Mammillaria elongata aka Ladyfinger 🌵Cactus
Mammillaria | Updated: January 25, 2025
This cactus is perfect for the beginner’s succulent garden. Its tubes form dense green and orange clusters, with light yellow or pink flowers in the spring.
Quick Guide
- Full sun to partial shade 🌤️
- Typical water needs for a succulent
- Plant grows up to 8″ (20 cm) tall
- Plant grows up to 12″ (30.5 cm) wide
- Zone 9a (Minimum 20° F | -6.7° C)
- Not cold hardy
- Propagation by offsets
- Generally non-toxic to humans and animals
- Winter Dormant
How to 🩷 Care for and Propagate Your 🪴 Succulents
General Care for Mammillaria elongata aka Ladyfinger Cactus
Mammillaria elongata, commonly known as Ladyfinger Cactus, is an easy-to-care-for succulent that thrives indoors with adequate light. It’s a slow grower but rewarding to grow.
Watering
For Mammillaria elongata, follow typical succulent watering practices using the soak and dry method. Allow the soil to completely dry out between waterings. During its dormant winter period, water sparingly, if at all, to prevent rot.
Where to Plant
Due to its lack of cold hardiness, plant Mammillaria elongata in containers that can be moved indoors if temperatures drop below 20°F (-6.7°C). It prefers full to partial sun.
Choose a garden spot that receives at least 4 hours of sunlight daily. Indoors, place near a southern-facing window to ensure it receives ample sunlight (Northern Hemisphere).
How to Propagate Mammillaria elongata aka Ladyfinger Cactus
Propagation of Ladyfinger Cactus can be done through cuttings.
Cuttings
Carefully take a stem cutting using nitrile gloves and silicone-tipped tongs for safety. If needed, use a sharp knife to cleanly cut the stem away from the main cluster.
Allow the cut end to dry and callous over for several days before planting in well-draining soil.
Additional Notes
Mammillaria elongata is a slow grower, so patience is key when cultivating new plants from cuttings. With proper care and adequate light, it will thrive both indoors and in suitable outdoor conditions.
Tags & Attributes
Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Genus: Mammillaria
Species: M. elongata