27 December 2009
Rhipsalis
Posted by Stuart under: Cacti .
What a poor year’s blogging. I must try and do better in the next twelve months. However, I’m not going to make a New Year’s resolution of it, as that’d be the kiss of death.
As I’m sure many plant enthusiasts do, I bought myself a couple of Christmas presents last week – a couple of rhipsalis from the local garden centre: Rhipsalis cassutha (left) and Rhipsalis micrantha (below).
They weren’t cheap, but they’re super plants, and in remarkably good condition considering the fact that they’ve been living in a garden centre for several weeks.
The Rhipsalis cassutha comes with some interesting (i.e. pretty inaccurate) information and advice. Apparently it is a “robust, trendy plant that can be positioned almost anywhere.” Really? Since when did rhipsalis become trendy? I must have missed that. Even the majority of cactus growers tend not to give them house room. I’ve always liked them, myself, but then I’m odd.
I was amused by the non-commital advice regarding light conditions: “Plenty of light to full sun, but also thrives in semi-shade”. Handy hint: full sun will not do the thinner-stemmed rhipsalis species any good at all. Keep them out of direct sunlight, as they’re forest plants.
The watering advice isn’t really any more helpful: “Water sparingly; once a week is often enough. The plant can occasionally go without water.” Well, yes, sort of. That really doesn’t give a non-specialist buying one of these things anything like enough information to grow it well. Basically, they don’t like being waterlogged, but they don’t like to dry out completely either. They can go without water, but they won’t enjoy it, and will often get the hump if left dry for any length of time.
It’s an age-old problem; nurseries and garden centres like to shift units, so it’s not in their interests to give full cultivation advice – so, if you’ve bought one of these and happen to stumble on this article, hopefully you may have slightly more of a chance with them. They’re lovely things.
2 Comments so far...
Marion Bedford Says:
29 December 2009 at 5:00 pm.
A keen collector of cactus and succulents in a small way I have been trying for a mistletoe cactus for a long time. Your info was very interesting. Any suppliers’ names I could have. regards, Marion
Stuart Says:
29 December 2009 at 7:12 pm.
Hello Marion, thanks for leaving a comment. If you want material from a specialist grower, you might try the EPRIC website. They’re in the Netherlands and do mail order to the UK. They’re not the cheapest, and often sell plants as unrooted cuttings, but I’ve had good plants from them in the past. It’s worth keeping an eye on the website as their stock does change a fair bit.