A couple of years ago, I bought off the shelf at IKEA this little mammillaria. I did not even know what it was, but I transplanted it into a somewhat larger vase, and then I neglected it the first year. It did not flower the year I neglected it ... it was in a darkish room for several months ...
I posted here a year ago, and I was given helpful suggestions in trying to undo the damage my neglect had done. (see viewtopic.php?f=3&t=24988&p=222438#p222438" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; if interested. I was also told that without pics of the flowers, it would be understandably hard to identify it with certainty).
However, one year later, after your helpful feedback, and that would be last summer 2012, it stayed in my back yard during the hot months, and I hardly watered it, and then spent the winter (2013) inside my home bathed in the sun of an east-facing window. Surprise! I just got flowers
Here are a couple of pictures, and I would appreciate if someone could help me in identifying this mammillaria. The flowers are a lovely pale yellow ( I can see that summering it outside was a good thing to do for it, also wintering it inside at the east window -- but I do not have south facing windows).
I live in "zone 4," at 4,500 ft (about 1.500 m) and it is a desert highland area geographically. The air is very dry, summer highs are around 105 F (39 C approx.) and winters low can dip into the single digits F (about - 15 C). I know the mammillaria cannot tolerate cold temps, so I plan on always bringing it in mid fall or so.
The plant is about 3.5" in diameter, and about 2" tall (I think that's about 10 cm and 7 cm, or so -- just eyeballing).
Besides an ID, if you can, what other suggestions do you have for me to be good to this mammillaria? I want for it to be happy and continue to bloom. The pot is big enough that I see no need for re-transplanting it any time soon. How much water should it get? In which season(s)? Some of it shows some brown streaks on the surface. I think I watered it once on top of the plant, rather than in the dirt directly. Might that have caused the brown lines?
I know nothing about mammillariae, and I am grateful this one came back to life so nicely, after a very rough first year (2011) with me. I am very motivated to learn -- I need some tips from those who know more than I, though.
Thank you in advance!
Salima
