Rice Cactus
Mistletoe Cactus
Coral CactusEpiphytic Cactus
Rhipsalis Cereuscula
I got this plant from my awesome Filipina friend Joyce. She is always a sunshine wherever she goes or she is. All that positive energy she has is contagious. The perma-smile and laughing all the time (loudly sometimes!!!) make her the star of the show wherever she is without even trying. She used to live in Taos, NM with his equally lovely partner Miles (also with a perma-smile. I told you, Joyce is contagious). Miles is a talented artist I heard and I wish I got to know him better their move. Miles is actually the owner of the plants I inherited before their move to Hawaii, not Joyce😁 and this Rice cactus is one of the uncommon plants Joyce and Miles gave me before they left.
Now, back to the Rice cactus plant!
This is a very unique looking plant.
Looks like a miniature Cholla, but the spines are not prickly.
The spines are very soft to touch you do not need any protection to handle this plant. There is o need for tongs or leather gloves.
The light green stems usually grow up to 3’ feet long when matured with small rice-shaped joints. Yes, rice shaped!!
They do look like unhusked rice grains to me. Another plant that reminds me of home (Asia).😍
This plant produces beautiful white flowers when matured.
The small shrub is indigenous to the tropical rainforests of Central and South America and is commonly found in Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay.
Surprisingly, growing Rhipsalis requires shade to partial shade and moisture even though it is called a cactus.
While most cacti are found in hot, sunny, arid desert zones,
mistletoe cactus or Rice cactus is unique in its requirements for moisture and dim light.
This plant produces beautiful white flowers when matured.
The small shrub is indigenous to the tropical rainforests of Central and South America and is commonly found in Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay.
Surprisingly, growing Rhipsalis requires shade to partial shade and moisture even though it is called a cactus.
While most cacti are found in hot, sunny, arid desert zones,
mistletoe cactus or Rice cactus is unique in its requirements for moisture and dim light.
For a plant that has the word cactus on it's name, this 'cactus' needs water and NO desert full sun please! Only dim light or shade to partial shade to make it happy and alive.
I fertilize the cactus once every four weeks in spring and summer with a half strength balanced liquid 10-10-10 fertilizer.
These plants are found clinging to tree crotches, in branch nooks, and nestled in rock crevasses. The Rhipsalis mistletoe cactus is easy to grow and has very minimal needs. It is perfect for the home interior in a northern or western window and even a terrarium garden.
Growing medium:
I grow mine in coconut coir + regular potting mix + perlite or coconut husk chunks/chips.
I fertilize the cactus once every four weeks in spring and summer with a half strength balanced liquid 10-10-10 fertilizer.
These plants are found clinging to tree crotches, in branch nooks, and nestled in rock crevasses. The Rhipsalis mistletoe cactus is easy to grow and has very minimal needs. It is perfect for the home interior in a northern or western window and even a terrarium garden.
Growing medium:
I grow mine in coconut coir + regular potting mix + perlite or coconut husk chunks/chips.
The coconut coir holds water at the same time keep the medium aerated because coconut coir does not compact every time you water. Perlite and potting soil/mix do compact in every watering that results to bad aeration overtime and usually the reason for root rot for rainforest plants and to most aroids.
