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Brendo

Rescued Bridgesii

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Around two years ago a colleague and I were discussing hobbies when I mentioned I enjoy a bit of gardening, and in particular growing cactus. She said she didn't have much of a green thumb herself, but that she had a cactus growing beside her house.

She's an older woman, and her handyman had accidentally run it over a few weeks earlier with a lawnmower. It was now just laying in her yard, and she had no plans to replant it. I asked for a description and deduced that it was definitely columnar, and was throwing a pup. That's all I needed to know!

So I arrive at her place and it's around a metre long, extremely battered up with a few chunks missing from the middle, black rot in certain areas etc..

I didn't recognise it as Trichocereus, but I was hoping to rescue it regardless.

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I took it home and potted it up. The pup aborted but after a month or so another emerged, and then another. Instantly I recognised it as Bridgesii. Holy shit I thought, score!

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The first two new pups, a few months after emerging.

After a few more months I chopped the column into three sections and planted the other two in another pot. I decided to name the plant 'Hope'

Anyway here's an update from thisafternoon. I kept the main base in a semi-shaded area, the other two are in full sun, hence the colour difference.

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They all seem to be doing really well, I also only noticed a few days ago the original columnar pieces have grown new spines out of old growth.

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Far from my favourite Bridgesii but definitely a unique plant, possibly a hybrid?

I've traded a few pieces already and will be happy to trade with anyone who's keen for a cutting, although they won't be big enough till the end of Summer.

The universe was looking after this cactus, or perhaps looking after me. Either way I'm happy to have it in my collection :)

Anyone had any similar experiences?

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post-13898-0-64189800-1445413174_thumb.jpg

Edited by Brendo
  • Like 8

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Nice score. I like the look of it

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true that ^

looks like a nice, typical bridgesii with good vigour, nice score :)

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Nice one Brendo. I've rescued a few poorly specimens, it makes me feel good to nurse them back to prosperity, I'm hoping to spread some of them back out soon.

  • Like 1

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Beautiful score :)

Wouldn't the girth be fatter if it was a hybrid?

All my seed grown bridgesii are very skinny compared to other bridgesii crosses.

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Defs doesn't look like a hybrid to me. Standard bridgey. Cool story to it though, always nice to save a cactus :]

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Thank you guys. Yeah I guess they do look like a standard Bridgesii, especially the new growth, less spines per aerole etc.

I wonder what an old lady was doing with a Trichocereus.... :innocent_n:

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