Project Description
Mammillaria elongata
“Ladyfinger cactus”
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.
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Quick Look:
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
Also available from Etsy and Leaf and Clay.
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Care and Propagation Information
General Care for Mammillaria elongata “Ladyfinger Cactus”
“Ladyfinger Cactus” is an easy succulent to care for. It is a slow grower, but grows well indoors when given enough light.
Watering
Mammillaria elongata has typical water needs for a succulent. It’s best to use the “soak and dry” method, and allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings.
In the winter when it is dormant, water only sparingly, if at all, to prevent rot.
Where to Plant
Mammillaria elongata “Ladyfinger Cactus” is not cold hardy, so if you live in a zone that gets colder than 20° F (-6.7° C), it’s best to plant this succulent in a container that can be brought indoors. It does well in full to partial sun.
Plant in an area of your garden that gets 4 hours of sunlight a day. If planting indoors, place in a room that gets a lot of sunlight, such as near a southern-facing window (if you’re in the Northern Hemisphere).
How to Propagate Mammillaria elongata “Ladyfinger Cactus”
Cuttings
“Ladyfinger Cactus” can be propagated from cuttings. Use care when taking a cutting. Follow the directions in this post to learn how to handle a cactus safely.
To remove a clump for propagation, you will need nitrile dipped gloves, silicone tongs, and a sharp knife.
Using the tongs, gently pull one of the cylindrical stems away from the main cluster. If you are not able to break it off without pulling up the rest of the plant, use the knife to cut through the stem.
Allow the end of the stem to callous over for several days before placing in well-draining soil.
Pairs Well With
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When should mammalaria elongata be re-potted?
You’ll want to repot when the pot is just a bit too small for the roots of your “Ladyfinger Cactus.” This FAQ will give you more information.
Hello! So I just found out one of the cacti I own is the “Ladyfinger Cactus” and it also just so happens to be one of the few of my cacti I have been having issues with. Sadly I believe my Ladyfinger cactus has died but I have no real way of telling. I’ve read that if a cacti was TRULY dying or dead you would be able to tell and I can’t with mine which makes me a little hopeful that it hasn’t died. What signs would this cactus show if it was truly dead? I appreciate your time in reading this comment and I hope to hear back from you soon. Thank you!
Good question 🙂 I had one of these that died, but the way it died left the top half unscarred. It was somewhat like a dried flower… it looks normal from the outside, but the inside was hollow and the plant wasn’t growing.
The only way to tell for sure is to squeeze a section of the cactus (with gloves) and see if there is much resistance, or pull out one of the sections and see if it still has healthy roots attached.