Plant Care Little Nipple Cactus

Little Nipple Cactus

4.6 out of 5 (31 experiences)

Little Nipple Cactus has a Survivor plant personality Survivor

Taxonomy

Mammillaria heyderi
Mammillaria
Cactaceae
Caryophyllales

How to care for Little Nipple Cactus

💦 Water

How often to water your Little Nipple Cactus

Water needs for Little Nipple Cactus
0.5 cups
every 12

Little Nipple Cactus needs 0.5 cups of water every 12 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Calculate water needs of Little Nipple Cactus

Water 0.5 cups every
12

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for Little Nipple Cactus in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Little Nipple Cactus: 1ft from a window
1ft or less from
a window

Little Nipple Cactus love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Little Nipple Cactus does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Little Nipple Cactus in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Little Nipple Cactus

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Little Nipple Cactus: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Little Nipple Cactus after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

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💡 FAQs
⭐ Difficulty Level

Little Nipple Cactus is generally easy to care for, though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!

Benefits of Growing Little Nipple Cactus →

Common Little Nipple Cactus Problems →


💦 Water Needs

Little Nipple Cactus thrives in dry soil and should be watered sparingly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Little Nipple Cactus Water Frequency →

Little Nipple Cactus Root Rot →


☀️ Sunlight Needs

Little Nipple Cactus requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Little Nipple Cactus Light Requirements →

Little Nipple Cactus Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →


🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Little Nipple Cactus is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

Little Nipple Cactus Toxicity to Cats →

Little Nipple Cactus Toxicity to Dogs →

Little Nipple Cactus Toxicity to Humans →


💨 Humidity

Little Nipple Cactus enjoys lots of humidity. Provide humidity for your plant by watering regularly and thoroughly, since plants absorb most water through their root system rather than their leaves. They may also benefit from being placed next to a humidifier.

Little Nipple Cactus Humidity Needs →


🪴 Soil

Little Nipple Cactus is very sensitive to wet soil, so choose a potting soil that drains very well and doesn’t retain too much moisture. A good soil will have lots of perlite or vermiculite for drainage and some organic matter for nutrition. A few handfuls of perlite added to regular store-bought cactus soil will do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Little Nipple Cactus →

When and How to Successfully Repot Little Nipple Cactus →


💩 Fertilizer

Little Nipple Cactus grows very slowly and doesn’t require added fertilizer. Replacing your plant’s potting soil once a year should provide them with more than enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

How Much and When to Fertilize Little Nipple Cactus →


❄️ Dormancy

It’s common for Little Nipple Cactus to go dormant in the wintertime and you may notice their growth slow down. Waterings should be spaced out more during this time.


🌎 Native Region

Little Nipple Cactus is native to the Southwestern United States, Central America, and the Caribbean.


🌸 Flowers

Yes, you may see your Little Nipple Cactus bloom with the right amount of sunlight and water.

Little Nipple Cactus Flowers →


⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Little Nipple Cactus grows vertically and new growth will emerge from the top of the plant.

How and When to Prune Little Nipple Cactus →


🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Little Nipple Cactus can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 9a-12b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Little Nipple Cactus Temperature Tolerance →


🌱 Propagation

Little Nipple Cactus can be propagated by division into new individual plants.

  • Check to see if there is more than one plant. In some cases they may still be beneath the soil surface. If you feel confident, you may remove the soil to check for baby plantlets below!
  • If there are multiple plants growing, unpot the plant and gently tug the plants apart, being careful not to disturb too many of the roots. They may be connected by large root segments which you may need to break to free the plantlet.
  • Pot up the new plant in well-draining soil
  • Repot the parent plant back into its original pot

How to Propagate Little Nipple Cactus →


🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.


😖 Common Issues

Overwatering is a likely cause of issues with Little Nipple Cactus. These plants are very sensitive to wet soil so if you notice your plant becoming squishy or translucent, overwatering is the likely culprit.

Cut your plant just past where the rot ends and allow it to callus over for a few days before replanting it in fresh, dry soil. Download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!


Care Summary for Little Nipple Cactus

Little Nipple Cactus

Little Nipple Cactus


Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 12 days

Placement

< 1ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

What other plant parents say

Little Nipple Cactus has a Survivor plant personality Survivor 24
Little Nipple Cactus has a Fast grower plant personality Fast grower 3
Little Nipple Cactus has a Blooms easily plant personality Blooms easily 3
Little Nipple Cactus has a Easy to propagate plant personality Easy to propagate 2
Little Nipple Cactus has a Browns easily plant personality Browns easily 1
Little Nipple Cactus has a Pest magnet plant personality Pest magnet 1
@Uniqueplantlove avatar
@@Uniqueplantlove
leaf-1 6 Plants
xp 1,433 XP
01/02/2022

Awesome little cactus good for decor around homes and rooms

Survivor Survivor
Jill avatar
@Jill
leaf-1 15 Plants
xp 485 XP
08/08/2021

so cute

@Catplant02 avatar
@@Catplant02
leaf-1 30 Plants
xp 2,689 XP
globe Maryville, MO
08/01/2021

I love this cactus! It is so easy to take care of, and I haven’t had any problems with it! It is a little sharp so be careful, but it grows fast and it’s honestly so nice to have! I’ve only had to repot it once since I’ve had it!

Fast grower Fast grower
Survivor Survivor
@ApolloTuplin avatar
@@ApolloTuplin
leaf-1 4 Plants
xp 171 XP
05/24/2021

I’ve had this thing forever. Sadly it doesn’t grow much... but that might be mostly my fault. I love them a lot and I think they’re super cute!

Survivor Survivor
@laurensnipplebois avatar
@@laurensnipplebois
leaf-1 4 Plants
xp 29 XP
globe Bootle, England
05/14/2021

grace is a lovely plant I love to water her

Blooms easily Blooms easily
Survivor Survivor
Pest magnet Pest magnet
@kitten avatar
@@kitten
leaf-1 7 Plants
xp 279 XP
globe Miami, FL
04/26/2021

die soon

Jenny k avatar
@Jenny k
leaf-1 24 Plants
xp 341 XP
globe Canby, OR
04/09/2021

Likes 🥰 but Rarely needs water

Survivor Survivor
@Maria avatar
@@Maria
leaf-1 74 Plants
xp 5,697 XP
globe Highland, CA
03/26/2021

It’s dyed.

Survivor Survivor
@EmmyAnenome avatar
@@EmmyAnenome
leaf-1 62 Plants
xp 5,081 XP
03/05/2021

Cute lil cactus, slow growing but occasionally gets a little crown of pink flowers 🥰
I tagged pet friendly because the spines are small, but so densely packed you can’t actually get to the flesh of the cactus itself. No nibbles for you!

Survivor Survivor

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