WateringĪs a desert plant with a tolerance to drought, you can imagine that this cactus doesn’t enjoy frequent watering with too much water at a time, in fact, frequent watering is a sure-fire way to overwater it and ultimately kill off the plant.Ī potting mix that’s only slightly moist in its upper layer will work, although I’ve had more success with the soak and dry method, whereby I deeply water the soil, then wait fir it to completely dry out before soaking it again. Ideally, it should receive about 10 to 14 hours of direct light, so find the sunniest spot you can. In summer, keep the Rat Tail cactus outdoors, but start by slowly acclimating it to outdoor light conditions. If you’re growing the Rat Tail cactus indoors, pick a window with a south-facing or west-facing exposure, so that the plant receives all the light it can get. Warmth and direct sunshine throughout the day is what the plant needs most. Light RequirementsĪs a cactus, desert-like conditions are what tick every box in the requirements of this plant. It flowers in spring or early summer, producing violet-red flowers.įlowers are short-lived, you can enjoy individual blooms for only a couple of days, but the plant puts out quite a few blooms during the flowering stage. ![]() The cactus produces flowers that are tubular and about 2 inches wide. When it does reach maturity, you can expect the stems to grow 3 to 6 feet in length. Because of the thin, elongated stems that droop, this cactus was named the Rat Tail cactus or Disocactus flagelliformis.Īnother notable difference is that the Rat Tail features edges or ridges on the entire length of the stem.Īs for the growing requirements, the Rat Tail isn’t as cold-hardy as the Monkey Tail as it cannot withstand temperatures below 40 F, but in every other aspect its care is very similar to that of the Monkey Tail.īelow, you can read my care tips and recommendations: Size & GrowthĪs other cacti, the growth rate of this plant isn’t as quick, and it can take a couple of years for it to reach its mature size. Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by GenusĬlick on a photo to see a larger version.Eerily similar to the Monkey Tail Cactus, the Rat Tail Cactus produces thinner stems with fewer hairy spikes on them.This species is native to Mexico (Hidalgo, Oaxaca). Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Disocactus. Rat Tail Cactus can also be grown from seed. The cultivation needs of cuttings are the same as those for mature Rat Tail Cactus, and rooting will occur within a few weeks. If this shallowly inserted cutting tends to fall over, it can be supported by being gently tied to a small wooden stick. Be sure that any stem segment is planted with the bottom end down. Allow each cutting or segment to dry for three days, then insert it about 0.8 inches (2 cm) deep in a small pan or pot of the recommended potting mixture for mature plants. To propagate, use either 6 inches (15 cm) tip or 6 inches (15 cm) segment of the stem. If it is left free-standing, it can soon be overbalanced by the lengthening stems. If Rat Tail Cactus is grown in a pot, hang the pot up or attach it to a high shelf. ![]() Line the basket with sphagnum moss before filling it with potting mix, and make sure it is hung where the prickly stems will not pose a threat to the unwary. Its trailing stems make this ideal cactus for a hanging basket. Rat Tail Cactus is an easy-to-cultivate and relatively fast-growing cactus. Flowers are magenta-colored, up to 3.2 inches (8 cm) long, and 1.6 inches (4 cm) in diameter. Each whitish areole bears 15 to 20 reddish-brown to reddish-yellow, up to 0.4 inches (1 cm) long spines. ![]() The stems are slender, green to gray-green, and grow up to 6.6 feet (2 m) long and 0.8 inches (2 cm) in diameter. pietatis, Selenicereus innesii, x Aporberocereus innesii Scientific Classificationĭisocactus flagelliformis is an attractive cactus with thick hanging stems with 8 to 13 ribs and clusters of bristle-like spines. Rat Tail Cactus, Rattail Cactus Synonym(s)Ĭactus flagelliformis, Aporocactus flagelliformis, Aporocactus flagriformis, Aporocactus leptophis, Cactus serpentinus, Cereus flagelliformis, Cereus flagriformis, Cereus leptophis, Discocactus flagriformis, Disocactus flagriformis, Nyctocereus serpentinus var. Disocactus flagelliformis (L.) Barthlott Common Name(s)
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |