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Rats tail Cactus in the GardenTags plant encyclopedia

Disocactus flagelliformis syn. Aporocactus flagelliformus

 

Rat's tail Cactus

This cacti is an epiphytic trailing plant that sends out long stems with short, fine spines. The plant is green when young but the stems age to a beige color. Flowers are rare and are a glorious bright pink to red or orange hues. Blooms are tube-shaped and arise on mature stems from late Spring to early Summer. Disocactus is a genus containing epiphytic cactus from Mexico to South America. It now includes all the species from the genera Aporocactus, Bonifazia, Chiapasia, Heliocereus, Lobeira, Nopalxochia, Pseudonopalxochia, and Wittia.

Contributed by @Doicee

 
plant Features
  • Rats tail Cactus likes full sun to partial shade

    Full sun to partial shade

  • Rats tail Cactus likes very little water

    Very little water

  • Rats tail Cactus is not frost hardy

    Not Frost hardy

  • Rats tail Cactus likes light and free draining

    Light and free draining

 
plant information

Common name

Rat's tail Cactus

Latin name

Disocactus flagelliformis syn. Aporocactus flagelliformus

type

Succulent

family

Cactaceae

ph

5.5 - 6.5 Acid - Neutral

  • Light

    Rats tail Cactus likes full sun to partial shade

    Full sun to partial shade

  • Frost

    Rats tail Cactus is not frost hardy

    Not Frost hardy

  • Soil

    Rats tail Cactus likes light and free draining

    Light and free draining

  • Water

    Rats tail Cactus likes very little water

    Very little water

Plant & bloom calendar

  •  
    Best time to plant

full grown dimensions

The size of a fully grown Rats tail Cactus is 0.10meters x 0.01meters 0.10 M 0.01 M

Disocactus flagelliformis syn. Aporocactus flagelliformus

This cacti is an epiphytic trailing plant that sends out long stems with short, fine spines. The plant is green when young but the stems age to a beige color. Flowers are rare and are a glorious bright pink to red or orange hues. Blooms are tube-shaped and arise on mature stems from late Spring to early Summer. Disocactus is a genus containing epiphytic cactus from Mexico to South America. It now includes all the species from the genera Aporocactus, Bonifazia, Chiapasia, Heliocereus, Lobeira, Nopalxochia, Pseudonopalxochia, and Wittia.


Planting young plants

From Early Summer TO Late Summer

Disocactus typically don't like direct afternoon sunlight and should be in partial shade through the hottest hours. They can take direct sunlight in the morning and afternoons. A rich, fast-draining cactus mix is ideal. To plant, do this preferably during the warm season. To repot a cacti, make sure the soil is dry before repotting, then gently remove the pot. Knock away the old soil from the roots, making sure to remove any rotted or dead roots in the process. Treat any cuts with a fungicide. Place the plant in its new pot and backfill with potting soil, spreading the roots out as you repot. Leave the plant dry for a week or so, then begin to water lightly to reduce the risk of root rot.

 

Propagation

From Late Spring TO Late Spring

Disocactus Ackermannii are propagated from stem cuttings taken in late spring after flowering. Most cuttings require time to dry and produce a callus on the wound, this can take from a week to a day depending on size and type. Use John Innes No 1 with up to 30 percent by volume of added grit and keep the compost on the dry side to prevent the cutting rotting off. Always check what your individual specimen will require.

 
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