{"product_id":"myrtillocactus-geometrizans-f-cristata-garambullo-crestado-gigante","title":"Myrtillocactus geometrizans f. cristata | One-of-a-kind specimen","description":"\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e📸 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOne-of-a-kind specimen\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe only have one, and it is \u003cstrong\u003eexactly the one in the photo\u003c\/strong\u003e: the one that will arrive at your door. Its wavy crest twists around on itself, a quirky shape no other plant will ever repeat in quite the same way.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e🌱 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMorphology\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCrested (fasciated) form of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMyrtillocactus geometrizans\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, the blue candle cactus or garambullo, very slow-growing with a sculptural appearance. Instead of the columnar stems typical of the species, the growing point produces a wavy crest that folds and twists into wide, sinuous structures. The skin keeps the characteristic \u003cstrong\u003eblue-green tone\u003c\/strong\u003e of the species, and the edges of the crest retain the areoles with their short spines, although their arrangement is altered by the fasciation. Every crested specimen is unique.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e🌍 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDistribution, habitat and family\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe species is native to \u003cstrong\u003eMexico\u003c\/strong\u003e, from the arid and semi-arid areas of the centre and north of the country, where it forms large, candelabra-shaped branching columnar cacti. It belongs to the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCactaceae\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e family. The crested form is a morphological expression of the species, kept in cultivation for its ornamental value.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e❄️ \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTemperature · USDA Zone 9b\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTolerates light, short frosts down to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e−3 ºC\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e when dry. Crested forms are more delicate: protect them from damp cold, as the folds of the crest can hold moisture. Below 5 ºC, keep the substrate completely dry.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e☀️ \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLighting\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNeeds \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eplenty of light and direct sun\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e to keep a compact, well-defined crest. As a reference during active growth, a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDLI PAR of 20–30 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is recommended. Acclimatise gradually to direct sun to avoid scorching. Insufficient light causes weak growth and distorts the crest.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e💧 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGrowth cycle and watering\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWinter dormancy.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Keep practically dry during the cold months. In spring and summer, growth resumes: water thoroughly and let the substrate dry out completely before watering again. The crested form needs particular attention to drainage and ventilation to prevent moisture building up between the folds.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e🌸 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFlowering\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn the species, flowers are small and \u003cstrong\u003ecreamy white\u003c\/strong\u003e, appearing on mature plants, followed by small bluish-purple fruits (garambullos). In crested forms, flowering is rare or irregular.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e🌿 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNutrition\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDuring active growth, a fertiliser high in assimilable calcium and low in nitrogen such as \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDesert CHOICE® Cactáceas\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is recommended, applied once a month when watering. At the end of the season, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDesert CHOICE® Reposo\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e helps prepare the plant for winter.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is an inimitable xerophyte grown in Madrid in a technological square pot, with the substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e10x10 cm pot\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"DesertSTORE.es","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":59023239774543,"sku":"3300","price":53.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0559\/9818\/5628\/files\/FullSizeRender_c948b7fd-b2b7-4ad6-b73e-caf8f6227437.jpg?v=1791369606","url":"https:\/\/desertstore.es\/en\/products\/myrtillocactus-geometrizans-f-cristata-garambullo-crestado-gigante","provider":"DesertSTORE.es","version":"1.0","type":"link"}