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The Rat Tail cactus the usual name for ( Aporocactus flagelliformis ) or ( Disocactus flagelliformis)is one of several slender , attractiveoutdoor succulent plantswith long flexible , branching , hanging stems about ½ ” inch in diameter .
Bristly “ pilus ” cover the limp stems which can be trained into many shape and shape .
rattail fish cactus plants post out aerial roots and bear small brilliant red , scarlet flowers about 3″ – inch long .
Often grown in pay heed baskets or graft onto other cactus mintage ( egTrichocereus ) and trained into marvelous form .
Most growers considerAporocactus flagelliformisan easy mintage to grow and showy in bloom .
Quick Rat Tail Cactus Care Guide
What Is A Rat Tail Cactus?
Rat fag end plant cactus is an epiphyte ( or lithophyte ) . This means , in the state of nature , it does not need filth to grow .
In its native , southern Mexico and Central America , the rat tail cactus is often found sputter over rocks or into trees .
As of 2018 , according to inaturalist.org , the increasing destruction of cloud woods in the Mexican states of Hidalgo , Puebla and Veracruz inclination theAporocactus flabelliformas “ virtually threatened . ”
When celebrate as a garden or houseplant , its rambling habits make it pure for train or growing in a hanging handbasket .
What Does Disocactus Flagelliformis Look Like?
gilded puke ass cactus has farsighted lean stem . They are about an 8th of an in thick and can grow up to five foot farseeing . They grow at a charge per unit of about a foot a year .
When the cactus is in good health , the stems are vivid green in color .
Each stem has between eight and twelve rib , separated by wide , raised areoles adorned with chocolate-brown sticker about a tenth part of an in long .
Does The Rat Tail Cactus Have Flowers?
When the rat tail cactus plant matures , it produces legion , very pretty , tubelike flowers in the springtime . The bloom are about 2 ” – 3 ” inches farseeing and an in wide .
The flower descend in shades of pink , crimson and ruby-red . The blossom menstruum usually lasts for several day .
Is The Rattail Hard To Keep As A Houseplant?
These tough , pretty , interesting plant are very easy to manage for as houseplant ( just watch out for the thorns ) . They are a perfect pick for a hanging hoop in a sunny , still setting .
delineate the basketful with sphagnum moss and then add a nourishing , quick - draining potting mixture .
Place or hang up the pot up high and out of the fashion because the thorns or spur can be a spot of a hazard .
Can Rat Tail Grow In A Standing Pot?
If you put Disocactus flagelliformis in a stand pot , position the plant up luxuriously so the stems can trail .
Otherwise , the weight of the stems may cause the pot to overturn .
How Much Light Does Rat Tail Cactus Need?
Full sunlight is necessary for the plant to perform best . Put your basket or pot in a bright , sunny , west or due south - facing windowpane .
When the weather is nice and warm , put your cactus outdoors for extra sun and aviation .
What Temperature Does The Whip Cactus Need?
In saltation , summer and other autumn , these cactus are happy at normal elbow room temperature . If you are comfy , your cactus will be comfortable .
In the winter , move the cactus to a tank stage setting and allow the flora to take a breather .
Temperatures run from 45 ° to 50 ° degrees Fahrenheit are effective . The rat rear end can brook temperature up to 60 ° degrees Fahrenheit in the winter months .
How Much Water Does The Rat Tail Cactus Need?
When the cactus is actively growing , the potting spiritualist should be kept more or less moist . In winter , do no watering unless the dirt becomes dry . Then pee gently .
Does The Rattail Cactus Need Fertilizer?
implement fertilizer to this epiphytic plant by spraying a mild result ( one-half strength ) of liquid fertilizer onto the stems every couple of weeks during the springiness , summer and early autumn .
DO NOT fertilize the works in winter .
How Often Does The Disocactus Flagelliformis Cactus Need Repotting?
It ’s a good idea to repot the Disocactus flagelliformis flora once a twelvemonth , decently after it finish blooming .
Surprisingly , this epiphytic cactus depletes the nourishment in its potting medium fairly quickly .
Unlike many kinds of cactus and many kinds of epiphytes , the rat tag like theepiphyllum orchid cactusenjoys a rich , light potting miscellany .
compound two parts high - quality potting land with one part leaf mould , orchid compost or aged , milled cow manure .
relate : Monkey Tail Cactus(Cleistocactus winterisubsp . Colademononis )
Why Does This Desert Plant Need Such A Nourishing Potting Medium?
Even though these desert plants grow naturally in ironical preferences with fiddling or no grease , when kept as a houseplant , you get much more spectacular results when plant get supererogatory aliment and moisture .
In the two videos below , the first one seems to be treating the Rat tail cacti as desert plant .
observe the faded coloring and comparatively few blossoms .
Compare this with the industrial plant display in TV at the top of the varlet .
The difference may have to do with soil , pee and fertilizing habits , as the presenter shares that the plant are in a “ sandlike mix “ and she allows them to dry between waterings .
Rat - Tail Cactus update
What Size Pot Or Basket Is Best For The Rat Tail Cactus?
broadly speaking , Disocactus flagelliformis plants do well in a 9 ” – inch basket or a 6 ” – in pot . For root - bound plant life , provide a somewhat turgid potentiometer .
Otherwise , thoroughly clean and reprocess the current pot or habituate a new ( clean ) pot of the same size .
If the flora grows too large for a 6″ – 9″ column inch container , you may find it more convenient to take cuttings and discard the original plant .
When these cacti become too big , they are hard to handle .
How Do You Propagate Rat Tail Cactus?
These “ succulents ” grow readily from a six - column inch clipping of any part of the fore .
practice the tip of the base , or cut an entire root word into six - column inch sections to get piles of little rattail .
Before potting Disocactus flagelliformis cuttings , allow them to air dry for a period of three days .
When cut into segments , check that to keep track of which end of the segment is the bottom end .
When poke the cuttings into the dirt , it is important to keep them right-hand - side - up .
Do n’t “ plant ” the cutting into the land too profoundly ( no more than an 8th of an inch ) . If it tends to descend over , use a Popsicle peg or similar item to stake it up .
Treat the cutting as matured plants . They should take root , and start to see some growth , within two or three weeks .
Can The Rat Tail Be Grown From Seed?
Yes , accompany standard cactus planting communications protocol to bring on lots of petty plant to enjoy and share .
What Are The Best Uses For Rattail Cactus?
In addition to making a wonderful conversation piece as a houseplant , these drouth - tolerant cacti are excellent for xeriscaping labor in live , teetotal clime .
They do very well rambling about in a rock garden and as a ground masking in a desert garden .
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