Mammillaria tetrancistra

Post by **iann** » Mon Aug 14, 2017 9:26 pm

This is the most prolific plant, on its 7th flower of the year now.

There is a lot of variation in this species. This one flowers much less, is paler pink, and has longer flowers. It also has longer spines and more of them are hooked.

Post by **Ali Baba** » Mon Aug 14, 2017 10:18 pm

Sadly I've only had one flower so far and it opened (and closed) whilst I was on holiday abroad

Is the prolific flowering one from a particular source?

Post by **jfabiao** » Mon Aug 14, 2017 11:50 pm

Beautiful spines on the second plant, but likely a nightmare to move around or repot...

Post by **rodsmith** » Tue Aug 15, 2017 7:53 am

Those hooked spines are the longest I've seen, I think.

Post by **iann** » Tue Aug 15, 2017 5:37 pm

Both are from Mesa Garden seed. The one with lots of flowers is from Scissors Crossing and the one with long spines is from 29 Palms. Both are in California although not exactly side by side.

Post by **Ali Baba** » Tue Aug 15, 2017 6:48 pm

Thanks that's interesting, mine is from Mesa, Scissors Crossing. Lots of buds but hardly ever an open flower

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Post by **Ali Baba** » Tue Aug 15, 2017 7:45 pm

Looking more closely at your photos, my plants look more like the pale flowered one, spinewise. Perhaps Mesa mixed my packets up!
Do you water them much? I find them a bit fickle, I potted on a bunch of 5 seedlings last year into a slightly bigger pot ( they were in the original seed pot) and my reward was 3 of the 5 died despite potting all together with minimal root disturbance [emoji53]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Post by **iann** » Tue Aug 15, 2017 9:24 pm

I just went out to double-check my labels and your diagnosis was correct. The one with lots of flowers is from 29 Palms.

Anyway, M. tetrancistra needs special treatment compared to most Mamillarias. It is particular allergic to water in late spring and early summer. This is the dry (and hot) season over much of its range, and certainly where these two come from. It takes up water prolifically in late winter and early spring. Watering too long into the heat of late spring is fatal, and possibly just having it enter the hot season too fat from early water may be fatal. I find the Scissors Crossing form (the one you have?) is particularly prone to over-expanding, then it will become paler and if you don't take the hint it will be dead soon after. The 29 Palms plant is in a bigger pot but seems to stay more compact - maybe it has slightly different soil.

What works for me is to leave them completely dry from mid-to-late May until August. They sometimes set buds but these won't open until they get water. I've known people that get spring flowers so maybe a slightly different regime will bring out a first flush, but I haven't pushed my luck. I had a lot of seedlings a few years ago and many were killed by trying to water in the danger period. Then they get a splash or two in August but not generous watering, and this should cause the flowers to open. They get more water once it cools down in September or October.

Post by **Tony R** » Tue Aug 15, 2017 9:32 pm

Well done, iann, great plants!
I used to grow these in my early days as a mammillaria enthusiast. I gave up after several attempts and much dying.
Your regime makes great sense, perhaps I will try again one day.

Post by **Ali Baba** » Wed Aug 16, 2017 7:14 am

Thanks Ian I suspect your diagnosis is correct, I have tended to water when it is hot [emoji15]I will adopt your watering regime forthwith! I 'll look out for the 29 Palms on Mesa's list too

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk