Variety pseudorhipsalis It is not one of the best known when we talk about succulents, but the cacti that make up this family have become highly appreciated for how original they are. Of all its types, we are going to focus on the most popular, which is the pseudorhipsalis ramulosa, red coral, or red mistletoe cactus.
If you don't have it at home yet, as soon as you see its appearance and how easy it is to care for it, we are sure that you will start looking for it to add it to your collection.
Genus pseudorhipsalis
This genus of cactus from Central America It includes a total of 36 species, although only seven of them have been accepted at an official level:
- Acuminata.
- Alata.
- Amazon.
- Himantoclada.
- Horichi.
- Lankesteri.
- Ramulosa.
It is rare to find these cacti outside their natural habitat in the central region of America, but they are slowly becoming more common in other regions.
Rseudorhipsalis ramulosa, the best known variety
This cactus is native to the rainforests of Central and South America. There it grows on trees, and stands out for having thin, pendulous, segmented stems. They can grow in a rather disorderly manner and even reach several meters in length.
The fact that it has segments instead of leaves is one of the characteristics that helps us distinguish pseudorhipsalis from other types of cacti. These segments have a reddish hue and, precisely for this reason, this variety is also known as red mistletoe cactus or red coral. What it does resemble other cacti is that produces small flowers at the tips of the stems, which can even appear in groups.
Care of pseudorhipsalis ramulosa
The red mistletoe cactus is highly valued for its ornamental capacity, and it is usually planted in hanging pots or baskets in which it can develop its stems with total freedom, giving the environment a certain tropical air.
As for its care, these are relatively simple, as is the case with other succulents. But it never hurts to follow some tips to keep the plant healthy and beautiful.
Location for the choral network
Pseudorhipsalis ramulosa is a plant that loves to receive sunlight, but always indirectly. Excessive direct sunlight could end up damaging it.
The perfect location for her indoors is a well lit room, but in which the light is filtered through curtains or blinds.
If you have it outside, try to find a location where it will not receive direct sunlight during the central hours of the day.
Temperature for this cactus
Being a tropical plant, it prefers warm temperatures, the ideal for it being the one found between 18ºC and 24ºC. Taking care that it is not exposed to drafts, so we will avoid placing it near doors or in front of a window.
If you have it as an outdoor plant, pay special attention to it during the winter, because the Temperatures below 10ºC can cause serious damage. If it is planted in the ground and you cannot move it, protect it with plastic so that it does not receive the cold directly.
Watering pseudorhipsalis
Don't forget that we are talking about a cactus, so overwatering is the worst thing you can do to it. This variety likes to have the moist soil, but never soggy. We advise you to let the top layer of the substrate dry completely before watering again.
In summer it is advisable to water once a week, but in winter you can space it out much more, a couple of times a month would be enough.
If possible, use chlorine-free water that does not have many minerals. This plant belongs to the family of epiphytes, and is especially sensitive to water quality. If you live in a place where the water has a lot of lime, fill the watering can and let the water sit for a couple of days, then you can water your plant and it will receive less sediment.
Humidity conditions for this cactus
Native to tropical areas, pseudorhipsalis can grow well in environments that have high relative humidity. To create an environment similar to its natural habitat, spray the leaves with a little water from time to time, or place a well with water near the plant.
If you want to go one step further, you can place your plant directly in the kitchen or bathroom, because the humidity of these rooms will be perfect for it.
Substrate for this cactus
This variety wants moisture but not too much of it and grows best in a planting medium that has good drainage capacity. So we advise you to choose a light substrate that can drain excess water well.
A good alternative is commercial substrates that are specific for cacti. If you use another type of soil, you can add some perlite or sand to the bottom of the pot to increase drainage capacity.
Pseudorhipsalis pruning
In its natural habitat the stems of this plant can grow quite a bit, but outside of it its growth is not so exaggerated.
At first, You don't need to prune your plant., unless it is to eliminate damaged or discolored stems. You can also take the opportunity to give it a little shape and make all the segments more or less even.
Fertilization of this cactus
This plant grows in the season from spring to summer, which is just when you can add a little fertilizer to stimulate its growth. It is enough to do it once a month, and always following the instructions given by the manufacturer.
During the winter the plant remains dormant, so it does not need you to provide it with extra nutrients.
Did you know pseudorhipsalis? Do you already have it at home? We would like to know your experience.