Mammillaria bicolor nobilis

Mammillaria bicolor nobilisMammillaria bicolor nobilis Mammillaria geminispina will eventually grow into a large plant form 30 to 90 cm large with many broad stiff stems. The var. nobilis is one of the finest species in the genus distinguished by fewer but longer central spines that are of the same lenght. Flowers: Campanulate, pinkish to carmine red, with darker midveins, to 20 mm long and in diameter usually in a ring in the growth of the previous year but sometime more

Mammillaria bicolor nobilis

Mammillaria geminispina will eventually grow into a large plant form 30 to 90 cm large with many broad stiff stems. The var. nobilis is one of the finest species in the genus distinguished by fewer but longer central spines that are of the same lenght.
Flowers: Campanulate, pinkish to carmine red, with darker midveins, to 20 mm long and in diameter usually in a ring in the growth of the previous year but sometime more randomly over the body.
It is a fairly easy plant to grow, don't requires any special treatment, but need as much light as possible without burning the plant to encourage the heaviest spine formation. They like only a short winter's rest and should be kept almost completely dry during the winter months, If the soil is allowed to be dry for too long root loss could follow but equally the same result would occur if the plants are both wet and cold. From March onwards the plant will begin to grow and watering should be increased gradually until late May when the plant should be in full growth.
Water regularly during the summer so long as the plant pot is allowed to drain and not sit in a tray of water.
Grown specimens resist to -4°C for a short time, but it is best to keep above 0° C to avoid ugly spots on the plant epidermis.

Some of the information in this description has been found at desert-tropicals.com, llifle.com and cactus-art.biz