This is the second go-around for Mammillaria vetula subsp gracilis. In the endless trial and error process that makes up my growing approach combined with a forgetful mind, plants don't make it sometimes. In this case the plant location is a bit isolated, so gets overlooked frequently. I learned in the first few years that it can take all the bright sun Texas has to dish out along with the accompanying heat and is very forgiving of being forgotten and not given supplemental water for a few weeks at a time. It actually did pretty well in those circumstances. I have learned it can take temps at least down to 25F when dry, but suffers some burning when the soil has more moisture combined with the cold. That's how it got killed. It rained and the temps fell into the upper teens F and I forgot to move it inside. It might have survived just the rain, though it likely wouldn't have been happy due to cool temps. But saturated and freezing combined proved to be too much. I liked it so I acquired it again. In the same location, so it still gets overlooked. I discovered mice will damage it if it's where they can get to it. Since the 'arms' or 'offsets' or whatever they're called will detach just by walking by and sneezing, the mice left a trail where they were nibbling and toting them off. This is after the hail this spring which scattered it, but it has recovered. This time I've managed to get some of the detached growth to root and start growing. The first go-around I was never successful. It's doing well now and if I don't get forgetful and careless it should be hanging around for a while and should fill the container to the edge at some point.
