Mammillaria plumosa

Mammillaria plumosa

Family: Cactaceae
Common Name: feather cactus
Origin: Mammillaria plumosa originates from Northwestern Mexico, Coahuila and Nuevo Leon, at altitudes of 780 – 1,350 meters. Naturally, the cactus grows in fissures of calcareous rock in xerophytic (dry) shrubland.
Description: M. plumosa is a low, globose cacti that develops a clumping form. Although light green, the stems are completely covered in white feathery spines, with woolly axils. In late summer, creamy-white to dull pink flowers appear, leading to showy reddish fruits.

Interesting Features:
- It is often assumed that Mammillaria plumosa is soft, given its feathery appearance. However, the spines are very sharp, and extreme caution should be taken when handling.
- M. plumosa has received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit (RHS AGM) for outstanding value in cultivation.
Uses: When flowering, the feather cactus is very attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds, and as a result works very well in a pollinator garden.

Cultivation and Care:

Watering: Low
- Water regularly in summer, and reduce watering in winter. Always allow soil to fully dry before continuing irrigation, and try to prevent getting the spines wet to encourage the best growth.
Soil: Indoors, plant the feather cactus in a high-quality cactus or succulent soil. If growing outdoors, add gravel or sand to the soil to provide drainage. Good drainage is absolutely essential to prevent root rot, but otherwise, this cacti can be cultivated in most conditions and is not sensitive to pH.
Lighting: Provide bright sunlight to M. plumosa for the best results. Although partial shade may be necessary in the afternoon, excessive shade will prevent spine growth and reduce the bluish color of stems. However, take care not to introduce indoor cacti to direct sunlight immediately, acclimation is needed to prevent sunburn.
Propagation: Mammillaria plumosa can be propagated by offsets or seed. While it can take many years for cacti grown from seed to develop roots, cuttings grow roots quickly. For seed, harvest from fruit and sow indoors during early spring.
Cold Tolerance: 20°F, USDA hardiness zones 9a to 11.
Special Accommodations: The feather cactus is especially prone to root rot, and should never be allowed to remain in standing water. Additionally, overwatered plants are susceptible to attack by mealybugs and fungal infections. Because populations of M. plumosa have been threatened by collection, take care to only buy from reputable sellers.

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