Help identifying cactus with red spines

[dahcacti]

I bought this cactus at Home Depot a year ago. It is about 4 inches round and the tiny spines are bright red. I have attached a photo. Does anyone know what it is?

[Kamos]

I don't see a photo.

[toadstar]

You can use http://imgur.com as an image host. Just click the green new post button at the top of the page there, copy the link it gives you and paste it here.

[dahcacti]

here is a photo

[teo]

It is a Mammillaria vetula ssp gracilis cv Arizona Snow Cap that has been colored (dyed?)

See: http://cactiguide.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=25301

[greenknight]

Agreed - and it needs more light.

[toadstar]

Agreed - and it needs more light.

Indeed. See http://cactiguide.com/cactipests/#etiolate

[DaveW]

Yes the new growth is etiolated. Cactus unfortunately are not plants for room interiors being high light intensity plants therefore needing a bright windowsill at least

[dahcacti]

No it is not dyed. The spines are bright red. I moved it to a window sill with brighter light.

[teo]

Have at look at this

http://www.cactusandalucia.com/catalogo/

[DaveW]

The whole plant was originally dyed. The white spined growths are the very etiolated normally spined cactus growing out of the dyed part. If it were not dyed they should be red spined too. Don't worry we all get taken in by these sales gimmicks when we first start collecting, including glued on straw flowers etc, that's all part of the learning process.

As Teo indicated they are just a gimmick to sell plants since buyers think that is their normal colour until, as with yours, the normal white spined growth grows out again. Some commercial growers have been "gilding the Lily" for years since it sells plants, because most buyers buy them as they would cut flowers on the spur of the moment and they go into the bin within a few weeks anyway when the recipient gets tired of them.

This is what your plant should look like if it is grown properly in full light.

http://worldofsucculents.com/mammillari ... a-snowcap/

I think cacti are usually sprayed with food colouring, but people have even been making and even selling artificially coloured flowers for years using similar methods.

https://www.thoughtco.com/how-to-make-c ... ers-606178

https://www.thoughtco.com/how-to-make-a ... ose-606168

[dahcacti]

Have at look at this

http://www.cactusandalucia.com/catalogo/

Thank you for finding this website. This is exactly what I have.