Post a reply

Image
Nov 18, 2024 7:27 AM CST
Name: Donald
Eastland county, Texas (Zone 8a)
Raises cows Enjoys or suffers hot summers Region: Texas Plant Identifier
@Kaktus
I think M. elegans isn't really entirely correct for the name. I've tried to sort it out, but always have doubts so have just left it labeled as the name it was purchased with. I suspect it should be M. haageana 'Elegans', but I've never run across that one in the commercial outlets here. I'll provide this link because the photo and the last two sentences in the blurb accurately reflect the plant I'm growing. If that's correct, it may be M. haageana you may be looking to find. https://www.gardentags.com/pla... The rest of blurb pertains to species Mammillaria and I think only the end is specific to M. haageana 'Elegans'. Elegans seems to have been used fairly widely within the plant kingdom. It suits this particular cactus, but remains a name shared with other plants. Alone, I don't think it's good enough to actually identify the cactus I'm growing.
Image
Nov 18, 2024 6:26 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Baja
Baja California (Zone 11b)
Cactus and Succulents Seed Starter Xeriscape Container Gardener Hummingbirder Native Plants and Wildflowers
Garden Photography Region: Mexico Plant Identifier Forum moderator Plant Database Moderator Garden Ideas: Level 2
I searched that name (elegans) in the database and got

Twin-Spined Cactus (Mammillaria geminispina)
Mammillaria (Mammillaria haageana subsp. elegans)

A search of the Catalogue of Life reveals these plants

Thumb of 2024-11-19/Baja_Costero/fe0e9a

So they associate that name with 3 current species, in various forms.

M. geminispina
M. haageana
M. supertexta

I would imagine it's associated with other plants as an illegitimate cultivar name. The modern rules of nomenclature state that Latin names are not allowed for cultivars (and keeping these things separate is a good practical idea). But cultivar names are a little like common names in that they are defined by popular or at least commercial use, not by some plant nerd's rule book. The database here does not prohibit Latin cultivar names, for what it's worth.

As for the aforementioned species, your plant has nothing to do with the geminispinas that I have seen. Mainly because they form big clumps over time. I have no experience with haageana, it sounds variable but usually solitary. I guess this doesn't really add much to what you have already learned except maybe some perspective. Smiling
Last edited by Baja_Costero Nov 18, 2024 7:40 PM Icon for preview
Image
Nov 18, 2024 9:29 PM CST
Name: Donald
Eastland county, Texas (Zone 8a)
Raises cows Enjoys or suffers hot summers Region: Texas Plant Identifier
That's pretty much where I always end up, Baja. I've found M. haageana shown as 'Elegans' like a cultivar name and as ssp elegans. In the database, Thijs's photos in combination show M. supertexta which could easily be the same as the plant I'm growing. From looking at his photos, you'd need to grow M. haageana and M. supertexta side by side to note the differences. Just looking at his photos, I'd say they were the same plant in which case one should be a synonym. I've always sort of leaned toward haageana as being likely simply because it seems to be more common in commerce. However, that's not reliable either. Plenty of plants find their way into commerce quite widely under an incorrect name. Once a misnomer finds its way into commerce, it can spread far and wide. Even respectable enterprises fall victim to it from time to time. So I just have left mine as M. elegans with the caveat 'purchased as'. It's clearly a Mammillaria and 'elegans' may be accurately associated with it even though it's obviously a murky way to aim at identification.
Image
Nov 21, 2024 2:35 PM CST
Name: Donald
Eastland county, Texas (Zone 8a)
Raises cows Enjoys or suffers hot summers Region: Texas Plant Identifier
This one obtained as Mammillaria elegans didn't grow so much in summer of '23, so I figured it was reaching the upper limits of growth at around 12.5" tall. However, this summer was a lot friendlier for growth, so I went and measured it. 14" tall, 4.5" in diameter, 14.5" in circumference. It has to be rotated often because it only takes a day or two before it starts leaning south toward the angle of the sun. The speed at which it responds to the light is amazing. You'd think it would be doing most of that in periods of really active growth, but it bends toward the light without the rapid growth. Sort of like cut tulip blooms which just turn to face the light almost instantly. I wonder if any of the other Mammillarias growing may reach this size? When I bought this one, I expected it to stay in the small barrel range, so where it is now is a surprise. A happy surprise!
Thumb of 2024-11-21/needrain/82a0fb
Image
Dec 12, 2024 3:39 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Baja
Baja California (Zone 11b)
Cactus and Succulents Seed Starter Xeriscape Container Gardener Hummingbirder Native Plants and Wildflowers
Garden Photography Region: Mexico Plant Identifier Forum moderator Plant Database Moderator Garden Ideas: Level 2
Random walking around pics ... most plants in 8 inch pots

compressa looking robust from above

Thumb of 2024-12-12/Baja_Costero/7bf3b5

carmenae looking super bubbly

Thumb of 2024-12-12/Baja_Costero/d57cfd

gracilis (5 original rooted cuttings in one pot, in the form of an X)

