Rhipselis baccifera in the wild
Segmented stem Rhipsalis baccifera
Rhipsalis baccifera with berries
Round berries Rhipsalis baccifera
White flower Rhipsalis baccifera
Contents
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
Rhipsalis baccifera, an unusual mistletoe cactus
Contents
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
Forget all your certainties about cacti and prepare to be surprised by Rhipsalis baccifera! This plant of the Cacteaceae family is native to the Americas, but can also be found in Africa. And for a cactus, it's surprisingly gentle!
How to recognize Rhipsalis baccifera?
Rhipsalis baccifera is a succulent plant with a bushy, drooping habit. It can reach 60 centimetres in height and as wide a spread.
Rhipsalis baccifera is epiphytic. It grows on trees and rocks. But, unlike mistletoe, it does not parasitize the plants on which it grows.
The drooping stems branch at the tip. In the wild, they grow up to five meters long. In pots and indoors, they grow to no more than 1.5 meters. They are made up of fleshy segments. Initially triangular, the smooth green articles then become cylindrical. Unlike the Mistletoe, they have no spines. Sometimes, aerial roots appear.
The solitary flowers arebell-shaped. White or pinkish, they contain yellow stamens.
Fruits resemble mistletoe: spherical berries five millimeters in diameter. Their color depends on the subspecies. They can be white, red or pink.
Rhipsalis baccifera is not toxic. Watch out for its fruits, though! They are said to have vermifuge properties and are used in Réunion as a vermifuge on animals and humans.
Our maintenance tips
Rhipsalis baccifera 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 baccifera appreciate freshness. Their soil must be kept slightly moist in spring and summer. But the plant doesn't like excess. Be careful not to soak the substrate!
Provide water at room temperature, without lime. You can, for example, collect rainwater or use filtered water.
Once you've watered your Rhipsalis baccifera, empty any stagnant water from the saucer or planter. It may rot the roots.
Reduce watering during dormancy.
Your Rhipsalis baccifera tolerates drought better than too much water.
Water only when the substrate is dry at depth (at least 5 centimetres). Drain any stagnant water from the saucer.
Spray
Mist the foliage with non-calcareous water at room temperature. This will temporarily increase humidity and prevent pest attacks.
Repotting
Every spring, repot your Rhipsalis baccifera to give it more space.
Choose a shallow, pierced pot with a larger diameter than the previous one. Rhipsalis baccifera 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 Rhipsalis baccifera in the center and add substrate. Tamp gently and water generously to encourage rooting.
Cleaning
To improve photosynthesis, clean the foliage with a damp sponge.
Prune
Mulch the base of your Rhipsalis baccifera 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.
Section a branch about ten centimeters long, containing two to three articles and no buds. Cut with a clean tool where the two sections meet.
Leave your cutting to dry for a day to allow the wound to heal.
Fill a perforated pot with potting soil for cacti and succulents.
Make a hole and plant your Rhipsalis baccifera. 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
Information
| Family | Cactaceae - Cactaceae |
| Type | Rhipsalis - Rhipsalis |
| Species | Rhipsalis baccifera - Rhipsalis baccifera |
| Lifecycle | Perennial |
| Foliage | Evergreen |
| Exposure | |
| Substrats | |
| Planting method |
In pots |
| Categories | |
| Tags |
Beginner Fritillary |
| Origins |
South Africa West Africa East Africa Central Africa South America |
| Hardiness (USDA) | 11b |
| Leaf color |
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| Flower colors |
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| Fruit colors |
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