The snowball cushion cactus (Mammillaria candida) has a ball-shaped body covered in white feeling or fuzz. It features 4–7 axillary hairs, up to 120 radial spines, cylindrical tubercles, rose-pink blooms with greenish red midveins, and up to 120 radial spines.
Care Guide
Water
The snowball cactus is a drought-resistant plant that doesn’t need to be watered frequently. When the soil is entirely dry, water it well. To prevent water buildup when watering a pot, water carefully, wait for water to trickle out the bottom, and then pour the extra water from the tray.
Its three main growing seasons are spring, summer and autumn. To keep the soil just a little bit moist, water once or twice every week. Water the soil only enough to prevent it from drying out too much over the winter, usually once a week. Additionally, use distilled or rainwater instead of tap water.
Calcium, magnesium, and other mineral salts are abundant in tap water. Compaction of the soil is often brought on by prolonged use. When watering, avoid sprinkling water on the stem to avoid rotting.
Fertilizer
Feed the snowball cactus once a month with liquid fertilizers during the growing seasons (spring, summer and autumn). Wintertime doesn’t call for fertilizers. When repotting in the spring or autumn, a tiny amount of slow-release fertilizers can be thoroughly incorporated into the soil.
Pruning
Pruning the snowball cactus is not necessary very often. Remove dead branches and blooms to allow the plant to focus its resources on nutrient-rich growth.
Temperature
The snowball cactus is found in tropical, subtropical, and semi-desert areas that experience little precipitation, intense sunlight, and hot temperatures. 20 to 35 °C is the ideal temperature for growth. Temperatures below 10 °C or above 35 °C cause development to stall and dormancy to start. The surroundings should be well-ventilated and the air humidity shouldn’t be too high. Avoid accumulating water and high humidity.
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