by Michelle
(Toronto, Canada)
This plant is about 2.5 inches tall, oval shaped, covered in spines, all with red tips; the ones on top are completely red. What is this, and how do I care for it?
Comments for Small and spiny
Dec 19, 2010
a Succulent with Spines…
by: Jacki
…is generally a cactus. I’m no expert on cacti, so can’t completely identify this one, but many cacti you can find in box stores are the easier to grow species such as Mammalaria.
The care for most cacti is pretty standard; water rarely, but deeply allowing to completely dry out in between. I’ve heard of people using the weather forecast from Arizona as a guide to how often and how much to water to get the best results – that’s something to try!
Use tempered (lukewarm) water when you do water, and make sure there is a drain hole in the bottom of the pot as water around the roots of cacti is pretty well always fatal.
Bright light is essential, so keep it in a south or west window and add some supplemental light with fluorescent tubes to lengthen the daylight it receives, if possible.
With luck, if you neglect these plants as they prefer, it will reward you with huge, brilliant tissue paper like flowers, usually after a dry period.
For more help with identifying your plant, go to the Cactus and Succulent Cubit.
