Light
As with most succulents, Mexican snowballs require several hours of bright, direct sunlight each day in order to thrive. Insufficient sunlight causes the plant to become leggy and lose its attractive compact shape. When grown indoors, a west or south-facing window is best. If necessary, these succulents do well under grow lights. When grown outdoors, Mexican snowballs can be planted in a location that receives a combination of direct and partial light throughout the day.
Soil
True to their semi-desert native habitat, Mexican snowballs do best in sandy, well-draining soil. They cannot tolerate being waterlogged so their soil should drain easily and dry quickly. Avoid humus-rich soil because it hold waters for longer periods of time. Mexican snowballs also do well in nutrient-poor soil. A standard cactus or succulent potting mix is great for these succulents.
Water
Mexican snowballs are known for being drought-tolerant and you should avoid overwatering them at all costs. Generally, it is better to underwater a succulent than to overwater it. If needed, these succulents can survive months with little to no water. Before watering, ensure that the soil has dried out completely and then water well. In the winter, reduce water while the plant is in dormancy.
Temperature and Humidity
As a desert plant, Mexican snowballs enjoy hot, dry conditions. They do not do well in overly humid conditions, and they cannot tolerate cold weather. Typical household temperature and humidity levels are fine for Mexican snowballs if you are growing them indoors. If you are growing these succulents outdoors and live in a climate colder than USDA zones 9-11, grow them in containers so they can be easily overwintered indoors.
Fertilizer
Mexican snowballs are not heavy feeders and do not require regular fertilization. They can benefit from an annual fertilization in the early-mid spring with a fertilizer that is designed for cacti and succulents.
Pruning
These succulents do not require pruning; however, if Mexican snowballs become leggy, there are ways to cut them back and revitalize their compact flower-like shape. To rehabilitate a leggy Mexican snowball, cut off the top part of the stem that is not leggy and is still somewhat compact, and replant it in a separate container. After you have cut off the top part of the plant, remove the bottom few leaves from the new rosette to expose the bare stem. This bare part will be buried beneath the soil and develop new roots. Before planting the newly separated plant, allow the stem to callous over for 12-24 hours to prevent rot once it is planted. Once calloused, the new plant can be potted in a standard cactus or succulent soil mix. Don’t water the new plant until roots have begun to form, after approximately 2-3 weeks.
Propagating Mexican Snowballs
Mexican snowballs are very easily propagated through leaf cuttings and division. Mature plants will grow offsets which can be separated from the mother plant and planted in their own pots. Alternatively, new plants can be grown through leaf propagation. To propagate Mexican snowballs by leaf propagation, gently twist off a healthy leaf from the succulent, ensuring that it pops off the stem without tearing. The base of the leaf should be completely intact. Once removed, put the leaf on top of dry soil and place it in a location that receives bright, indirect light. Within 2-3 weeks you should begin to notice small pink or white roots sprouting from the end of the leaf. At this point, you can begin lightly watering or misting the new roots, allowing the soil to dry thoroughly between waterings. After a few months you will see a small succulent growing from the end of the leaf. Continue caring for this new succulent until the parent leaf dries up and falls off. At this point you can move the new plant to a location that receives bright, direct light and care for it as you would a mature plant.
Potting and Repotting Mexican Snowballs
When it comes to repotting, Mexican snowballs aren’t picky. They don’t require frequent repotting and they can tolerate being rootbound. Because they do well in poor quality soil, they also don’t require soil to be frequently refreshed. It is best to repot Mexican snowballs after they have outgrown their container. Roots growing out of the drainage holes are one indication it might be time to repot. When choosing a new container, don’t size up too much. A pot that is 2-3 inches larger than the previous containere is perfect.
Overwintering
Mexican snowballs are not frost-tolerant and need to be overwintered indoors if you are growing them outdoors in a zone lower than USDA zone 9. The easiest way to do this is to grow them in containers so you can simply move the container indoors and grow them as houseplants throughout the winter.
Common Pests/Diseases
Generally Mexican snowballs are not bothered by too many pests. However, some common pests such as mealybugs and aphids can be attracted to these succulents, regardless of whether they are grown indoors or outdoors. Regularly inspecting plans for pests and applying preventative treatments will help to mitigate any potential infestations.