Thumb of 2024-12-12/Baja_Costero/ff21ff

bocasana splendens

Thumb of 2024-12-12/Baja_Costero/380ccc

geminispina

Thumb of 2024-12-12/Baja_Costero/46f5b1

muehlenpfordtii

Thumb of 2024-12-12/Baja_Costero/669aad

another geminispina

Thumb of 2024-12-12/Baja_Costero/566c48

buds and fruit on dioica

Thumb of 2024-12-12/Baja_Costero/43e9cf

another compressa (10 inch pot)

Thumb of 2024-12-12/Baja_Costero/efb19b

prolifera (12 inch pot) needs harvesting soon

Thumb of 2024-12-12/Baja_Costero/d2293d

grahamii

Thumb of 2024-12-12/Baja_Costero/5d0dac

plumosa still going at it in the garden

Thumb of 2024-12-12/Baja_Costero/813e56

Un Pico, 3 stems, getting on in years

Thumb of 2024-12-12/Baja_Costero/f60d54
Image
Dec 12, 2024 7:54 PM CST
Name: Donald
Eastland county, Texas (Zone 8a)
Raises cows Enjoys or suffers hot summers Region: Texas Plant Identifier
Your photos of geminispina sure resemble the one I'm growing as hahniana. Nice plants.
Image
Dec 12, 2024 8:30 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Baja
Baja California (Zone 11b)
Cactus and Succulents Seed Starter Xeriscape Container Gardener Hummingbirder Native Plants and Wildflowers
Garden Photography Region: Mexico Plant Identifier Forum moderator Plant Database Moderator Garden Ideas: Level 2
Comparing those two species as I have them here, hahniana has finer, wispier hair and really wimpy spines; geminispina has actual defensive spines and thicker, kinkier hair. I'm sure there are lots of other differences if you really want to study the two plants closely. But those are my immediate observations.
Image
Dec 13, 2024 3:39 AM CST
Name: TJOE
Indonesia
Adeniums Cactus and Succulents Composter Container Gardener Fruit Growers Keeper of Koi
Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Enjoys or suffers hot summers
Your M. Carmenae looks so beautiful.. Lovey dubby
Compare to what I have here, haven't checked the other color, I used to have 3 different color of them.
Thumb of 2024-12-13/Kaktus/7eb5ac
If they look healthy, do nothing
Image
Jan 23, 2025 8:23 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Baja
Baja California (Zone 11b)
Cactus and Succulents Seed Starter Xeriscape Container Gardener Hummingbirder Native Plants and Wildflowers
Garden Photography Region: Mexico Plant Identifier Forum moderator Plant Database Moderator Garden Ideas: Level 2
I checked on that yellow spined carmenae and it came to me 4 years ago in a 4 inch pot. So not exactly the fastest plant (now nowhere near close to filling an 8 inch pot), but pretty nice form and color. I have a second one also with yellow spines, have not seen lots of other colors. I like the branching (clumping) behavior. I like the compactness.

My observation from those years of culture is the plant is not a deep drinker. Soil dries out much slower than usual. I water half as often. You could correct by putting more rock in the mix, for the same effect. Other plants in the same category: M. geminispina, nejapensis (when not underpotted), 'Un Pico', poselgeri, sometimes plumosa. I keep them in a group, so I don't overwater. Or I put them in an unglazed clay pot with the maximum exposure.

This information about the slow-sipping behavior of these plants comes from the state they were in at the last repotting (timed a day or two before the typical watering interval, which is every week year round). Observations about the soil moisture dictate how I water some plants differently.

C. (M.) dioica on the patio was doing some crazy reproductive behavior when I went out to water this morning.

Thumb of 2025-01-24/Baja_Costero/d66711

Here is a different stem, picture taken a few hours later, when I was a little more awake.



It is highly unusual for the flowers on this cactus to be open this wide. Today was a very warm, sunny, low-humidity day. I think the last part is what matters most as far as at the flowers opening wide. As for why there are so many flowers on that stem (outlier behavior), I would say midwinter, 10 inch pot, it's time to make fruits and seed and babies! Smiling

Picture from 4 years ago:



Oh how time flies.

My watering days start early, around dawn. It's a little rough in the beginning but I structure things so that part does not require excessive awakeness. Smiling Dawn over the ocean on an overcast day (yesterday, which was another watering day):

Thumb of 2025-01-24/Baja_Costero/1388d8

Recently installed Didierea (center) gonna photo bomb this image more or less forever, I hope.
Last edited by Baja_Costero Jan 23, 2025 8:35 PM Icon for preview
Image
Jan 23, 2025 9:59 PM CST
Name: TJOE
Indonesia
Adeniums Cactus and Succulents Composter Container Gardener Fruit Growers Keeper of Koi
Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Enjoys or suffers hot summers
What a beautiful setup of cactus landscape that you have in there Lovey dubby Lovey dubby Thumbs up Thumbs up

As for carmenae, my red carmenae also around 4 years, started from a small round cactus.
I have seen around 5 different color at least, red, white, orange , yellow, and creamy color.

