Feather cactus

Feather cactus Care

Mammillaria plumosa

What is the plant

Mammillaria plumosa, the feather cactus, is a species of flowering plant in the family Cactaceae, native to Northeastern Mexico. Its clumping plants form low dense mounds covered with white feathery spines. The flowers are yellowish-white.

Mammillaria plumosa grows to 12 cm tall by 40 cm broad. The clustering spherical stems, 7 cm in diameter, are completely covered in white downy spines. The white “feathers” on Mammillaria plumosa look soft and fluffy, but they hide the sharp spines that cover this cactus. The “feathers” not only add interest to the cactus, but they also shade the plant from heat and sun. “Feather Cactus” does well in container gardens. Its flowers range from white to yellow to pink, and although in some areas they can bloom throughout the year, typical flowering occurs in the spring.

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Humidity

Dry

Lighting

Full Sun

Temperature

10°C - 18°C

Hardiness zone

min 9a

Difficulty

Easy

Hibernation

Cold Period

How to Care for the Plant

Water
Mammillaria plumosa “Feather Cactus” has typical watering needs for a succulent. It’s best to use the “soak and dry” method, and allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings.
Fertilizer
Feed once a month with a special cactus fertiliser. Fertilize during the growing season only, suspend feeding in winter.
Sunlight
It does well in full to partial sun. Plant in an area of your garden that gets 6 hours of sunlight a day. If planting indoors, place in a room that gets a lot of sunlight, such as near a southern-facing window.

Disease diagnosis

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Soil
It does better with a good drained soil mix since it is a rot prone species.
Temperature
Mammillaria plumosa “Feather Cactus” is not cold hardy, so if you live in a zone that gets colder than 20° F (-6.7° C), it’s best to plant this succulent in a container that can be brought indoors. Minimal recommended temperature for the plant is 12°C (53°F).
Container
Choose any type of pot with enough drainage holes.