The 300 Collection
The 300 Collection - Where to Begin?
Often the question I ask myself when embarking on a new hybrid line...
In this post, we’re diving into the 300 collection - a series of Lobivia hybrids developed right here at Spine City Nursery.
Unreleased and unnamed.
Why “300”?
Simple - it’s where this group landed in our reference book. The name stuck.
These are all Lobivia hybrids, bred in-house and selected across years of growing, testing, and sometimes heartbreak. Not every hybrid is a stunner - far from it. Out of 100, you might, if you're lucky, get 1 or 2 that are truly worth carrying forward.
At its peak, the 300 Collection included a massive number of plants.
Where the 300 Collection Fits
The 300 Collection is one of the key lines where the Spine City selection system begins.
Behind every 1-Code release is a much larger field of plants - grown, observed, and filtered over time. The vast majority never make it past this stage.
This is the proving ground. Where hybrids are tested for strength, flower quality, and consistency under real growing conditions.
From here, only a small number move forward - some into future breeding lines, and others into the 1-Code system, where a single plant earns its place and identity.
🌱 The Selection Process
The work starts long before a plant blooms. Every hybrid at Spine City goes through stress testing - a process designed to weed out weak growers early.
Many growers are familiar with hybrid vigour, where the best traits from both parents shine. But hybrids can swing the other way too. Plants that grow weakly, attract pests, or lack resilience. They’re removed and discarded.
Some flowers are hard to capture — this one’s no exception. Intense colour, generous blooms, and green accents that make the pink absolutely pop.
🌸 Named Varieties from the Collection
Lobivia cv. Ti Amo
I love you.
Bright, romantic, and full of character.
Lobivia cv. Marshmallow
Soft and sweet!
A gentle bloomer with a classic charm.
Lobivia cv. Embers
A bloom that burns with passion.
Vibrant orange petals glow like a sunset, warm and unforgettable.
🌞 So... Are They Difficult to Grow?
Not at all. Lobivia are among the easiest cacti to grow. No fuss, no obscure tricks - just a few fundamentals to get them thriving.
☀️ Light
They need good light. Indoors isn’t enough. While they’ll tolerate intense conditions, fully exposed plants may scorch - it won’t affect flowering, but it can make them look a bit rough.
💧 Water
During active growth and flowering, water generously - weekly, or even twice weekly.
These hybrids are bred for big flowers and lots of them. It’s common for them to go a little squishy during flowering — their roots simply can’t keep up with the energy output. This doesn’t harm them.
Unreleased and unnamed.
🌿 Feeding
No need to overthink it:
- A general-purpose soluble fertiliser in spring and autumn is plenty.
- Add a seaweed tonic (like Seasol) a couple of times in the season to support overall health.
-
Seaweed is a tonic, not a fertiliser - it’s a supplement, not a substitute.
LV.2
Above is one of the parent plants for the 300 collection.
LV is a whole other collection and a story for another day.
Explore the Spine City Lobivia Hub - breeding work, 1-Code releases, archives and growing articles.