Just took some details of the Mammillarias yesterday..
Thumb of 2025-01-24/Kaktus/f2e94b
Thumb of 2025-01-24/Kaktus/59f2c7


Thumb of 2025-01-24/Kaktus/0f90e0
Thumb of 2025-01-24/Kaktus/9b1dd9

Thumb of 2025-01-24/Kaktus/0be842
Thumb of 2025-01-24/Kaktus/d72935
If they look healthy, do nothing
Image
Jan 28, 2025 8:46 AM CST
Name: Donald
Eastland county, Texas (Zone 8a)
Raises cows Enjoys or suffers hot summers Region: Texas Plant Identifier
I ran across a list of purchases and notes which got mislaid. I'd given up on ever finding it, but the result is one of the unidentified fishhook mamms now has a name. Provided the label it came with was correct, this is M. bombycina.
Thumb of 2025-01-28/needrain/bfad5c
Image
Feb 7, 2025 10:52 PM CST
Name: Donald
Eastland county, Texas (Zone 8a)
Raises cows Enjoys or suffers hot summers Region: Texas Plant Identifier
I'm really relieved to see the bocasana rebound. In the fall, it got too much rain and was soft to touch and looked really flat. I thought they were developing rot. I've had to wait it out to see while making sure the container didn't get any supplemental water or exposure to temperatures that were too cold. I need to enlarge the hole in the container and use a mix with a higher percent of perlite, but haven't wanted to disturb these. They were rescues off the mother plant which did rot and were about the size of my little finger when I tried to salvage them. Lots of effort has gone into them and I'm wondering if I'll ever feel very secure about them. There were about eleven or more little offsets to start with and only these two made it. The little M. vetula need to be removed and put into another container or rehomed.
Thumb of 2025-02-08/needrain/abce1f
Image
Feb 9, 2025 12:35 PM CST
Name: Donald
Eastland county, Texas (Zone 8a)
Raises cows Enjoys or suffers hot summers Region: Texas Plant Identifier
In a year of 365 days, the majority of the time among the Mammillarias there will be one or more blooming. I'd already posted bocasana blooming, but also blooming this week:

purchased as M. elegans
Thumb of 2025-02-09/needrain/a73b6a

M. plumosa
Thumb of 2025-02-09/needrain/2aa2fa

an unknown
Thumb of 2025-02-09/needrain/01927e

M. hahniana
Thumb of 2025-02-09/needrain/42a358

M. bombycina
Thumb of 2025-02-09/needrain/66904e

Not a bloom, but a result of blooms from a couple of years ago. Hopefully a few of the many M. heyderi babies will live. There's a lot in this 13" diameter ceramic container. A whole lot. So far they've done well. Normally they are growing under a plexiglass sheet laid over the top of the container which was taken off for the photo. On close examination I could only find four which looked like they had died. The seeds begain germinating late summer of 2023 and even last fall I could still find some newly germinated seeds. They have a long way to go before I'd attempt to extract one to repot. May never happen.
Thumb of 2025-02-09/needrain/e3dff7
Image
Feb 9, 2025 8:29 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Baja
Baja California (Zone 11b)
Cactus and Succulents Seed Starter Xeriscape Container Gardener Hummingbirder Native Plants and Wildflowers
Garden Photography Region: Mexico Plant Identifier Forum moderator Plant Database Moderator Garden Ideas: Level 2
I'd start with the big one at 10 o'clock, there's quite a big difference in size between those plants. But really no rush until they bump shoulders. That is a lovely lawn you've got going on there.

Mammillarias do seem incredibly petite and fragile at that early stage, especially the first year or so. A year ago I remember putting my year-old plants out in the sun right after they were indoors, no adjustment really. And they complained, really went yellow and brown for a while, but I don't think anybody died. So maybe not that fragile in the end. Though early winter sun is pretty tame here, even at midday.

Now at age 2 the biggest of those plants are flowering and getting ready to graduate from 4" pots.
Image
Feb 10, 2025 12:10 AM CST
Name: TJOE
Indonesia
Adeniums Cactus and Succulents Composter Container Gardener Fruit Growers Keeper of Koi
Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Enjoys or suffers hot summers
I started to get tired in growing cactus from seeds, they are just too slow, wait for 2 to 3 years then we still get the size like 5mm. Sighing!

Prefer buy a 2 cm size plant, save 3 years of waiting time Grin
If they look healthy, do nothing

Only the members of the Members group may reply to this thread.
Member Login:

( No account? Join now! )

Today's site banner is by Dinu and is called "Zinnia!"

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.