Oblong Rhipsalis

About

This rhipsalis differs from its round-stemmed relatives because its stems are flat. Instead of thread-like stems, it forms flat, oblong, leaf-like joints with softly scalloped rims, linked end to end into hanging chains. It looks more like a small, soft orchid cactus than the wiry mistletoe cactus, and with time it forms a curtain of green paddles.

It is still a jungle cactus: an epiphyte from the humid woods of eastern Brazil that grows on branches rather than in the ground. It needs the same shaded, lightly damp care as its relatives. Little white flowers open from the notches along the paddle rims, followed by small pale berries.

It grows quickly, feels soft to the touch and is easy to please. Give it dappled light, a bark-rich root run and light, even moisture. The main problems are fierce sun, cold and a sodden pot. Its paddle-shaped joints make it one of the more distinctive trailing jungle cacti, and it roots as readily as the thread-stemmed sorts.

Appearance and character

The joints are flat and oblong, green paddles chained end to end, their rims gently notched, a shape quite unlike the round, thread-thin stems that most rhipsalis carry.

Because they are soft and spineless, they are safe to handle and to hang. The chains lengthen and branch into a broad curtain of paddles spilling from the pot.

New paddles bud from the joint tips and the notches, so the plant fills out as it drapes, thickening into a leafy fall over the years.

The flowers are small and white, opening from the notches along the paddle rims. Small pale berries may follow.

Where it is from

Rhipsalis oblonga is native to the humid coastal forests of eastern Brazil, an epiphyte lodged on tree branches in dappled light, its roots run through bark, moss and leaf litter high above the ground.

That branch-dwelling life explains what it needs. Give it dappled light, a loose bark-based mix that drains at once, and light, steady moisture. A cold, sodden pot rots it, and fierce direct sun scorches the paddles, but otherwise it is an easy, adaptable plant.

How it grows

Spring and summer bring the main growth, when the paddle-chains lengthen and branch. Growth eases through a cooler winter, when the odd small flower may appear. Warmth, dappled light and light moisture help it form a full, leafy curtain.

Set it in an airy, bark-based epiphytic mix in a hung or raised pot where the chains can drape, and water once the surface has dried, holding the mix lightly and evenly damp. It has to drain at once.

Keep it in dappled light and warm above about 7 deg C, in humid air, well back from fierce direct sun, which scorches the paddles, and from cold draughts.

Cuttings need no skill. Snap off a paddle or two, push them into a gritty, bark-based mix, and they root.

Through the seasons

Spring begins the main growth. Resume watering and monthly feeding as the chains lengthen.

Summer is the peak. Hold it in dappled light, lightly and evenly damp, and feed monthly, keeping fierce sun off.

Autumn slows it as the days shorten. Ease the feeding back.

Winter is a cooler, drier lull above about 7 deg C, when the small flowers may open. Water a little less and keep cold draughts off it.

Care difficulty

Easy, like the round-stemmed jungle cacti. It grows fast, roots from a snapped paddle, and needs only dappled light, a bark-based mix and light, even moisture. It comes to harm in a cold, sodden pot, which rots it, or under fierce sun, which scorches the paddles. Its soft, leaf-like joints make it a distinctive, easy hanging plant.

Watering

Water once the surface of the bark-based mix has dried, holding the root run lightly and evenly damp through the growing months. Being a forest plant it likes a more even dampness than a desert cactus, but the mix has to drain at once and never stand wet.

Ease off a little through the cooler winter lull, though not to a hard drought. Empty whatever pools beneath a hung pot, since paddles left cold and wet rot at the joints.

Warning signs, diseases and pests

A cold, sodden pot rots the paddles and roots, showing as soft, sallow or blackened joints over a mushy base. Move it to a more open bark-based mix, water more sparingly, warm it, and root sound paddles if the base is gone.

Fierce direct sun scorches the flat paddles, bleaching pale marks into them. Bring it into dappled light and the fresh growth comes clean.

Mealybugs settle along the paddles and at the joints as white fluff; lift them off with dilute alcohol and work along the chains often.

Growing environment

Dappled light fills out the greenest growth. Fierce direct sun scorches the paddles, and heavy shade thins the chains. A bright spot screened from direct sun is what it likes.

It prefers conditions between warm and cool, above about 7 deg C, in humid air. Keep it back from cold draughts and the dry blast of a radiator.

Grow it in an airy, bark-based epiphytic mix in a hung pot where the paddle-chains can drape, somewhere bright, screened from direct sun, and humid.

Feeding

A diluted balanced feed once a month through spring and summer keeps the leafy growth coming. Reduce feeding in autumn and feed little over winter.

Now and then, run plain water through the pot to flush salts. A freshly potted plant needs nothing for its opening weeks.

Troubleshooting

The paddles have pale, bleached marks. Scorch from fierce direct sun. Bring it into dappled light and the fresh paddles come clean.

The paddles are soft and sallow. Rot from a cold, sodden pot. Move it to a more open bark-based mix, water less, warm it, and root sound paddles if the base has failed.

How is it different from the other rhipsalis? Its joints are flat, oblong and leaf-like, where the mistletoe cactus and coral cactus carry round or tufted stems. All are trailing jungle cacti of much the same care.

Why so few flowers? A cooler, drier winter lull and brighter dappled light coax out the small blooms, though it is grown chiefly for its foliage.

Is it safe around pets? Yes. Rhipsalis carries no listed toxin, and its joints are soft and spineless, so it is safe with cats and dogs.