Most common Mammillaria prolifera.

in Succulent growers3 years ago (edited)

Mammillaria prolifera 2022 4.jpg

This is a weed among cacti!
It grows fast, spreads like a true weed should, blooms almost all year round, is not very picky and it's easily to get in a supermarket (that's what I got mine).

Mammillaria prolifera



Mammillaria prolifera 2022 1.jpg


Actually I think Mammillaria Elongata is even more common and is equally weedy :p

This one can be found in the wild in Mexico USA (Texas), Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti. It handles sun very well as the body is protected by quite thick spines. Doesn't mind being underwatered too as it can store water and nutrients in the tap root. Clumps very easily and each of the little offsets can be detached and planted separately and soon will start growing own cuttings all around.

It also blooms though the year - more in spring, but single flowers keep showing up until late fall. What can we want more?


Mammillaria prolifera 2022 2.jpg


I have a few of them, but will show just one as they basically look the same. The difference is the size only.
I got one few years ago in a shop and it did rot (probably was overwatered there). I managed to save some smaller stems and now I have few pots grwing :)

I also have two slightly different that I grew from seed. One has much darker spines, and the other is all light green, not as yellow as this one here.


Mammillaria prolifera 2022 3.jpg


The flowers are almost identical on all of them. The seed ones have slight difference in shade, but nothing very significant.
A single flower also doesn't really draw the attention, but when the plant grows and there is 30 of them blooming in the same time, it looks spectacular!


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Another cool feature are the fruits/seed pods. You can see one forming on the photo below.
They form only a year after the flowering. So this years flowers will die (they bloom only for a few days) and if it got polinated, the pod will show only next spring.
And again - on a ragre plant with the 30 (I wish) flowers, there will likely be 30, bright red berries. They also look spectacular :)


Mammillaria prolifera 2022 7.jpg

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Shot with Nikon D5500 + Sigma 105mm lens
All photos and text are my own.



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"Weed" cute and handsome! ❤️‍
I also have these.

 3 years ago  

They are very cute :)

Wow, didn’t know that it was more like a weed amongst the cactus.
The flowers are beautiful and ones they get little fruits. Cute ☺️
Great captures.
Have a wonderful evening!

 3 years ago  

I call it weed as it's just so easy to grow! :D
Thank you! You too :)

You are welcome, thanks a lot 😁 enjoy your week!

Hello dear friend @ewkaw good afternoon
Very interesting all the information you share about growth and flowering
It must be a unique sight when the plant is full of flowers
I appreciate you sharing your knowledge.
Have a beautiful night

 3 years ago  

I will shoot again when it is covered in blooms :)
Eventually...

My prolifera do not ripen their fruits. They dry up and that's it. This cactus for me is one of my most appreciated because it always gives me its flowers.

 3 years ago  

My ones often have fruits, I just don't need them.
I do like the little flowers too. And the plant itself is really nice too.

very beautiful cactus flower.

 3 years ago  

Thank you :)

thank you, healthy friends, are interested in seeing the discussion about cactus weeds that you share.I think the plant also has a very extraordinary shape and is very good if we put it in a pot to maintain it.

Nice weeds for ground covering but too dangerous for people walking bare foot!

It would be nice if people could cook and eat some cacti in time of famine! Looking at plants makes me think about food!😂

 3 years ago  

It would be nice if people could cook and eat some cacti

They can :)
The large opuntia leaves are very edible when young and used for cooking in South America I think.

Great stuff! Spiky but edible. A new menu!


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