Plant Care Spiny pincushion cactus

Spiny pincushion cactus

4.9 out of 5 (16 experiences)

Spiny pincushion cactus has a Survivor plant personality Survivor
Spiny pincushion cactus has a Fast grower plant personality Fast grower

Also known as

red-headed irishman, Mammillaria, Cactus, Un Pico, Red Spiked Cactus, Red Headed Irishman, Red-Headed Irishman Cactus, Mammillaria pilcayensis, Mammillaria spinosissima., Mammillaria spinosissima ., Mammillaria Sipnosissima, Mammillaria spinosissima... and Mammillaria Spinossima

Taxonomy

Mammillaria spinosissima
Mammillaria
Cactaceae
Caryophyllales

How to care for Spiny pincushion cactus

Water

How often to water your Spiny pincushion cactus

Water needs for Spiny pincushion cactus
0.5 cups
every 12

Spiny pincushion 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 Spiny pincushion cactus

Water 0.5 cups every
12

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
Light

Check the growing potential in your area

A plant's growing potential is determined from its location, the time of year, and current local weather.

Select a city to check sunlight intensity

Finding light for Spiny pincushion cactus in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Spiny pincushion cactus: 1ft from a window
1ft or less from
a window

Spiny pincushion cactus love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

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

Spiny pincushion cactus does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Spiny pincushion cactus in your home 🏡.

Nutrients

How to fertilize Spiny pincushion cactus

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Spiny pincushion 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 Spiny pincushion cactus after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

FAQs
Water Needs
Sunlight Needs
Toxicity
Humidity
Soil
Fertilizer
Dormancy
Native Region
Flowers

Care Summary for Spiny pincushion cactus

Spiny pincushion cactus

Spiny pincushion 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

Spiny pincushion cactus has a Survivor plant personality Survivor 14
Spiny pincushion cactus has a Fast grower plant personality Fast grower 8
Spiny pincushion cactus has a Easy to propagate plant personality Easy to propagate 3
@RJG avatar
@@RJG
leaf-1 130 Plants
xp 137,776 XP
globe Austin, TX
12/05/2021

Love this guy

Fast grower Fast grower
Easy to propagate Easy to propagate
Survivor Survivor
@Nkele_di avatar
@@Nkele_di
leaf-1 5 Plants
xp 170 XP
globe Pretoria, Gauteng
07/03/2021

Conversation starter, easy to care for

Fast grower Fast grower
Survivor Survivor
@Justfloyd30 avatar
@@Justfloyd30
leaf-1 18 Plants
xp 568 XP
06/21/2021

Fast Growing. No need to water every week. Every 10-15 days is enough.

Fast grower Fast grower
@TrippyLittleHippie avatar
@@TrippyLittleHippie
leaf-1 5 Plants
xp 114 XP
06/07/2021

It is incredibly soft and can be pet! They are very easy to take care of and can take long periods without water!

Fast grower Fast grower
Survivor Survivor
@Brianchartrand avatar
@@Brianchartrand
leaf-1 27 Plants
xp 812 XP
05/31/2021

I’ve had it for a long time, it gets ugly sometimes but it hangs in there.

Survivor Survivor
@SucculentJade avatar
@@SucculentJade
leaf-1 52 Plants
xp 927 XP
05/25/2021

I love Mammilaria omg this one is amazing

Survivor Survivor
Fast grower Fast grower

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