Rhipsalis pilocarpa Loefgr. 

🌱 Morphology

  Epiphytic cactus that is initially erect and later pendulous, highly branched, which can reach a length of about 40–60 cm in cultivation. Its cylindrical, slender stems, dark green to glaucous green, sometimes with reddish tones, branch into whorls near the apices. The areoles are covered with fine white bristles, silky in appearance, which can acquire brownish tones. This hairiness also appears on the fruits, a distinctive feature of the species. The white and fragrant flowers stand out on the stems and, after flowering, globose berries of intense red to maroon color appear.

🌍 Distribution, habitat and family

It is native to the southeast of Brazil, with known populations in the states of Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Paraná. It grows as an epiphyte on branches and trunks in seasonal forests, generally in warm, humid environments protected from direct sunlight; it can also grow on rocks. Its natural distribution is fragmented and it is considered a vulnerable species, which makes it especially valuable to cultivate specimens propagated in nurseries.

The accepted name is Rhipsalis pilocarpa Loefgr. Its best-known historical synonym is Erythrorhipsalis pilocarpa(Loefgr.) A.Berger, a designation that reflects the uniqueness of its reddish fruits.

Family: Cactaceae · Subfamily: Cactoideae · Tribe: Rhipsalideae.

❄️ Temperature · USDA Zone 10a

It is a tropical species that prefers mild temperatures and does not tolerate frost. It is advisable to keep it above 5–7 °C, especially avoiding cold combined with a wet substrate. In Madrid, it is recommended to grow it indoors in a bright location or in a protected greenhouse during the winter.

☀️ Lighting

It needs plenty of filtered or indirect light, similar to what it would receive under the canopy of trees. It tolerates some soft morning sun, but intense exposure during the middle hours can cause burns. As a reference, a PAR DLI of approximately 6–12 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹ is recommended, adjusted to ventilation, temperature, and the plant's response.

💧 Growth cycle and watering

Unlike desert cacti, this species is adapted to greater availability of ambient moisture. During active growth, it is recommended to water when the surface of the substrate begins to dry, avoiding both prolonged drought and waterlogging. It needs a light, airy substrate with stable organic matter and excellent drainage. Growing it in a hanging pot allows its branches to develop and promotes ventilation.

Winter dormancy. With lower temperatures, its activity decreases, so it is advisable to space out waterings without letting the stems dehydrate for prolonged periods. A moderately cool rest can promote subsequent flowering.

🌸 Flowering

It produces white, delicately scented flowers, approximately 1–2.5 cm in diameter, which appear on the terminal areoles, solitary or in small groups. Flowering usually occurs from late winter to spring, although it can vary depending on growing conditions. The globose fruits, up to approximately 1.2 cm, ripen acquiring dark red or maroon tones and retain the small bristles that characterize the species.

🌿 Nutrition

During active growth, Desert CHOICE® Cactaceae NPK (Ca-Mg) 4-4-7 (4-4) is recommended. Assimilable calcium promotes the formation of firm tissues and the maintenance of turgidity, while magnesium participates in chlorophyll synthesis. Since it is an epiphytic cactus, it is recommended to apply the fertilizer moderately, on the previously moistened substrate.

This is an inimitable xerophyte cultivated in Madrid in a technological square pot and with the substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.

9x9 cm pot