Hello! I am new to your site and I love it!! I'm hoping you can help me to identify this cactus I purchased with NOID. It's soft, not prickly and is about 3" high. I greatly appreciate any information you may have.

I don't know my cactus' but that's awfully pretty! Maybe a Mammillaria?
http://garden.org/plants/brows...

Let's see if someone else can pop in here and help. @Baja_Costero @tarev

I can't help with an ID. Is the red color of the spines real? It looks almost painted on... which is something people have been known to do to make sale plants with white or yellow spines more "interesting" to potential buyers. Can you see any variation in that color, maybe toward the base of the plant or at the growth point at the top? It looks very even to me so maybe this idea is off base.

I was also thinking it is a painted Mammillaria, but no idea which one.

I'm not sure its a Mammillaria but its definately a paint job. I'm surprised they were able to just paint the spines. Because the body of the plant is not painted (just the spines that I can see), your cactus has a good chance of survival.

Daisy

To me it looks like it was dipped in a dye like and Easter Egg.

Oh, that's an idea. Do you think it could be dipped in something water based that would not stick to the waxy body of the cactus but would dye the spines?

Hello Michele! Maybe some type of Rebutia, I have one that has soft spines. But the color of the spines on your plant does not look natural, so it is a bit confusing. Your teacup container looks very pretty, I hope it has drain holes.

Calif_Sue said:I don't know my cactus' but that's awfully pretty! Maybe a Mammillaria?
http://garden.org/plants/brows...


Let's see if someone else can pop in here and help. @Baja_Costero @tarev

Calif_Sue
Thank you for the link! I believe it is in the Mammillaria family just haven't found the exact one yet. I just found out it's called a Desert Gem and they are painted. The original color is while. I'm trying to find the exact pattern to match it up now. I may contact Costa Farms and ask them since they are the ones who put it out
Thanks again for your help!!

tarev said:Hello Michele! Maybe some type of Rebutia, I have one that has soft spines. But the color of the spines on your plant does not look natural, so it is a bit confusing. Your teacup container looks very pretty, I hope it has drain holes.

It has been dyed. I just found out it's something new that Costa Farms is trying out. It looks nice with all my other cactus, succulents and houseplants!
Thanks for the compliment on my teacup and for mentioning the drainage holes. Yes my teacup does have them, thank goodness, or I would not of bought 2 of them!

Desert Gems Cacti http://www.costafarms.com/plan...

Note: Slow-growing Desert Gems will eventually grow fresh spines from the new growth that are not colorful. If this happens, don't worry --- there's nothing wrong with your plants.

Funny how they leave out any mention that these are artificially colored!

Thanks for that link, Suzanne. I find their ad very deceiving and just plain horrible.

Actually Evan added the link, I just quoted from it.

It is a painted version of Mammillaria vetula in the database here there is a picture under ssp. gracilis that looks right minus the color. I am not sure that is actually a normal M. vetula ssp gracilis - I think it is a monstrose/cultivar version of it also called 'Arizona Snow Cap' or something like that if I remember correctly.

Way down in that ad they mention that new growth will be white.

Thank you everyone for your helpful information! So glad I found this site and such a helpful group of people!