> ⚙️ **Auto-generated, pending human review.** This page was compiled automatically by a bot from community discussions and has **not yet been verified by an editor**; details may be imperfect and corrections are welcome. //Editors: delete this line once you have reviewed the page.// ====== Mel/vin ====== {{clones:m:media:mel_vin:0aea6cc5426e238c.jpg?400}} {{clones:m:media:mel_vin:69109f76313c9ab8.jpg?400}} ===== Description ===== "Mel/vin" refers to genetic material originating from a grower of the same name, encompassing both a columnar *Trichocereus pachanoi* type and a *Trichocereus bridgesii* type. The *T. pachanoi* selection is characterized by a green to glaucous epidermis and exhibits a distinct propensity for monstrose growth, occasionally producing cristate mutations while maintaining a columnar habit. The *T. bridgesii* form is notable for its tendency to grow columns with a reduced rib count, frequently presenting as a "four winds" phenotype (four ribs) with typical *T. bridgesii* spination and areole spacing. ===== History & Origin ===== The name "Mel/vin" is derived from a grower active in the Los Angeles area during the era of The Nook forum. The clone itself refers to specific mother plants kept in this grower's collection. The well-known grower Nitrogen utilized pollen from Mel/vin's garden to create various hybrid crosses, including a suspected "PC x Mel/vin" cross. There is some community debate regarding the timeline of these genetics. A specimen in circulation was documented as being sown around 2014 or 2015, sourced from Chris Reeb, which was reportedly a revert from a monstrose plant. In a 2017 forum post, the grower mel/vin clarified that they maintained a monstrose-prone *T. pachanoi* and a "four winds" *T. bridgesii* form, the latter of which may have been the source of the pollen sent to Nitrogen. Speculation within the community has occasionally linked Mel/vin to other clones. For example, some growers hypothesized that the clone "CSD" originated from PC x Mel/vin seed, though this has been corrected by community members who note that CSD is a cross of SS02 x Juuls Giant. Additionally, there is unverified speculation that the grower Melvin attempted to assign a name to the "PC" (Predominant Cultivar) clone. ===== Cultivation Notes ===== While no specific cultivation requirements were detailed in the community discussion, standard *Trichocereus* care applies. These plants thrive in a highly porous, well-draining soil mix. They benefit from regular watering and fertilization during the active growing season, with a dry winter dormancy period. Provide bright, filtered light or full sun, adjusting for local climate intensity to prevent sunburn on the epidermis. ===== Community Discussion & Citations ===== //Visible to trusted reviewers only.// ^ Date ^ Speaker ^ Key Insight/Quote ^ | 2022 (approx) | Lawrence Smith | "There's this from 2017 too - “Did Nitrogen get pollen from mel/vin and make a bridgesii N1 x pachanoi (ecuador, mel/vin) a few years ago?” -myriostigma “ No, not that I remember. I have some pach that has shown the propensity for monstrous, and even a cistrate(sp?). while still holding the column form. They are all true pach of some sort. I had(and still have) a really nice bridg. form that I might have sent him pollen of. About half the columns are four winds.” -mel/vin" | | 2022 (approx) | Chris Cosby | "I just copied the label I received it with from Chris Reeb. I took it to mean that the seed was sown in 2014/15 and not that it was produced that year" | | 2022 (approx) | Chris Cosby | "and iirc Chris Reeb said this cutting was a revert on a monstrose plant" | | 2022 (approx) | Bryan Harris | "I thought Melvin tried to name pc. I'm sure there will be more melvins." | ===== Contributor Confidence ===== ^ Speaker ^ Confidence ^ | Lawrence Smith | 10/10 | | Chris Cosby | 7.3/10 | | Bryan Harris | 7.0/10 | ===== Credibility Notes ===== Lawrence Smith is a recognized community expert (10/10) who provided direct historical forum quotes from the original grower, mel/vin, clarifying the botanical characteristics of the plants in their garden. Chris Cosby (7.3/10) provided direct provenance details from his own labeled specimen sourced from Chris Reeb. Bryan Harris (7.0/10) provided context on the naming history.