Propagate rhipsalis
2025-01-01T16:25:20+11:00
Rhipsalis are tough and drought-hardy plants that are well-suited for growing in pots or hanging baskets. Here’s how to propagate them.
Also known as jungle cacti or mistletoe cacti, these epiphytic plants grow naturally in trees and, with their cascading leaf-like stems, create an attractive display outside, in shade or dappled light, or in a bright spot indoors.
1. PREPARE your cuttings by taking lengths of healthy stem 10–20cm long. Any piece of stem will form roots, but here we chose a stem where roots had already developed. These cuttings can be cut further to create single-stemmed pieces, but in this case we decided to strike a multi-stemmed cutting to produce an ‘instant’ plant.
2. PART-FILL a small pot with premium potting mix and place the cutting in the pot.
3. BACKFILL with more potting mix, then water. (If you’re striking single stems rather than a multi-stemmed cutting, fill the pot first, then make some holes in the mix with a stick and insert the cuttings.) Place the pot in a warm, bright, shaded spot. Let the mix dry out before rewetting – the cuttings are prone to rotting when constantly wet.
4. RE-POT your plant into a larger container when the cuttings have well-formed roots (after a couple months). A fast-draining potting mix such as orchid mix is ideal for rhipsalis, mimicking the kind of medium they’re accustomed to in the wild.
Header image by iStock
