Trailing Mistletoe Cactus care guide (rhipsalis capilliformis)

Want to add a Trailing Mistletoe Cactus to your houseplant collection? They are beautiful and easy to care for! Here's my complete Trailing Mistletoe Cactus care guide!

We recently added floating shelves to our guest bedroom and I of course had to pick up a few new houseplants to style the shelves.

One of the plants that I selected was a trailing mistletoe cactus.

I was very attracted to the unusual, delicate branches of this plant and it's overall shape which is both mounding and trailing.

This is a super cool tropical succulent - kind of like my ric rac cactus - and I wanted to share it with y'all today!

What is Trailing Mistletoe Cactus?

The Trailing Mistletoe Cactus is a beautiful trailing tropical succulent. It looks great in a hanging basket or anywhere it is able to mound and trail for a dramatic look.

There are lots of types of mistletoe cactus. This trailing variety is one of the most delicate with very thin branches that hang and - you guessed it - trail.

Other names for Trailing Mistletoe Cactus include:

• Rhipsalis Capilliformis
• Old man's beard

Trailing Mistletoe Cactus origins

This plant is originally from Brazil. It is a tropical succulent that is actually native to the rainforest. They naturally grow in the nooks and crannies of tall forest trees!

Is Trailing Mistletoe Cactus rare?

I got my plant at Lowes, so it can't be that rare. That being said, I've never seen it there before so it's definitely not one of their most common houseplants. They are grown by Costa Farms so widely available anywhere costa plants are sold.

Is Trailing Mistletoe Cactus toxic?

No, this plant is non toxic to cats and dogs! It does have tiny prickles on it so you will still want to keep it away from curious hands and mouths!

Trailing Mistletoe Cactus care guide

I grabbed my trailing mistletoe cactus because it was so unusual looking. I will warn you that they are very delicate plants - I lost quite a few pieces of stem when repotting it. Be very careful when handling it.

Trailing Mistletoe Cactus watering

These plants should be thought of as tropical and not as cactuses! They definitely can dry out and go limp, so keep them watered well. You may want to bottom water to help keep the branches from getting mushy.

Read my guide on drilling drainage holes in pots!

How often should I water my Trailing Mistletoe Cactus?

Water your plant when the top 2 inches of soil feel dry to the touch. This could be once a week or once every two weeks, depending on how much light and heat it gets.

Should I mist my Trailing Mistletoe Cactus?

These are tropical plants native to the rainforest so they can benefit from a misting!

Trailing Mistletoe Cactus lighting needs

These plants can take bright indirect light all the way down to low light. Naturally, they grow in the shade of large trees, so they are much more shade tolerant than the average succulent.

Mistletoe cactus can grow towards the light source, so rotate your plant regularly to keep it balanced and even.

Can I keep Trailing Mistletoe Cactus outdoors?

You could keep these plants outdoors but you want to be sure to keep them out of bright direct light which will burn them up! They will need to come indoors in the winter as well.

Trailing Mistletoe Cactus soil + potting

Mistletoe cactus need well draining soil to prevent their roots from getting soggy. Most houseplant soil will work great for them.

Does Trailing Mistletoe Cactus like to be root bound?

These plants are actually very tollerent of being root bound and don't seem to be too bothered by it!

Trailing Mistletoe Cactus fertilization

Fertilizing your plant can help it grow to the maximum of its potential. Apply a houseplant fertilizer once a month during the warm growing season.

Does Trailing Mistletoe Cactus flower?

Yes! This plant gets tiny white flowers at the end of it's branches!

How to propagate Trailing Mistletoe Cactus

It is extremely easy to propagate a trailing mistletoe cactus in soil. If a branch breaks off - like I said, they are very delicate, place the broken end in soil. I have had excellent results with them rooting in place. It's that simple!

Any more questions about the trailing mistletoe cactus?

Thanks for reading!