ID help?

[JadeL]

DIMENSIONS: Roughly 5x5 cm

My best guess was an Echinocereus Barthelowanus, but this is my first cactus and I am unsure.

Any help would be appreciated!

Also, how often should I water it? I have been told different things by different people

(sorry the images are flipped somehow, I don't know how to solve that as my files aren't orientated that way, to begin with)

[vlani]

Mammillaria of some sort. How thichkis the stem?

[mdpillet]

Looks like a bloated Mammillaria elongata to me.

[greenknight]

Not an Echinocereus, since it doesn't have ribs. The spine clusters are on bumps (tubercles) that are not on ribs, which marks it as a Mammillaria or related genus, like Cochemia, Coryphantha, Escobaria... that's all I can think of offhand, I think I missed 1 or 2.

You can't water on a schedule, water when the soil is dry which varies with the conditions. When in doubt, don't water, it'd better to under-water than over-water. In the winter, water much less. See - http://www.cactiguide.com/growcacti/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and http://www.cactus-art.biz/note-book/Dic ... r_rest.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[CactusMad]

I also think it is Mammillaria elongata.Where do you keep it? Is it on a window ledge? Also where in the world are you ?

[JadeL]

Mammillaria of some sort. How thichkis the stem?

The stem is around 3cm thick.

[JadeL]

I also think it is Mammillaria elongata.Where do you keep it? Is it on a window ledge? Also where in the world are you ?

I'm in the UK. I keep it on my windowsill at the moment ^.^

[JadeL]

Not an Echinocereus, since it doesn't have ribs. The spine clusters are on bumps (tubercles) that are not on ribs, which marks it as a Mammillaria or related genus, like Cochemia, Coryphantha, Escobaria... that's all I can think of offhand, I think I missed 1 or 2.

You can't water on a schedule, water when the soil is dry which varies with the conditions. When in doubt, don't water, it'd better to under-water than over-water. In the winter, water much less. See - http://www.cactiguide.com/growcacti/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and http://www.cactus-art.biz/note-book/Dic ... r_rest.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Ah, I see! Very helpful. I may get more familiar with these plants, as I'm in college taking Biology at the moment, but we haven't covered xerophytes in detail yet.

[JadeL]

Looks like a bloated Mammillaria elongata to me.

What exactly does bloated mean in relation to a cactus?

[CactusMad]

Is it a south facing window?

[JadeL]

Is it a south facing window?

I think it is roughly North-East facing.

[greenknight]

What exactly does bloated mean in relation to a cactus?

On Mamm. elongata, the radial spines normally overlap so much that the epidermis of the cactus is barely visible. Here's a page that shows a number of different-colored strains (also growing instructions) - http://www.mammillarias.net/gallery/mam ... gata&lg=uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Yours is abnormally plumped-up, likely due to barely-adequate light and perhaps a bit too-generous watering. The species tolerates light shade, but a cactus in lower light uses less water. If you don't have a window with better light, at least put it close to the glass - even a little bit of distance makes a big difference - and let it get very dry between waterings. When you do water, always water thoroughly, until water comes out the drain hole - but never leave the pot sitting in water.

A cactus that's really suffering from low light will put out thin, elongated growth, looks terrible. The only way to fix that is to prune off the etiolated growth. Yours is nowhere near that point, though.

[JadeL]

What exactly does bloated mean in relation to a cactus?

On Mamm. elongata, the radial spines normally overlap so much that the epidermis of the cactus is barely visible. Here's a page that shows a number of different-colored strains (also growing instructions) - http://www.mammillarias.net/gallery/mam ... gata&lg=uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Yours is abnormally plumped-up, likely due to barely-adequate light and perhaps a bit too-generous watering. The species tolerates light shade, but a cactus in lower light uses less water. If you don't have a window with better light, at least put it close to the glass - even a little bit of distance makes a big difference - and let it get very dry between waterings. When you do water, always water thoroughly, until water comes out the drain hole - but never leave the pot sitting in water.

A cactus that's really suffering from low light will put out thin, elongated growth, looks terrible. The only way to fix that is to prune off the etiolated growth. Yours is nowhere near that point, though.

I see. My window isn't that good, but the best I've got is a south-west facing window. However, that's the cat's favourite spot! I may try downstairs. Do you think that S-W is adequate?

[greenknight]

SW would be good, gets afternoon sun (no doubt why the cat likes it). There's a risk of sunburn until it gets used to direct sun, you need to gradually acclimatize it.

[JadeL]

SW would be good, gets afternoon sun (no doubt why the cat likes it). There's a risk of sunburn until it gets used to direct sun, you need to gradually acclimatize it.

Ah okay, so how long during the day should I expose my Cacti to the sun to prevent that from happening?

Sorry for all of the questions, I want it to thrive as much as possible