Rhipsalis elliptica syn. Rhipsalis chloroptera

Rhipsalis is a genus of epiphytic cacti. They grow mostly pendent, few grow more or less upright or sprawling. They produce flowers that are small, usually about 1 cm in diameter, white or whitish in most species. Yellowish flowers occur in R. dissimilis and R. elliptica and R. hoelleri is the only Rhipsalis species with red flowers. The fruits are always berries, they are whitish or coloured pink, red or yellow. Water freely when in growth, but keep dryer in winter. Mist the leaves regularly with water to increase humidity and make sure the winter temperatures stay above 10°C. The plant is most often found indoors and may simply be mounted on a piece of bark like an orchid or potted in a good cactus mix. Rhipsalis elliptica comes from Brazil and it is classed as a tropical/subtropical plant, but it can take low temperatures, down to 5°C, which has surprised me. It is also a plant that will flower in the winter. It produces masses of white flowers with a red centre and they last a few days. Unlike some rhipsalis, it produces few berries.

Contributed by @lovestogarden

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  Partial shade

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  Very little water

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  Not Frost hardy

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  Rich and free draining