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 Description: The
standard
Mammillaria
compressa is a heavily clustering
plant that form up to 1 m large cushion. It
is among the most famous cacti for its easily clustering and easily
flowering habit.
The beautiful crested form develops huge brain-shaped hemispherical
cushion.
However there are several different crested clones, some of them very
distinctive. (cf.
Mammillaria compressa cv. YOKAN)
Older crested plant are very priced.
Description: Globular
cactus, solitary at first, later forming massive clumps to 1 m wide.
Stems: Club shaped to cylindrical, bluish grey-green, up to 10 cm
in diameter, up to 25 cm tall. With latex. Tubercles are prominent, close set, firm, bluntly angled
and keeled. The Axil bears white wool and bristles.
Central spines: Absent.
Radial spines: 4 - 6, unequal, chalky white with brownish tips, 20
- 70 mm long, some very short
Flowers: Bell shaped, purplish pink to deep red, 1-1,5 cm in
diameter.
Blooming season: Winter, early spring.
Fruits: Club shaped, red.
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Cultivation: It is a
rapid growing species
. Water regularly in summer, but do
not overwater (Rot prone)
Use pot with good drainage and a very porous potting media,
keep dry in winter.
Feed with a high potassium
fertilizer in summer.
It is quite frost resistant if kept dry, hardy as low as -5° C (some
reports give it hardy to -12°C) Outside full sun or
afternoon shade, inside needs bright light, and some direct sun.
Propagation:
By stem cuttings from adult plants
in spring or summer or by grafting.
Pieces of crest must be dried out for at least 3
weeks before planting in coarse river sand. This is quite an easy
alternative and success is almost always guaranteed.
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