Rhipsalis pilocarpa
Hairy Stemmed Rhipsalis
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. R. pilocarpa has long, hairy stems. Unlike other Rhipsalis species, R. pilocarpa only branches and flowers from the ends of the stems. which are dark green to purple, slender, and cylindrical. They grow erect at first, but in time become pendent, and up to 40 cm long. It produces very fragrant white flowers, singly or in pairs. Fruit is red and spherical, with hairy tufts.
Contributed by @aes239
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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
Common name
Hairy Stemmed Rhipsalis
Latin name
Rhipsalis pilocarpa
type
Epiphyte
family
Cactaceae
ph
5.0 - 7.0 Acid - Neutral
Plant & bloom calendar
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Best time to plant
full grown dimensions
Rhipsalis pilocarpa
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. R. pilocarpa has long, hairy stems. Unlike other Rhipsalis species, R. pilocarpa only branches and flowers from the ends of the stems. which are dark green to purple, slender, and cylindrical. They grow erect at first, but in time become pendent, and up to 40 cm long. It produces very fragrant white flowers, singly or in pairs. Fruit is red and spherical, with hairy tufts.
Planting
From Early Spring TO Mid Spring
Mistletoe cacti are easy to grow from cuttings. Take the cuttings and let the severed end callus for a few days. Plant the callused end in a cactus mix or sand that has been lightly moistened. Cuttings root in two to six weeks. Pot on young plants in an orchid or cactus mix and place in semi-shade and water when the surface of the soil is dry.
Propagation by cuttings
From Early Spring TO Late Autumn
The most common form of propagation for succulents is called vegetative propagation. This involves cuttings, where several inches of stem with leaves are cut, allowed some time to heal and after healing produce a callus. After a week or so, roots should grow. Another method is division which involves uprooting an overgrown clump and pulling the stems and roots apart. The easiest method is to allow the formation of a callus from a leaf or segment.