Bridgesii monstrose: the knobbly Trichocereus bridgesii
Trichocereus bridgesii, also listed as Echinopsis lageniformis, is a columnar cactus from the high deserts of Bolivia. In the wild it climbs straight up in neat ribs. This plant is its monstrose form: a growth mutation in which those ribs lose their regularity and the stem breaks up into rounded, uneven segments. That lumpy shape is why the trade nicknamed it the penis cactus. Every plant develops differently, so the specimen you receive will never match the photograph exactly.
The monstrose is almost spineless, carrying only the occasional small cluster of yellow spines on its bumps. Among the indigenous people of Bolivia the species, like the related T. pachanoi, is known as Achuma or Wachuma. This plant is supplied rooted in a nursery pot with cactus soil, so you can either set it down as it is or move it to a pot of your own.
Care
Give the cactus the brightest spot you have, ideally a south facing window. Use a free draining cactus mix with a generous share of coarse sand, perlite or pumice; soil that stays wet will rot the roots. During the growing season water roughly every ten to fourteen days, and only once the pot has dried out completely. In winter keep the plant cooler and drier, watering every three to four weeks at most. The monstrose grows slowly and puts out side branches over time, gradually forming a cluster. Repot when the roots reach the edge of the pot, preferably in spring, and leave the plant dry for a week afterwards.
More cacti at Avalon
The same category at Avalon Magic Plants holds the standard Trichocereus bridgesii in several sizes, Trichocereus cuzcoensis and complete grow sets for San Pedro cacti.
