Ladyfinger Cactus (Mammillaria Elongata)

The Ladyfinger Cactus (Mammillaria Elongata) is perfect for succulent grower beginners. Its stunning tubular shapes look like an elegant main finger with shorter ones growing around it. These protuberances are dense green, which yields orange clusters. In the Spring, it produces striking yellow or pink flowers.

The Ladyfinger Cactus is everyone’s dream plant. A miniature version of a huge cactus in the desert extends a long finger towards the sky. The plant requires little to no water, lots of sunlight, and repotting every few years. It’s unusual, stunning to look at, and a joy to own.

How to Grow Mammillaria Elongata

Please be reminded that a Ladyfinger Cactus (Mammillaria Elongata) is a slow-growing succulent requiring minimum care.

Just like the other members of the Cactaceae family, mammillaria or Ladyfinger Cactus does not require special treatment except for the necessity to water it frequently during summer, and regular exposure to sunlight is highly needed.

A Ladyfinger Cactus (Mammillaria Elongata) is not a cold-hardy succulent. If you live in an area with a temperature drops below 20° F | -6.7° C, it is advisable to put your Ladyfinger Cactus in a container that you can bring indoors.

Exposure to Sun

The Ladyfinger Cactus needs to be planted in an area in your garden that is certain to receive about four hours of exposure to sunlight per day. This will help the Ladyfinger Cactus to produce flowers and cultivate a sturdy spine.

But bear in mind that prolonged exposure to the sun might give your plant sunburn!

If you prefer to have your Ladyfinger Cactus as an indoor pot plant, then place your succulent near a window where you can be sure it can get plenty of sunlight.

Having a combination of moderate sun exposure and indirect sunlight will support the plant’s growth wonderfully.

Watering Of the Plants

The same with most succulents plants a Ladyfinger Cactus (Mammillaria Elongata) has the same watering needs. It is appropriate to water the plant when you see the soil is dry.

Push your (ungloved) finger into the soil of the plant to about one inch in-depth, and if it’s dry to the touch, it’s time to water. Ladyfinger Cacti need to be frequently watered during the summer months but only sparingly during winter.

The Pot and Soil 

When planting a Ladyfinger Cactus (Mammillaria Elongata), make sure you plant it in a pot with excellent drainage and one that can circulate air. If not, your plant’s roots will not remain healthy and could begin to rot.

So, give your plant the attention it needs concerning these basic requirements, which, if overlooked, could cause death.

Root Rot

If you find that the roots of the plant remain in a damp or a moist container, it will rot.

That is why it is highly advised to repot your Ladyfinger Cactus (Mammillaria Elongata) every two to three years when the growing roots run out of space and there is an absence of air circulation.

Organic Ingredients

The soil of the cactus is very airy and permeable, and this will help remove excess moisture. For improving the quality of the soil, it is best to mix organic ingredients such as peat and humus.

Adding fertilizer can enrich the soil, fertilizer that is sufficient in phosphorous and potassium. Be careful in choosing your fertilizer it should be low in nitrogen because if its nitrogen is high the chemical can lead to bloating.

How To Maintain the Ladyfinger Cactus (Mammillaria Elongata)

A Ladyfinger Cactus is easy to take care of. Well known as a slow grower, it does very well indoors when there is sufficient exposure to light.

Watering 

Ladyfinger Cactus (Mammillaria Elongata) has average watering needs for a succulent. The method of “soak and dry” is best to apply and allow the soil to dry out totally before watering. During winter when it is inactive, water very sparingly, to prevent rot.

The Location in Planting

The Ladyfinger Cactus (Mammillaria Elongata) is not cold tolerant. So, if your place gets colder than 20° F (-6.7° C), the best way to plant your succulent is in a container that can be brought indoors. It’s also best to place it where it can get partial sun.

Plant your Ladyfinger Cactus in an area of your garden that you are confident will get four hours of sunlight a day. When planting indoors, place it in a room that gets a lot of sunlight, such as a rear window.

Taking Cuttings

While propagating your Ladyfinger Cactus, there are things to remember. A Ladyfinger Cactus will propagate from cuttings. Be careful in taking the cuttings and in removing a clump for propagation.

Prepare nitrile, dipped gloves, silicone tongs, and a sharp knife because you are going to use it in cutting your Ladyfinger Cactus.

When using tongs be gentle when pulling one of the cylindrical stems away from the main cluster. Be sure to break it off without pulling up the rest of the plant. It’s best if use a knife to cut through that part of the stem.

