Are these going to flower ? Should I begin watering.

[Mooly]

One of my three mini cacti has what appear to my untrained eye to be possible flowers beginning to show. There is a definite pinky colour to those nodules and there are three or four more similar such areas around the circumference and in the same plane as this one.

I've only had the plants for around four weeks and they were repotted around 2.5 weeks ago.
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=34873" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I haven't watered them at all as yet although the potting compost used for repotting was very slightly moist.

Should I offer a little water to the one here ?

[DaveW]

Looks like Mammillaria bombycina and yes it is budding ready to flower:-

http://www.cactus-art.biz/schede/MAMMIL ... bycina.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If the compost was moist you don't need to water yet. I believe "bombycina" gets its name from the silkworm (Bombyx mori) because of the silky wool the mature plants produce in the axils when flowering.

[Mooly]

Thanks Dave, and that's a great link by the way.

So I'll hold out a little longer on the watering front and fingers crossed, I should get some blooms. Brilliant !

[iann]

Rule #1 of watering: if in doubt ... wait. Definitely flower buds though.

[Mooly]

Yes, that does seem to be the way of it. Goes against what I want to do but... I shall refrain.

[7george]

Mammillarias flower perfectly without water this time of the year, I start some watering in March or April. Assuming we are in the Northern hemisphere. Small seedlings kept warm and showing some signs of growth could receive some water if looked dehydrated to my eyes.

[Mooly]

Yes, 53 degrees north approx. There's no sign of any shrivelling or dehydration so I will hold off.

[Martha15]

Nice plant.

[Mooly]

Thanks, they (all three) are sat outside in the sun today.
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=34873" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;