How To Care for Mistletoe Cactus

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But the mistletoe cactus shouts more than the name mistletoe and give a beautiful display year-round in a hanging basket.

Still, you can find Rhipsalis mistletoe cactus varieties, but the care is similar for them all. So, today we will look at the mistletoe cactus plant care.

Exciting Facts About Rhipsalis Mistletoe Cactus

Rhipsalis baccifera

The mistletoe cactus’s fancy name is Rhipsalis baccifera belonging to the Cactaceae family, which has an earlier name of Rhipsalis parasitica. The plant has succulent stems and is an epiphytic cactus growing on other plants. The plant draws nutrients from the environment.

The cactus’s native habitat is the Central America and South America rainforest. The common name comes from the spineless appearance that gives the plant a drooped-over appearance. Hence, it looks great in hanging baskets displayed in the home.

When you look at the Greek words, the term rhips refers to the pliable branches, while baccifera means berry-bearing. The mistletoe cactus develops white berries after it flowers in early spring.

So, as you can see, it is not a holiday plant like the Christmas cactus that blooms in winter. Other common names are spaghetti cactus and coral cactus. The mistletoe cactus is a rare plant, and getting your hands on one is tricky.

Mistletoe Cactus Care

Mistletoe cactus

When you look at the jungle cacti, you need little skill to care for them. The best part is that the tropical cactus grows slowly with pale green stems. It has a trailing growth up to 30 feet long.

When the Rhipsalis genus blooms, you see white or cream flower buds with no fragrance. After flowering in the growing season, it turns to white berries referred to as glass beads with a translucent appearance.

So, let’s get moving on your Rhipsalis mistletoe cactus care with the following detailed information.

Soil for a Mistletoe Cactus

Your Rhipsalis plants need suitable soil to grow well. Hence, the soil needs to be made with an airy potting soil rich in humus. Compared to your desert cacti, the cactus mix differs.

We recommend a sphagnum mixture made with rotted compost and leaf mold as it prefers a slightly acidic soil mixture. Another helpful tip is to mix regular potting soil with one part perlite and one part orchid bark.

sphagnum mixture

One more crucial thing is to avoid standing water in the pot. The container needs ample drainage to allow excess moisture to drain freely. Neither should the soil dry out completely. Furthermore, people do not recommend transplanting the cactus as it has delicate roots.

Instead, you should carefully remove old soil to replace it with fresh soil.

Light Exposure for a Mistletoe Cactus

The mistletoe cactus prefers bright indirect light and not full sun compared to desert cacti. The mistletoe cactus Rhipsalis can survive in low light conditions, but you will not see much growth.

You will quickly see if your cactus stands in direct sunlight as the stems burn to turn to a red color and look wilted. So, place your mistletoe cactus near an east-facing window for enough light.

Mistletoe cactus in bright, indirect light

Or you can choose a west-facing window if there is filtered light from sheer curtains. In summer, you can give your mistletoe cactus plants a break from indoors by placing them outside in the partial shade.

Watering a Mistletoe Cactus

When it comes to mistletoe cactus care and watering, it is thirstier than most cacti. As a result, you may find your cactus needs frequent watering to keep the soil moist. Still, it remains a tolerant plant if you forget to water it for short periods.

During the growing season of spring and summer, the best is to water when the soil surface dries out. During fall and winter, your mistletoe cactus plants go dormant, and the growth slows down.

You can leave the top few inches of the soil dry before watering. So, stick that finger into the soil to feel if it is bone dry or soggy to decide whether to water it or not. We recommend avoiding waterlogged soil as it can lead to root rot.

Furthermore, we recommend using room temperature water like rainwater, distilled water, or tap water left overnight.

Fertilizing Mistletoe Cactus

Rhipsalis mistletoe cactus care needs periodic feeds to make it perform and look its best. You can feed your mistletoe cactus monthly and stop in winter during spring and summer. A recommended feed is a water-soluble blend made for houseplants.

The best is to under than over fertilizer as it cause the stems to turn brown or burnt. We recommend using half strength to reduce these risks. Another helpful thing is to flush the soil periodically to remove salt buildups.

So, every six months, take your pot to the sink and let the water run through the soil for five minutes. Leave the water to drain, and remember to empty the catch tray before placing it back in its place.

Grooming Mistletoe Cactus Plants

grooming Mistletoe cactus

The pruning needs for your Rhipsalis plants are low. You may only need to trim if you see broken stems or your plant grows too large. But remember to use sterilized shears to prevent the spreading of pests and diseases.

Temperature & Humidity

The one thing your cactus loves is warm with humid temperatures. For this reason, when growing Rhisalis, do not leave it standing in cold, drafty areas. Neither should your plant stand in front of a heater or vents.

The recommended temperature is between 60°F and 80°F. When you place your plants at steady temperatures, it provides you with regular blooms. The same applies to humidity when growing Rhipsalis.

The lack of humidity results in growth problems and the appearance of your plant. To provide your plant with moisture, you can group your mistletoe cactus with other humid-loving plants. Alternatively, you can place your plant in the bathroom if it receives adequate light.

Lastly, you can place your cactus on a tray of pebbles to receive moisture as the water evaporates.

Propagating Mistletoe Cactus Plants

A big bonus of having a mistletoe cactus is that you can grow new plants using propagation.

  1. All you do is use sterilized shears to snip off stem cuttings. You can do this during the growing season.

  2. Get a container with bottom drain holes filled with potting mix.

  3. Then bury the cutting into the soil about two inches deep.

  4. Water the soil and leave it standing in bright indirect light.

You will notice your cactus developing a root system in four weeks and a complete root system in a few months. Or you can plant the seeds when your mother plant produces berries. You break the berries open to harvest the seeds. Then you plant the seed in a moist seed-starting mix. However, this can take several months before you notice new growth.

Rhipsalis Varieties

When it comes to the Rhipsalis genus, you can find different plants belonging to the cactus family, as seen here.

Rhipsalis burchellii

Rhipsalis burchellii

It is an exciting species that grows long purple-colored shoots branching out and producing white bell-shaped flowers.

Rhipsalis cereoides

Rhipsalis cereoides

The plant does not grow high and develops triangular shoots growing upright with white flowers.

Rhipsalis clavata

Rhipsalis clavata

The plant grows in pendulous habit branching out with white bell-shaped flowers.

Mistletoe Cactus Diseases & Pests

As with most cacti, you can find your mistletoe cactus displaying some common problems from pests and diseases. The biggest problem you can run into is root rot from overwatering your plant or leaving it standing in water.

The signs of root rot are wilted stems while the base starts to turn black and stems drop from the plant. The best is to cut back on your watering and repot your plant into well-draining soil. In severe cases it helps to save the healthy roots or take a healthy stem cutting to plant.

The biggest pest problem you can find is mealybugs and easy to identify. You will see cotton masses on the foliage. To treat infestations, you can use neem oil or insecticidal soap.

Where to Buy a Mistletoe Cactus Plant?

As mentioned, the mistletoe cactus is a rare plant making it difficult to find at local nurseries. But the good news is that Plantly can help you find this gorgeous tropical cactus. So, check to see if we have one available for you online.

Whether you want to buy, sell or simply reach out to other plant enthusiasts, Plantly is the right place to be!

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