Easy Cactus Safe for pets

Mistletoe Cactus

Rhipsalis baccifera

A spineless trailing epiphytic cactus with long thin cylindrical stems forming a light and airy botanical cascade.

The essentials at a glance

Watering

Every 7 days
Light

Bright indirect light
Humidity

50–70 %
Temperature

12–28 °C

How to care for your Mistletoe Cactus

Everything you need to keep your Mistletoe Cactus healthy: watering, light, humidity, feeding, repotting and pruning.

Rhipsalis baccifera is a fascinating epiphytic cactus, quite different from the traditional image of a cactus. Native to humid tropical forests, it develops long, thin, cylindrical, trailing stems devoid of any spines. In a hanging planter, it forms a graceful and airy botanical cascade that can exceed one meter in length. It produces small delicate white flowers followed by translucent berries similar to mistletoe. It is the only cactus genus naturally found outside the Americas.

Watering your Mistletoe Cactus

Every 7 days

Keep the substrate slightly moist but never waterlogged. Water when the surface of the substrate begins to dry. Reduce slightly in winter but never let it dry out completely.

How to know it needs water

Substrate surface dry to the touch
Stems losing some firmness
Stem tips becoming slightly wrinkled

How much light a Mistletoe Cactus needs

Bright indirect light

Bright indirect to partial shade. Avoid direct sun which scorches the stems. This is a tropical understorey epiphytic cactus that prefers filtered light.

Direct sun tolerated: 0 to 1 h a day
Orientations that suit it: North, North-east, East, North-west

Humidity and misting

50–70 %

Moderate to high (50–70%). Appreciates ambient humidity, unlike desert cacti. Mist regularly to maintain good humidity. This tropical epiphytic cactus appreciates ambient moisture, especially in winter with central heating.

Feeding and fertiliser

Every 14 days

Fertilize fortnightly from spring to autumn. Reduce to once a month in winter.

Recommended feed: Liquid foliage plant fertilizer diluted to half strength. · 1-1-2

Repotting your Mistletoe Cactus

Every 24 months

Use a light, airy substrate: potting soil, perlite, and pine bark (as for orchids). Pot with good drainage. Do not choose too large a pot. Ideal in a hanging basket.

When: Spring
Potting mix: Orchid mix
Mix in: pine bark, perlite, coco fibre

The tell-tale signs

Roots emerging from drainage holes
Plant appearing cramped
Substrate compacted and retaining water poorly

Pruning your Mistletoe Cactus

In spring to control length or fill out the plant. Cut stems to the desired length with clean scissors. Cuttings root easily in water or directly in moist substrate.

Through the year

Watering is not set once and for all: it follows the light and the growth. Allow 11 days between waterings in the depth of winter, against 6 in the growing season.

11 J
8 F
6 M
6 A
6 M
6 J
6 J
6 A
6 S
7 O
8 N
11 D

Active growth · Days between waterings

Good to know

Rhipsalis baccifera is the only cactus naturally found outside the Americas — it grows wild in tropical Africa, Madagascar, and Sri Lanka, likely dispersed by migratory birds millions of years ago.
Its small translucent white berries resemble mistletoe berries, hence its English name Mistletoe Cactus.

Frequently asked questions about the Mistletoe Cactus

How do you care for a Mistletoe Cactus?

Water it every 7 days. Give it bright indirect light. Ideal humidity: 50–70 %. Ideal temperature: 12–28 °C. Keep the substrate slightly moist but never waterlogged. Water when the surface of the substrate begins to dry. Reduce slightly in winter but never let it dry out completely.

How often should you water a Mistletoe Cactus?

Every 7 days Keep the substrate slightly moist but never waterlogged. Water when the surface of the substrate begins to dry. Reduce slightly in winter but never let it dry out completely. How to know it needs water : Substrate surface dry to the touch ; Stems losing some firmness ; Stem tips becoming slightly wrinkled.

How much light does a Mistletoe Cactus need?

Bright indirect light Bright indirect to partial shade. Avoid direct sun which scorches the stems. This is a tropical understorey epiphytic cactus that prefers filtered light. 0 to 1 h a day

Is the Mistletoe Cactus toxic to cats and dogs?

No, the Mistletoe Cactus is not listed as toxic to cats and dogs. That is still no reason to let your pets chew on it.

Why are my Mistletoe Cactus leaves turning yellow?

Yellowing most often comes from too much water: the mix stays wet and the roots suffocate. Check that the pot drains, empty the saucer, and let the mix dry before watering again. Too little light or a cold draught cause the same symptom.

When should you repot a Mistletoe Cactus?

Repot every 24 months, ideally in spring. Use a light, airy substrate: potting soil, perlite, and pine bark (as for orchids). Pot with good drainage. Do not choose too large a pot. Ideal in a hanging basket.