Mammillaria geminispina

Mammillaria geminispina

Family: Cactaceae
Common Name: twin spine cactus
Origin: Mammillaria geminispina originates from Mexico – Hidalgo, Guanajuato, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí, and perhaps Veracruz – at altitudes of 1,000- 1,850 meters above sea level.
Description: The twin spine cactus is a light-green cylindrical succulent that forms clumping colonies as specimens age. Forms are highly variable, some possessing very short spines and others with long spines, all covered in white bristles. Central spines are usually longer and browner than white radial spines. In spring, a small ring of funnel-shaped pink flowers develops at the head of the plant, eventually forming red fruits.

Interesting Features: If grown from seed, it can take 7-8 years to flower.
- The prominent tubercles of the twin spine cactus develop a white latex when cut.
- M. geminispina has been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) Award of Garden Merit for outstanding value in cultivation.
Uses: The fruits of the Mammillaria genus have been consumed by the Tohono O’odham people, and M. geminispina specifically has been used to treat excrescence in Mexico.

Cultivation and Care:

Watering: Low
- Irrigate regularly from mid spring to summer, allowing water to drain from the bottom of the pot. However, do not allow to sit in water, and water very sparingly during the winter. Fertilize every two weeks during the growing season with a liquid fertilizer for the best development.
Soil: Plant in well-draining cactus soil, sand or loam, pH 6.6-7.5.
Lighting: Provide bright, filtered light – full sun to partial shade – to encourage the best growth. However, ensure that no humidity is present.
Propagation: M. geminispina can be propagated from woody stem cuttings, offsets, seed, and by dividing rhizomes, corms, tubers, or bulbs. The most prime plants are created by offsets, and should be planted in spring.
Cold Tolerance: 25°F, USDA Hardiness zones 9b to 11.
Special Accomodations: The twin spine cactus has sharp spines and thorns, take care when handling or repotting. Allow a cooling period in the winter to encourage flowering, but do not fertilize or water to prevent killing the cactus.

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