Mammillaria vetula

A clustering highland Mammillaria from central Mexico, mainly Hidalgo, Querétaro and Guanajuato. Subspecies gracilis is one of the most widely grown cacti. It wants full sun, a gritty limestone-type mix and a cold, dry winter rest to flower well.

At home, aim for

Day Cool-growingTargets in Plantistry

Night A clear drop at nightTargets in Plantistry

Humidity Dry airBand in Plantistry

Light Full sunDLI and PPFD in Plantistry

Expects a seasonal restGrows in the ground

Where it grows wild

It grows in dry shrubland and on rocky limestone slopes at high elevation. The typical subspecies can be dusted with snow and ice in winter.

Subsp. vetula grows at 1,600–3,350 m and subsp. gracilis at 1,200–1,850 m. The records here have a median of about 2,000 m.

HidalgoQuerétaroGuanajuatoMexico

🔒 Growing it like that

The wild conditions above, turned into targets for a shelf, a tent or a greenhouse. The full profile has:

✓ Day and night temperature targets, and the limits it tolerates

✓ Humidity band, and how to hold it

✓ Light as DLI and PPFD for a grow light

✓ Wet and dry seasons, and whether to rest it

✓ Substrate and airflow

✓ A step-by-step setup to grow it like the wild

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Profiles are drafts built from measured range and climate and from published sources; each section carries its own confidence in the app.