What are the characteristics of the succulent plant Songxia (Mammillaria prolifera)?
Songxia, also known as Yinsongyu, is native to Mexico. It prefers a warm, dry environment with plenty of sunlight. It is relatively cold-tolerant and drought-tolerant, but fears strong light. It requires fertile, well-drained sandy soil. In winter, the temperature should not drop below 5°C.
Songxia
Propagation:
Commonly propagated by sowing, cuttings, division and grafting. For sowing, carry out in April-May; the seeds are very small, so sow in pots indoors, and they germinate 10 days after sowing. The seedlings can be transplanted separately in autumn. For cuttings, May-June is preferable; peel the offsets directly from the mother plant and insert them in a sand bed, and they root after about 2 weeks. For division, carry out in March-April together with repotting; for plants that are too crowded, pull them apart and replant them directly. For grafting, use Hylocereus undatus as the rootstock; because Songxia's body avoids soft stems, the operation must be done carefully, and the survival rate is lower than with hard stems.
Songxia
Cultivation:
For potting soil, use fertile leaf mold plus coarse sand, with good drainage. During growth, it is better to keep it slightly dry; never let it get too wet, otherwise the roots rot very easily. Apply fertilizer once every half month during the growing season. After 3-4 years of cultivation, it needs to be divided and renewed to keep the offsets and spines fresh and the growth vigorous.
Pests and diseases:
Anthracnose and leaf spot disease sometimes occur; spray with 75% chlorothalonil wettable powder at 800 times dilution. Among insect pests, red spider mites are a serious threat and can be killed by spraying with 20% tetradifon wettable powder at 1000 times dilution.
Songxia
Uses:
Songxia is small and exquisite, and its red fruits remain on top of the plant for a long time without falling, which is unusually interesting. Grown in pots or combined into bottle gardens and small bonsai, it is especially suitable for home cultivation, decorating windowsills, desks and writing desks, beautiful and elegant.