Mistletoe Cactus

Mistletoe Cactus (Rhipsalis baccifera) is a trailing jungle cactus with slender, branching stems covered in soft, hair-like bristles. It stands only about 30cm high but trails to around 1m long, which makes it a natural for hanging baskets, high shelves and tree forks. Tiny white flowers are followed by translucent pale green-white berries, the feature that earns the mistletoe name.

Why you'll love it

• Easy going. Bright shade and a relaxed routine suit it, and it only wants a drink once the mix has dried out.
• A soft trailing curtain. Branching stems spill about 1m over the pot edge with no training needed.
• Flowers, then berries. Tiny white flowers are followed by translucent berries that look like mistletoe.
• Happy in part shade. It lives on trees in the wild, so dappled light suits it better than full sun.
• Several ways to grow it. Hang it, pot it, or wedge it into a tree fork in a tropical garden, much as you would a staghorn fern.

Where it works best

Hanging baskets and shelves. Hang the pot at head height or above so the 1m stems can trail. One plant per basket bulks up from the base over time.

Indoors. A bright room with morning light and afternoon shade suits it. Keep it out of hot sun coming through glass.

Tropical and subtropical gardens. Outdoors it can go into free-draining soil in part shade, or onto a tree trunk. Allow 50cm between plants.

Growing Mistletoe Cactus in Australia

Position and climate. Part shade, with morning sun and afternoon shade ideal. It is frost tender, so outdoors it suits tropical and subtropical gardens. Further south, or inland where frosts bite, grow it in a pot indoors or on a sheltered, frost-free verandah.

Soil. Free drainage is the rule. In the wild it grows in trees, where excess rain runs off quickly, so it dislikes sitting in wet mix. Use a cactus or orchid style mix in pots.

Water and feed. Water regularly until established, usually around 12 weeks, then only when the mix has dried out, and less in cool, dull months. A dilute liquid feed about monthly in the warm season is plenty.

Pruning. None needed. Trim any stem that grows longer than you like, and tip cuttings root easily if you want a second plant.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Mistletoe Cactus as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly, and also in 140mm pots in packs of 10, 200mm pots in packs of 6 and 300mm pots sold singly. Young plants take a few months to build length, so treat the tube as the start of a long-term basket. Unpack on arrival, water lightly and settle it into bright shade.

Tube stock comes from our grower and is not always available. When the grower has none, the tube shows as sold out on this page, and the notify button emails you the day it is back in.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Indoor plant tips for beginners
• Browse more cacti
• Indoor plants for every room
• Plants that suit balconies and pots

Common questions

Is it a real cactus?

Yes, but a rainforest one that lives on trees. Treat it more like an orchid than a desert cactus: bright shade, fast drainage and no standing water.

How often should I water it?

Regularly for the first 12 weeks or so. After that, water when the mix has dried out, and less often in winter.

Can I grow it outdoors?

In tropical and subtropical gardens, yes, in part shade. It is frost tender, so elsewhere keep it in a pot indoors or in a frost-free spot.