Blooming cactus - Mammillaria magnimamma

You could admire this cactus monster before, but before the star was the Furry Assistant.
I think it is time to introduce properly one of the most evil plants I own. It has been blooming for me continuously for the past few weeks and I couldn't have asked for more! It is such a joy to look at when I know I missing on so many things right now. This lock down is such a waste of spring!

Mammillaria magnimamma

This cactus is native to Mexico and grows in very dry and rocky soil. It is one of those that will handle the head and sun like no other. Loves high temperatures, but also requires lower temperatures and dry temperatures ion winter time in order to form buds and bloom in mid spring. It can handle short periods of below 0 degrees C. If stressed during very hot or very cold months it turns darker, almost purple. The body normally stays dark green with long, very hard, grey spines.
The spines can vary from very short ones very long ones reaching almost 5 cm!
Flowers show up in spring and can be white, yellow reddish and dark pink like mine. I wouldn't mine having white one as well.

I got mine about a year ago already as a nice size plant and with that little baby on the side. As many supermarket plants it had no name and I had no clue what I am getting. I liked the shape and the evil spines. Those are just so freaking sharp and long.
I repoted it after the purchase and wanted to separate the little one, but it was so strongly attached that I left them together. With time it might grow more of them and will create a nice clump. That is fine too.

I kind of knew the flowers will be pink. There was a little dry one when I bought it. The shape is quite typical for mammillarias, but a bit bigger than the ones I have.
The buds emerge from those fluffy pillows in early spring and I don't think this one will stop blooming any time soon. Cactus flowers usually don't last long, but very often the buds will grow slowly one by one so it seems that some bloom for weeks. Looks amazing when they open all around.

New spines started to grow as well. The young ones are red with black tips. Makes them look even more evil :p

Opposites attract?

And a quick reminded - probably my favourite photo of this session :)

My other blooming cacti:

_{Click on the image to view full post.}

Chamaecereus hybrid	Sulcorebutia Canigueralii	Mammillaria camptotricha	Mammillaria Glassii
Gymnocalycium baldianum	Mediolobivia mudanensis	Lobivia Arachnacantha	Rebutia hybrid
Mammillaria Bombycina	Mammillaria Gracilis Snowcap	Mammillaria haageana	Mammillaria backebergiana
Chamaecereus silvestrii	Mammillaria prolifera	Rebutia Fabrisii var. Aureiflora	Lobivia Wrightiana
Aylostera Flavistyla FR756	Parodia concinna	Mammillaria Copper King	Gymnocalycium Brushii
Mammillaria backebergiana	Gymnocalycium damsii	Echinopsis subdenudata	Rhipsalis pilocarpa
Mammillaria Prolifera	Lobivia arachnacantha v. vallegrandensis	Mediolobivia atrovirens

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_{Shot with Nikon D5500 + Sigma 105mm lens
All photos and text are my own.}

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