Benefits of Ladyfinger Cactus (Mammillaria Elongata)

No Benefits to Wildlife

The Ladyfinger Cactus has no known benefit to wildlife.  This is maybe because of its stand-offish spikes. Ladyfinger Cactus (Mammillaria Elongata) is mainly seen in two extremes – either in the wild or in the garden.

Ideal For Decoration

Ladyfinger Cacti are ideal for decoration because it is cute and pleasing to the eyes. Its yellow and brown spines bring a sun-kissed golden appearance. Its light yellow or pink flowers, when it blooms, look so exotic and stunning, which makes this plant ideal for decoration – outdoor or indoor.

Issues Encountered in Having Mammillaria Elongata

Ladyfinger Cactus (Mammillaria Elongata) is susceptible to mealybugs and aphids. In this regard, it requires special attention and consideration.

Luckily, pests can be prevented.

Rodents

Worms

Thrips

Aphids

Snails

Slugs

Red spider mite

Nematodes, etc.

The appearance of mealybug eggs on the spines’ tips, or an ant, means they are sucking the plant’s sap and its life.

In this regard, immediate treatment requires and thorough washing or spraying of an effective insecticide. You must remove the pests even that plant is dormant.

Mealybugs

Mealybugs won’t stop bothering your plants and eat your plant during wintertime. They will harm your plant anytime.

If you want a less toxic solution, you can soak the plant into soapy water overnight (a dish detergent, it works great for this purpose).

Not giving attention to mealy bugs, these horrible insects will start spreading throughout a collection of plants very fast and then, sadly, you will lose those plants.

Once the mealybugs have taken hold, fighting them off and keeping your plants is not an option – you will lose your battle.

Cacti are vulnerable to rot because of their water-filled fleshy tissue. But, with proper care, rotting will be prevented. Rot typically starts from the bottom and goes up.

Overwatering

Sometimes, the rot appearance is visible on the upper part of its stems, having pale yellow or white-toothed petals and a darker or reddish central line of 1.5 cm in its length and diameter sometimes.

The roots don’t rot off first. But in rare cases, it may rot starting higher up. This could happen when you overwater the plants

The appearance of rot varies from black to red. The affected parts are mushy, slimy and the smell is bad. You’ll know quite quickly if your plant is diseased because it is visible in spiny plants.

If this condition occurs, there’s nothing you can do to save your plant.

When your cactus is placed in a dry environment, it can still get rot if it has been damaged.

Don’t be deceived, it is possible that the top of the plant may look fine, but underneath, it is completely rotted, and survival is no longer possible.

Fungal Attacks

Fungal attacks are also common. This can be recognized in its black appearance or rust-colored spot, surrounded by dried brown sections on its stem. But this kind of case doesn’t occur on all cacti – mostly on epiphytic cacti.

That’s why proper care and attention are vital to ensure the safety and good condition of your Ladyfinger Cactus (Mammillaria Elongata).

Mammillaria Elongata’s Origin and Names

Ladyfinger Cactus (Mammillaria Elongata), also known as Gold Lace Cactus or the Ladyfinger Cactus, belongs to species of flowering plants in the family of Cactaceae and is native to central Mexico.

The expected height is 15 cm (6 in) by 30 cm (12 in) wide. It has densely packed clusters of stems that are elongated and covered with harmless but sharp colored yellow or brown spines. During Spring, it produces a yellow or white flower.

Its fruits are cylindrical to globose, red, or brown, with many seeds. It blooms between late winter and early summer.

It forms a dense group of cylindrical-looking shapes. These stems are erect or semi-prostrate, about 6 to 15 cm long and 1.5 to 3.7 cm in diameter. Others are shorter (2 to 4 mm) and end in the round and woolly areoles in their young segments.

The circular spines of the plants are between 15 to 30 short radial spines (6 to 12 mm), on an outward tube shape that is curved and intersects with those near areoles. It’s yellow or gold in color.

Final Thoughts

Ladyfinger Cactus (Mammillaria Elongata) – this fantastic cactus – is known for achieving the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit!

Those persons who enjoy collecting fun plants should enjoy discovering and adding this one to their collection. One could never regret owning a Ladyfinger Cactus!

Jenny Marie
Tribal Writer

Edited By
Patricia Godwin

Patricia Godwin

Patricia has many years of experience as a content writer on various subjects, but her first love is gardening. She’s never met a plant she didn’t like and, consequently, she writes about every type of plant you can think of. Once an avid gardener with a herb garden, a succulent rockery, and a rose garden – to mention a few. Nowadays, she’s constantly on the move searching for interesting plants to bring to your attention; and explain to you all the details you need to grow, care and maintain these plants.

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