Rhipsalis pilocarpa in pot

Credit: Gerbil

Segmented hairy stems Rhipsalis pilocarpa

Credit: Zalofm

Rhipsalis pilocarpa with berries

Credit: Peter A. Mansfeld

Flowers and berries Rhipsalis pilocarpa

Credit: Zapyon

Rhipsalis pilocarpa, the mistletoe cactus

Rhipsalis pilocarpa is somewhere between Shrek's hairy grandfather and Cousin Machin's dye job. Native to Brazil, the mistletoe cactus actually belongs to the Cacteaceae family. In our latitudes, it is grown both indoors and outdoors.

How to recognize the mistletoe cactus, Rhipsalis pilocarpa?

A succulent plant with a drooping habit, Rhipsalis pilocarpa can reach a height of 60 centimetres with an equal wingspan.

Mistletoe cactus is epiphytic. Its root system remains superficial, even in mature plants. Its roots are mainly used to cling to the trees on which it grows, without parasitizing them.

The green stems can be several dozen centimetres long and branch out. They are divided into fleshy, rounded segments. While the stems of Rhipsalis paradoxa are hairless, this is not the case for Rhipsalis pilocarpa. Young shoots are adorned with thorns, and twigs of all ages are covered with white hairs.

The star-shaped flowers are white, sometimes yellow. They appear at the tips of the stems in late autumn or early winter.

The plant then produces spherical white, slightly pink or red berries. They measure up to seven millimeters in diameter. Their resemblance to mistletoe fruit has earned Rhipsalis pilocarpa its nickname of mistletoe cactus.

But that's where the similarities end. Unlike mistletoe, Rhipsalis pilocarpa is not toxic to humans or pets. It presents no danger if ingested or touched.

Our maintenance tips

Rhipsalis pilocarpa may be a cactus, but its needs are different from those of other succulents. It likes humidity, appreciates a spot in partial shade and can't stand overheated interiors. Grow it in a veranda or room with a temperature between 15 and 25°C.

Watering

Water your plant generously during the growing season.

Rhipsalis pilocarpa like to keep feet cool. Keep the substrate moist, especially in summer, watering as soon as the soil dries on the surface (by less than a centimetre).

Always use rainwater at room temperature. It's non-calcareous and provides the plant with the nutrients it needs to thrive.

Reduce watering during dormancy.

Feed your Mistletoe only when the substrate has dried thoroughly (at least five centimeters). Water generously with room-temperature rainwater and let the excess run off through the drainage holes.

Drain off any stagnant water in the dish or planter. It will rot the roots.

Spray

Dry air favors the appearance of mites and other pests. Mist the foliage of your Mistletoe to prevent invasions and improve hygrometry.

Use non-calcareous water, such as reclaimed rainwater. Tap water is often too hard and leaves marks on the leaves.

Repotting

Every spring, repot your Rhipsalis pilocarpa to give it more space.

Choose a shallow, pierced pot with a larger diameter than the previous one. Rhipsalis pilocarpa are epiphytes, their roots are superficial.

Fill the bottom of the pot with potting soil for cacti and succulents. If you don't have any, you can use a mixture of houseplant potting soil and perlite.

Plant your Mistletoe in the center and add substrate. Tamp gently and water generously to encourage rooting.

Cleaning

Leaves can collect dust. If you choose to clean them, dust them gently with a clean, damp cloth.

Prune

Mulch the base of your Rhipsalis pilocarpa to protect it from the cold. Preferably use organic matter. As it decomposes, it enriches the soil.

Cutting

Cutting is carried out during the strong growth phase, generally in spring and early summer.

Locate a healthy stem without flowers or fruit. Using clean, sharp pruning shears, cut a section at least ten centimetres long. Cut at a node, where two items meet.

Leave your cuttingto dry for 48 hours, until a callus forms.

Fill a perforated pot with potting soil for cacti and succulents.

Make a hole and plant your Mistletoe. Several cuttings can be placed in the same pot to create a fuller plant.

Keep the substrate moist until growth resumes, to encourage rooting.

Diseases / Threats

Red spiders

Mealybugs

Information

Family	Cactaceae - Cactaceae
Type	Rhipsalis - Rhipsalis
Species	Mistletoe - Rhipsalis pilocarpa
Lifecycle	Perennial
Foliage	Evergreen
Exposure	Half-shade
Substrats	Humus soil Sandy soil
Planting method	In pots
Categories	Interior Herbaceous Succulent Hanging plants
Tags	Beginner Fritillary
Origin	South America
Hardiness (USDA)	11a
Leaf color
Flower colors
Fruit colors