A winter blooming cactus - Mammillaria Bombycina

It is middle of the winter here. And even though we do not get snow or frosts (very rarely) it does gets cold. Especially at night the temperature can drop to just a few degrees. I still keep all my cacti outside on the fresh air to they do get that cold nights. And that is good - that is what they need to get good winter rest. The cold will also induce the buds forming for the next season.

Mammillaria Bombycina



Mammillaria Bombycina winter bloom 6.jpg

Mammillaria Bombycina winter bloom 5.jpg

But why this one is blooming now? She was blooming in the regular time in summer too. She started to open the flowers a few weeks back. Very slowly, one by one. In summer it created a nice floral wrath around and this is how they usually bloom. Even few layers of flowers that will open one by one lasting for weeks.

Mammillaria Bombycina winter bloom 8.jpg

I see there are more buds showing, so the flowers will stay for a while.
See how they are all protected by the long spines ended up with very sharp hooks and smaller, gentler white ones? Proper bud protection!

Mammillaria Bombycina winter bloom 3.jpg

Mammillaria Bombycina winter bloom 2.jpg

And more spines are coming up.
I start to think she never goes for winter rest.

Mammillaria Bombycina winter bloom 4.jpg

Mammillaria Bombycina winter bloom 7.jpg

I hope it will start producing offshoots soon. When it starts growing almost like a bush with many plants next each other and they all start to bloom... it looks just amazing. Hope you are tempted to google the name and see for yourself.
Cacti are so cool!

Mammillaria Bombycina winter bloom 1.jpg

»«
Shot with Nikon D5500 + Sigma 105mm lens
All photos and text are my own.

»»-------------¤-------------««

REGISTRATION | UPVOTE VALUES | NEW MEMBERS BONUS

To support the project
vote for @qurator as a Steemit witness on
steemit.com, or SteemConnect
Thank you.

H2
H3
H4
3 columns
2 columns
1 column
22 Comments
Ecency