Description
This strange mutant Mammillaria makes a large low crowded mound of tiny, spineless, rubbery textured pale-green and pink tipped stems, some only a few millimetres across (3-9 mm wide). Each mound may be formed by hundreds of individual heads. Crested stems will also occour and the plant looks more like a strange marine creature than a cactus.
Remarks: Sometime “Fred” revert to the type producing some normal shoots, spines or hairs, monstrose or crested flowers. Sometimes will have a normal “patch” and remain mostly monstrose. But all this very different forms are the same plant! They are epigenetic variation not genetic mutant!
Origin and Habitat
Garden origin (Nursery produced cultivar)
Cultivation and Propagation
Mammillaria “Fred” (all clones) grow well on their own roots. Keep well ventilated as it is prone to root rot. Protect from frosts and freezes. Hates the sun.
Propagation: It is easy to take a Fred and separate the “blog” into many new pieces. Each piece can be started on its own, with a bit of care, patience and maybe a little luck. As with most cactus, you can cut a piece, let it dry for a week or so, and put it into the soil and it will grow new roots, if the conditions are just right. The best luck is with cuttings that are 3 cm or larger; smaller ones will root, but it takes much more effort to keep them alive.
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