How to Grow & Care for Rhipsalis Cereuscula 'Rice Cactus' (2023)

Hey folks! Welcome back!

I hope you all are doing appreciable in your gardening field. Today I am here with another amazing plant that is known as Rice Cactus. It is scientifically known as Rhipsalis Cereuscula. It is one of the evergreen plants that are succulent and native to South America.

Rhipsalis Cereuscula needs good maintenance so that they thrive well, so feeding them with a good amount of sunlight, water, humidity level, temperature needs, and many more to see its interesting magical results.

Let’s get started.

	*Quick information*
Common name	Rice cactus, Coral-cactus, Mistletoe Cactus
Sunlight	Bright indirect sunlight
Soil used	Quick-draining
Water requirements	Twice a week or as needed
Pruning	At least once a year
Mature size	24 inches to 5 feet tall
Bloom Time	Year-round at best-growing conditions

How to grow Rhipsalis Cereuscula ‘Rice Cactus’?

Though there are various methods of propagating the plant but one of the successful methods is through stem cuttings. Even in my previous articles, I have described the process of growing plants with the help of stem cuttings. So, let’s know how to grow Rhipsalis Cereuscula by using stem cutting:

Step 1- Firstly, you have to keep the collection with you which includes sterilized scissors, stem from the mother plant.

Step 2- Now you have to fill up the pot with vermiculite and mist it with some water for moisture.

Step 3- Put the potting mix in the container and keep the stem in it but avoid touching it with the ground level.

Step 4- Try to keep your plant in a bright room that does not let the full sun come in.

Step 5- Then you will observe roots on the stem after 2 weeks. Consistently water it for about one month.

Step 6– After five weeks you can transplant the plant in a new container with more space than the previous one.

This is how you are done with the process of growing Rhipsalis Cereuscula in your home garden via stem cuttings.

How to care for Rhipsalis Cereuscula ‘Rice Cactus’?

Growing a plant doesn’t include much effort, do you know what the crazy part of it is? It is to take care of that plant and maintain its growth. So, it is important to feed the plant with more nutrients and fulfill its requirements like a supply of water, sunlight, etc which will be discussed below:

Sunlight
Soil
Water
Fertilizer
Pruning
Humidity and Temperature
Potting and repotting

Let’s know about them in detail:

Sunlight needs

Rhipsalis Cereuscula tends to grow where they can receive bright sunlight for their growth.
They tend to grow in the lower canopies where they are being filled with natural sunlight.
When you grow your plant inside your home, then you have to keep your plant away from the sunny windows so that the plant remains in a humid environment.
Make sure not to expose your plants to the full sun so that the leaves of the plant get protected.

Watering needs

Rhipsalis Cereuscula prefers to receive water daily as it has great foliage to grow.
This plant tends to store water in its leaves, so if you water them less, then they can tolerate that.
When you grow your plant in yur home garden outdoors, then you have to water your plant 1-2 times a week, especially at the time of spring and summer.
You have to check the soil’s moisture by inserting a finger in the soil about an inch and if it is dry, then you have to water your plant.

Humidity and Temperature needs

Rhipsalis Cereuscula plants like to thrive well if you provide them with a temperature range of 70°F to 75°F in the daytime whereas 60°F to 70°F in the nighttime.
You have to maintain an ideal atmosphere for your plant so that it thrives well especially by not letting them expose to the cold drafts.

The ideal humidity level for these plants lies between 50 to 55 %.
If you increase the level of humidity in your room, you have to fill a pebble tray with water and place it under the plant to increase the moisture in the plant.

Soil needs

The soil needed by these plants is well drained and also a mixture of peat moss or sphagnum moss, and perlite to make it more organic.
The ideal pH level for these plants is 5.0-6.5 which is slightly acidic.
So, for this, you have to keep in mind to use a pot with good drainage holes so that the soil remains well drained.
The organic mixture helps the plant to enhance the texture of the soil and also improves the plant’s growth.

Fertilizer needs

These plants like to be fertilized at the time when they grow actively during the summertime and spring season.
The ideal fertilizer ratio for these plants is 10-10-10 or 8-8-8. Making use of a balanced fertilizer would be suitable for the plants.
Make sure to fertilize your plants after every 2 weeks to enhance their growth.
Last but not least, it is essential not to overfertilize your plant as it is not good for the plants.

Potting & Repotting

Rhipsalis Cereuscula likes to be repotted when the plant overgrows and its roots come out from the drainage holes.
They like to be repotted after every 1-3 years.
Keep a check on the plants and while repotting, you have to put the fresh soil mix in the new container.
Make use of a bigger pot with more good drainage holes than the previous one so that the plant feels comfortable there.

Pruning needs

Rhipsalis Cereuscula does not ask for much pruning as they grow slowly. So, for increasing the growth of the plant, you have to prune off the plant.
When the plants get affected, then you have to cut the leaves so that the foliage does not get damaged.
Trim out of your plant one time a year to promote new growth in the plant.

Wrapping up the context

In this guide, you come to know about the Rhipsalis Cereuscula ‘Rice Cactus’. I hope you are clear with the process of growing Rhipsalis Cereuscula ‘Rice Cactus’ in your home garden as it is the easiest to grow. If not, then also you can read out the whole guide to understand it properly. Till then safe gardening.

Thanks for reading! Happy gardening!

Author
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Anna Scott

Senior Editor at Gardeninghood

Anna Scott loves gardening and has been doing it for a long time. She wants to help new gardeners learn from her experience. Through her writing, she shares tips and advice on how to make gardens beautiful. Anna hopes her words will inspire new gardeners to succeed.