€53,00

Lophocereus schottii f. monstrosus H.E.Gates 

🌱 Morphology
    An extraordinarily unique monstrous form of Lophocereus schottii, with columnar stems lacking defined ribs and practically spineless, covered in irregular protuberances, folds, and bulges that resemble a sculpted totem. The stems are grayish-green, smooth, and slow-growing, branching from the base and capable of forming large clusters. Unlike the typical form, the monstrous mutation profoundly alters the development of the ribs and areoles, producing its characteristic knobby surface.

🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family
The species originates from the Sonoran Desert and Baja California, while the monstrous form is known for a much more restricted natural distribution on the Baja California peninsula, near El Arco. It belongs to the Cactaceae family, Cactoideae subfamily, and Pachycereeae tribe. 

❄️ Temperature · USDA Zone 9a
It tolerates minimum temperatures down to −6 ºC when kept dry and with well-acclimated specimens. Young tips are more sensitive to cold, and it is advisable to keep them dry during frosts.

☀️ Lighting
It requires plenty of light and several hours of direct sun to maintain compact growth and its characteristic monstrous texture. During active growth, a DLI PAR of 20–30 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹ is recommended as a reference.

💧 Growth cycle and watering
Winter dormancy. During winter, it should be kept practically dry. During spring and summer, it is recommended to water deeply and infrequently, allowing the substrate to dry out completely. Drainage must be especially fast to avoid root problems.

🌸 Flowering
Flowering is very rare in the monstrous form, and some specimens may completely lose the ability to produce functional flowers. When they do appear, the flowers retain the general characteristics of Lophocereus schottii: they are small, tubular, with white, pink, or pinkish-yellow tones, and predominantly nocturnal.

🌿 Nutrition
During the active growth period, a fertilizer with a high content of assimilable calcium and low nitrogen levels, such as Desert CHOICE® Cactáceas, is recommended, applied once a month during watering. Before flowering, it can be supplemented with Desert CHOICE® Floración.

This is an inimitable xerophyte grown in Madrid in a high-tech square pot, with the substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.

14x14 cm pot

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