€159,00

Lophocereus schottii f. monstrosus H.E.Gates 

🌱 Morphology
    An extraordinarily unique monstrous form of Lophocereus schottii, with columnar stems without defined ribs and practically spineless, covered in irregular bumps, folds, and swellings that resemble a totem pole, though much longer and thinner than the standard monstrous form. The stems are greyish-green, smooth, and slow-growing, branching from the base and capable of forming large clusters. Unlike the typical form, the monstrous mutation profoundly modifies the development of the ribs and areoles, producing its characteristic knotted 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, subfamily Cactoideae, and tribe Pachycereeae. 

❄️ Temperature · USDA Zone 9a
It tolerates minimum temperatures down to −6 ºC in dry conditions and with well-acclimatized 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 irrigation
Winter dormancy. During winter, it should be kept practically dry. During spring and summer, it is recommended to water deeply and sparingly, allowing the substrate to dry out completely. Drainage must be particularly fast to avoid root issues.

🌸 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 are 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 when 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 substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.

14x14 cm pot

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