Synonyms:

Cereus bridgesii
Cereus lageniformis
Echinopsis scopulicola
Echinopsis lageniformis
Trichocereus bridgesii
Trichocereus crassicostatus
Trichocereus riomizquensis
Trichocereus scopulicola
Penis plant

Habitat:

T. bridgesii is native to Bolivia where it grows on the mountain region of Andes with temperatures that can be under 0 °C. The mostruosa form has garden origin (Nursery produced cultivar).

Description:

T. bridgesii f. mostruosa is a slow growing columnar cactus that branches at the base and can reach 25-40 cm in height. The stem is glaucous green, and it can take on different shapes from fan-shaped to brain-like. This mutant variety does not produce flowers and seeds, it is sterile indeed. There are two clones of a variety of T. Bridgesii f. mostruosa without crested mutation, there is also a variegated variety. The forma mostruosa is a natural mutation that occurred in the T. Bridgesii population and that was selected and propagated vegetatively.

Cultivation:

T. bridgesii is very easy to grow and will add great value to your collection. The perfect soil is a well-drained soil that let the water to drain away and avoid root rot. You can water regularly (every 10 day) in the growing season but check that the soil is completely dry before watering again. During the winter is advisable to stop watering to allow the plant to resist low temperatures and to enter dormancy. For a lush vegetative growth, you can use some fertilizers specialized for cacti. For the sun exposure the best one is direct sunlight as it is in its habitat. The plant can easily withstand to low temperatures up to -12 °C.

Propagation:

Propagation can be done only by cutting, to not lose the mutation of the forma mostruosa. By cutting you can use the offsets that grow at the base of the plant. Cut the offset as close as possible to the base of the stem and then let it dry; after a few days the cut surface will dry and a callus will form, then place the cutting in a mixture of sand, soil and pumice.

Curiosity:

The crested form is a rare form of the more common Trichocereus Bridgesii F. Mostruosa and is highly valued because this particular form is a sporadic variation that occurs among a few individuals in the population. Crested form is an unusual variation, so this plant is very rare and very difficult to find and your collection will be truly unique with it.