Brain Cactus

The crested form of the brain cactus called Mammillaria elongata ‘Cristata’ is not a natural phenomenon. But rather a mutation due to physical damage caused to its apical meristem present in root tips and tips of new shoots. If chewed by an insect or damaged on purpose by the hand of man, it results in a craze of cells forming convoluted and sinuous growth with lots of stems and kinks in a tight clump.

The relatively small brain cactus (about 15cm high) is covered in fine, hair-like thorns. This gives it a bleak, greenish-grey colour resembling a brain. Display it in a shallow bowl with a diameter not much wider than the plants. Some collectors with a taste for the weird and the bizarre would perhaps find a scull-shaped pot to put it in.

Care For It

• If you want to replant your nursery-bought brain cactus into another container, use a gritty succulent mix that drains very well and a pot with proper drainage holes.
• The best spot for the brain cactus indoors will be in bright light close to a window. But avoid window sills bathed in baking afternoon sun.
• The best spot outdoors would be semi-shade with morning sun, as the plant can get sunburnt. The brain cactus is not cold- and frost-hardy.
• Correct watering is extremely important. Only water when the soil is completely dry and do it carefully along the soil level not wetting the plant at all. Because moisture collecting in the kinks and folds of stems can cause rot. You can also water from below via capillary action, letting the pot stand for a while in a bowl of water.

Some thoughts

The species M. elongata (hailing from Mexico) actually has a multi-stemmed, straight growth habit and is commonly called lady fingers. Pieces of the brain cactus can be grafted onto a stem of it or any other member of the genus to propagate more plants which look exactly like the mother plant.

READ MORE: Learn about the Golden Barrel Cactus here