Mistletoe cactus
Rhipsalis baccifera
Also called Rhipsalis and Coral cactus
Houseplant · Succulents & cactiA cactus that grows in tree forks and wants shade and damp. Treat it like a fern and it thrives; treat it like a cactus and it shrivels.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Easy
- Water
- Every 9 daysDrench and drain — water the whole surface until it runs from the holes.
- Light
- Medium to bright indirect
- Feed
- Every 45 days
- Humidity
- High
- Hardiness
- Indoors, or out in high summer RHS H1B, to 10°C
- Size
- 1.2 m tall · 0.5 m across
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Origin
- Tropical Americas and Africa
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsSafe for pets
PeopleNot checked yet
Nobody has checked this one against a source for us yet, so treat it as unknown rather than safe.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-07-31.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
First signs of trouble
- The stems lose their roundness and go grooved lengthways — this is a rainforest cactus and it dries out faster than the desert ones.Shrivelling from underwatering · disorder