria Senilis
Mammillaria Senilis
Care Information:
Mammillarias appreciate intense light, but many species dislike direct summer sun for too long. Plant them in an area of your garden that receives 4 hours of direct sunlight daily. If you are growing your Mammillarias indoors, place them near the brightest window in your home or office to ensure they get enough light. Place the pots on the balcony or in the garden for extra light from spring to fall if possible. Increase sun exposure gradually to prevent sunburn.
Mammillarias require a soil mix that provides root aeration and good drainage, whether grown outdoors or indoors. Use commercial cactus potting mixes or create your own potting mix with 70 to 80 % mineral grit, such as coarse sand, pumice, or perlite.
Mammillarias are heat tolerant, but they are not cold-hardy plants. They thrive with temperatures between 70 and 80 °F (21 and 27 °C). In the winter, when Mammillarias go dormant, they like cooler temperatures between 45 and 55 °F (7 and 13 °C). These cacti can survive short exposures to several degrees below freezing but do not grow Mammillarias in the ground if they are subject to harsh weather conditions. If you live in a region that experiences temperatures colder than 30 °F (-1.1 °C), it is best to grow these cacti in pots that can be brought indoors.
Choose a pot with drainage holes 10 % wider than the plant. You can grow a Mammillaria in a pot that is 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) in diameter for years and have a happy plant.
Mammillarias are popular cacti favored for their beauty and ease of care. They are perfect cacti for beginners.
From spring to fall, water deeply and wait for the soil to dry out before watering again. Never let the pots sit in the water. Suspend watering in the winter.
Mammillarias can benefit from fertilization during the growing season. The fertilizer will help them to thrive and bloom. Apply a water-soluble fertilizer for cacti and other succulents. A houseplant fertilizer higher in phosphorus than nitrogen, such as a 5-10-5 solution, can also be used. Suspend feeding during the winter when Mammillarias go dormant.
Repot every two or three years into a slightly larger pot. Make sure the soil is dry before repotting. The best time to repot a Mammillaria is late winter or early spring, but the repotting process can be done almost any time of the year. Do not water for a week or so after repotting to reduce the risk of root rot.
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Shipping information
Shipping information
All plants are shipped bare-root unless otherwise noted. Orders ship Monday-Friday each week. Please allow 1-3 business days for your order to be processed. We ship within the USA and its outlying territories ONLY.
Plant Appearance & Sizing
Plant Appearance & Sizing
Plant sizing is based on the diameter of the nursery pot (2", 2.5", 3", 4" etc), not the plant itself. Plants may be slightly larger or smaller than the pot they are grown in, depending on availability or time of year. While we do our best to ship plants as similar to those pictured as possible, please keep in mind that all plants are unique from one to the next and display color, shape, and growth variation based on the current environment, time of year, and other contributing factors. Please note that we ship our plants as dry as possible in the fall and winter months to prevent root rot or freezing. They will plump back up after planting!