Friday, January 30, 2009

Mammillaria luethyi


Description: M. luethyi is a very tiny plant, but by far one of the most spectacular members of its genus, distinctive when not in flower because of the 'spination' (if it can be called that!) at the tips of the tubercles, and even more magnificent in flower.
Growth Habits:
Solitary or clustering.
Stem: 1.5 cm in diameter.
Spines: Short, soft and white, not prickly.
Origin: Mexico (Northern Coahuila: limestone slabs in Chihuahuan Desert)
Flowers: Large, rich magenta with a white throat.
Lighting:
The luethyi needs full sun!!! Poorer luminosity levels produce a green anaesthetic plant with open, far and wide spaced areoles
Watering Needs: Water sparingly, needs good drainage
Cultivation: The plant is often seen grafted, as most of the available stock has so far been propagated this way. Grafted plants grow fast and are very floriferous.
But it is relatively easy to cultivate plants on their own roots and no special care required.
.
Cuttings root very well but plants on their own roots are quite slow.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Hello,

My seedlings took 3-4 years to flower, grown in pumice in top of the greenhouse. Flowering at little over 1 cm across. In winter the taproot retracts the head below substrate level, one watering in spring and there they are again!

Robert in The Netherlands