Rhipsalis cassutha

Rhipsalis cassutha is better known as mistletoe cactus and it is found growing naturally in the tropical areas of Africa, Sri Lanka and South America.

Description
This plant does not have the typical features or appearance of a cactus. It features trailing stems that can grow to several feet in length and which produce flowers and white ‘fruit’ that are very similar in appearance to mistletoe berries.

Habitat
Rhipsalis cassutha is described as an epiphyte, meaning that it grows on other plants or trees rather than in a soil base, although it will adapt to growing in soil when cultivated from seed or cuttings and kept in specific conditions.

Availability
Mistletoe cactus makes a good addition to hanging baskets, as its stems naturally prefer to grow downwards, but it also grows in its natural form, attached to a tree or large plant.

Species
There are in fact approximately 35 different species of rhipsalis but all are known commonly as mistletoe cacti. They can be differentiated by the shape of their stems, which vary in shape (angular, rounded or flat), stem colour, thickness, spines (present or not) and the colour of flowers and fruit they produce (white, yellow, pink or red).

Care Tips
Mistletoe cactus likes to be kept at a fairly constant temperature of approximately 25 degrees Celsius with a high level of humidity (80%), so it is not easy to keep as a house plant. It generally thrives better in a hanging-basket setting with plenty of light and fresh air available (but not direct sunlight).

Did You Know?
In certain places rhipsalis cassutha can adapt and become lithophytic, which means that it will grow out of the cracks in rocks.

References
http://www.rhipsalis.com/
http://www.houseplantsguru.com/rhipsalis-cassutha

Rhipsalis cassutha is better known as mistletoe cactus and it is found growing naturally in the tropical areas of Africa, Sri Lanka and South America.

Description

This plant does not have the typical features or appearance of a cactus. It features trailing stems that can grow to several feet in length and which produce flowers and white ‘fruit’ that are very similar in appearance to mistletoe berries.

Habitat

Rhipsalis cassutha is described as an epiphyte, meaning that it grows on other plants or trees rather than in a soil base, although it will adapt to growing in soil when cultivated from seed or cuttings and kept in specific conditions.

Availability

Mistletoe cactus makes a good addition to hanging baskets, as its stems naturally prefer to grow downwards, but it also grows in its natural form, attached to a tree or large plant. 

Species

There are in fact approximately 35 different species of rhipsalis but all are known commonly as mistletoe cacti. They can be differentiated by the shape of their stems, which vary in shape (angular, rounded or flat), stem colour, thickness, spines (present or not) and the colour of flowers and fruit they produce (white, yellow, pink or red).

Care Tips

Mistletoe cactus likes to be kept at a fairly constant temperature of approximately 25 degrees Celsius with a high level of humidity (80%), so it is not easy to keep as a house plant. It generally thrives better in a hanging-basket setting with plenty of light and fresh air available (but not direct sunlight).

Did You Know?

In certain places rhipsalis cassutha can adapt and become lithophytic, which means that it will grow out of the cracks in rocks.

References

http://www.rhipsalis.com/

http://www.houseplantsguru.com/rhipsalis-cassutha