Description
If you're a fan of succulents and the Halloween, we've found a scary plant that you're going to want to add to your Halloween decorations. With stems that twist around each other in a roundish shape, the Mammillaria Elongata ‘Cristata’ cactus looks like a human brain and a clump of worms.
Aptly called the "brain cactus," the succulent is native to central Mexico, according to Succulent City. It's a rare form of the Mammillaria Elongata cactus, which typically grows straight. But thanks to mutation or damage to its center of growth, the brain cactus' crested form has stems that grow in a big clump. Doesn't a mutated plant just scream Halloween?
How to Grow a Brain Cactus
These plants make fine indoor plants but can only thrive outside in USDA zones 10 and 11. Since they are small, try growing a brain cactus in a succulent dish with a mixture of forms and textures. You may expect blooms any time over the course of the summer which will brighten the container and add even more appeal. You may think you know all about succulent care, but you probably don’t know how to grow a brain cactus. Most cactus are sensitive to overwatering and poor drainage, but brain cactus pads will actually trap moisture in the folds and crevasses. This can be bad in cultivation where gnats are attracted, and mold and mildew issues can instill rot and kill the plant. It is best to water from the base of the container to prevent any moisture from collecting on the body of the brain cactus.
If you wish to propagate the plant, there are some easy methods. Use woody stem cuttings and allow the cut end to callus over for a week. Then insert the cut end into soilless potting medium, such as lightly moistened sand. The other way is to divide the pups away from the parent plant with a clean, sterile knife. Each should also be allowed to callus and then planted into cacti mixture. Growing a brain cactus from pups results in quicker establishment and faster blooms.
How to care for Brain Cactus
As with most succulents, the brain cactus is easy to take care of. Keep it in bright, direct sunlight and water it sparingly. Just be sure not to over water it because if an excess amount of water gets into the folds, it'll rot. The folks at Succulent City recommend using a small watering can and pointing the spout at the soil so you don't get water on the body of the brain cactus. They also suggest repotting the cactus with succulent soil, or soil that drains well once you get it. If you do transfer the brain cactus to a new planter (we recommend a skull-shaped one), be careful because its spines can do some damage.