Origin and Habitat: Garden origin.

• Discocactus horstii f. cristatus hort.

• Discocactus horstii Buining & Bredero
• Discocactus horstii f. cristatus hort.
• Discocactus horstii f. variegatus hort.
• Discocactus woutersianus Bredero & M.van de Broek

Description: This is one of the most precious crested cacti that on rare occasions develops. Crested plants often results in several flowers appearing at one time along the line meristem. It is best maintained by grafting it on to a columnar stock (e.g. Trichocereus, Harrisia, Myrtillocactus).

Cultivation and Propagation: It is rather difficult to grow and frost tender, should be kept at above 15° C if grown on its own roots (8°C if grafted) need full sun or afternoon shade. Young seedlings are generally grafted because they are slow growing and very rot prone when kept on their own roots and though they can’t endure long stretches of total dryness, too much water will rot them, as their weak root systems tend to be inefficient at sucking up water from wet soil. They generally resent being repotted and can take a long time to establish.
Propagation: Almost always by grafting.