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Botanical name: Rhipsalis pilocarpa
This cactus variety is initally upright but cascades as it matures; green foliage is covered in wooly white hairs; fragrant flowers appear in fall and are followed by deep red fruits; a great container or basket plant that will thrive indoors.
Other names: form. Erythrorhipsalis pilocarpa
| Hardiness zone | 9b |
|---|---|
| Flower color | white |
| Foliage type | deciduous * |
| Plant form | arching |
| Mature height | 3 feet |
| Spread | 24 inches |
| Light requirements | partial shade to shade |
| Moisture requirements | dry to average |
| Plant origin | import |
* deciduous = loses leaves in winter
Rhipsalis features showy fragrant white star-shaped flowers with pink eyes and pink tips at the ends of the stems in late fall. Its attractive succulent narrow leaves remain dark green in color throughout the year.
This is an herbaceous houseplant with a shapely form and gracefully arching foliage. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other indoor plants with less refined foliage. This plant may benefit from an occasional pruning to look its best.
When grown indoors, Rhipsalis can be expected to grow to be about 3 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 24 inches. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 30 years. This houseplant performs well in both bright or indirect sunlight and strong artificial light, and can therefore be situated in almost any well-lit room or location. This is a unique plant in that it requires extremely dry, well-drained soil, and it will die if left in standing water for any length of time - in fact it will suffer if it is over-watered. The soil should be allowed to go completely dry to the touch an inch or two deep for prolonged periods, and it may only need watering once every few weeks. Be aware that your particular watering schedule may vary depending on its location in the room, the pot size, plant size and other conditions; if in doubt, ask one of our experts in the store for advice. It is not particular as to soil type or pH; an average potting soil should work just fine.
There are many factors that will affect the ultimate height, spread and overall performance of a plant when grown indoors; among them, the size of the pot it's growing in, the amount of light it receives, watering frequency, the pruning regimen and repotting schedule. Use the information described here as a guideline only; individual performance can and will vary. Please contact the store to speak with one of our experts if you are interested in further details concerning recommendations on pot size, watering, pruning, repotting, etc.
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