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I have been growing Parodia mammulosa ssp. submammulosa off and on over the years since 1991. This story started back on April 27, 1991 when I borrowed a 25 year old plant from a man at my work to take some photos for him. If I am remembering correctly, he told me he had been growing his plant indoors all of those years. He bought it as a seedling in a 2" pot at a garden center. The pictures below are of his plant potted in a 6" diameter pot. The plant itself was about 7" tall. When he lent me the plant, he gave it to me in a 5 gallon joint compound bucket. The plant barely fit inside without hitting the walls of the bucket. Those buckets are about 11" in diameter. I don't remember if I kept the plant that whole summer or if he gave it back to me while it was blooming, but here it is blooming on July 20, 1991. And, based on later pictures below, this plant normally blooms at the end of June in my area. I'm wondering if I may have the date incorrect here. But it is the date I wrote on the back of the photo and the print itself is dated for Sept 91, the date it was developed and printed. I have to wonder since I can't prove anything now.
I found some seeds on that plant either from the previous year or from the flowers of that year, I don't really remember now. I sowed them and kept one plant. I don't have any young photos of the plant, they don't start until Feb 14, 2008. In this photo you can see the base of the plant is corky, and that it is starting with an offset up near the top of the plant. This picture was taken at my work, so I must have stored it there over winter. It is possible that this plant is 17 years old in this photo. My next photo was taken June 28, 2009 when some buds have already bloomed and others are making their way towards opening.
The next photos were taken April 1, 2010. They are at my house, so I must have brought them all home from work after storing them there for the winter. Somewhere around that time I started a new plant, but really neglected it. It is a good thing I did, because one fall, maybe even 2010, I didn't bring my plant in soon enough when a hard frost was forecast and killed the plant. It is possible that I didn't start the new plant till after I killed the other one, using some seed I had saved from the plant. I am trying to assemble this journal from memory, and my memory fails me.

The next picture is of the seedling started back then. It was taken April 5, 2021. The pot is 4" in diameter and maybe 7" tall. I am pretty sure I have buried the bottom of this plant to hide the corking. I know I did neglect it for years and it is older than it appears. I'll have to wait till the next time I repot to get a shot of the entire plant bare root. So here is the latest photo I've taken back on June 20, 2022 when it was blooming. I have been fertilizing this plant all summer. It has been in full unshaded sun. I'm am thinking I really need to cut back its light a little bit, but it will be coming inside soon. And that is my history of growing this species as of today. I did harvest some seed today and sent them down to A.G.R. and hope to see him growing it too. I suspect if I'm really careful, I may be able to get a few more seeds off of the plant. I pulled the remains of the flowers off today in the misty rain. They were soaked from the past two days of rain.

Excellent story Jerry! Your acquaintance had a great specimen and it's a special thing to have grown offspring from that original plant, 56 years old now if still alive.

Very nice flowers and plant Agree with MrXeric, lovely story behind your plant.

Fantastic story, Jerry! "Grandchildren of the spiny beast" would fit good for a title maybe...
Parodia mammulosa is a rewarding plant. I also have numerous offspring from the previous collection plans.

That's why I also keep my photos from many years ago. So maybe in winter, when colds lock the ground outside and eliminate outdoor and collection work I would find a story to tell too. It's also a good idea to to show mother plants when sending seeds to someone.

Thanks fellow cactiphiles, if that is a word for those that love cacti! Anyway, I was able to get about 15 more seeds out of this plant about two days ago. I plan on sowing them now, since this is a warm winter plant.

Sure, Jerry. Backup of plants is a must. From some species that I lost mother plants for any reason now I have more offspring then ever.

Parodia mammulosa likes bigger pots, warmth and regular water.
I think this cactus do some seeds by self-pollinating as well. Here are my seedlings so far, growing slow but steady.
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That is my short story about this species. First photo was taken in June 2009.

7george; Lovely buds on the mammulosas!

7george wrote: ↑Sun Sep 25, 2022 3:10 pm Sure, Jerry. Backup of plants is a must. From some species that I lost mother plants for any reason now I have more offspring then ever.

Parodia mammulosa likes bigger pots, warmth and regular water.
Parodia_mammulosa_52.jpg

I think this cactus do some seeds by self-pollinating as well.
Parodia-mammulosa-22.jpg

I know at least my plants are self fertile since I only have one plant and it sets fertile seeds without any other local Parodia nearby.

Is that an offset in your first picture from 2009, #52?

Is that an offset in your first picture from 2009, #52?

Yes, that plant had 2 offsets with buds at the time this photo was taken.

7george wrote: ↑Tue Sep 27, 2022 11:19 am

Is that an offset in your first picture from 2009, #52?

Yes, that plant had 2 offsets with buds at the time this photo was taken.

I didn't know if offsetting was a characteristic of this plant, or if I just had an oddball. Nice to know. How big did your plant get, or is it still alive? Not sure of the date your photo was taken.

That plant was given away long time ago and that was last time I sow it. Offsetting is not typical but rather occasional (from too much water in the spring or rich soil). Date was: Thu, 04 June 2009.

I even found another photo: Offsets were three on that plant, one was hidden behind. The pots were 16 by 16 cm wide and soil mix contained decomposed manure.