Rhipsalis

Rhipsalis is a tropical cactus, usually called Mistletoe or Spaghetti cactus. It has light, thin branches with tiny cactus spines.

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Most Popular Types

There are many varieties of Rhipsalis, mostly all known as Mistletoe cactus. At Growing Hobby, we carry Rhipsalis clavata, R. baccifera cashero, R. cereuscula, and R. baccifera.

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Light

Partial sun

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Temperatures

Rhipsalis can withstand temperatures down to 33°F for short time periods.

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Watering

Water frequently, not allowing the soil to go completely dry nor remain soggy.

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Toxicity

Non-toxic to humans or pets

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Growth

Rhipsalis is an epiphyte, growing from crooks in rainforest trees. Indoors, it drapes to 2 ft in length.

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Origin

Central America, Europe, Asia, and Africa

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Propagation

Stem cuttings

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Dormancy

Winter dormant

Rhipsalis lepismium cruciforme hurricane cactus

Rhipsalis lepismium cruciforme is known as the hurricane cactus. We don’t know if it’s because it can survive a hurricane or if it always looks like it just went through one!

Rhipsalis in bloom

This small scale Rhipsalis develops even tinier blooms.

Rhipsalis baccifera

Rhipsalis Baccifera is an epiphyte in its native environment.

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Parodia

Sometimes called ball cactus, parodia is known for its large flowers.

Parodia is used to rainy summer seasons in its native habitat. Be sure to keep the soil somewhat moist in the summer.

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Most Popular Types

Balloon cactus – Parodia magnifica and golden powder puff – Parodia chrysacanthion

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Light

Direct sunlight

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Temperatures

Can tolerate temperatures down to 50°F.

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Watering

Parodia need moist soil in the spring and summer growing seasons. Fertilize regularly during the spring and summer, also.

In fall and winter, taper off from the watering regimen.

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Toxicity

Non-toxic to humans or pets.

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Growth

Some are small globules, while others grow to 3 ft high columns.

Parodia need to be repotted to 1 inch larger pots every 1-2 years. Becoming rootbound will stunt its growth.

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Origin

South America, eastern slopes of the Andes

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Propagation

Taking offsets is the easiest method.

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Dormancy

Winter dormant

Parodia leninghausii

Parodia bloom

Parodia are sometimes called Easter Lily cacti

Notocactus – Parodia

Notocactus, now known as Parodia

Workshops at Growing Hobby

Workshop schedule set for after work hours and on Sunday afternoons. We now have central heating and air to make you more comfortable while you shop and attend workshops.

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Pachypodium | Madagascar Palm

As spiky as it is, the Madagascar palm, or Pachypodium lamerei, is still one of our favorites. It is a stem succulent, and it lets its trunk do all the work of photosynthesis.

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Most Popular Types

Madagascar palm – Pachypodium lamerei

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Light

Bright, direct sunlight

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Temperatures

Madagascar palms can tolerate temperatures down to 50°F.

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Watering

Allow the soil to dry completely between soakings.

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Toxicity

Take care when repotting. The spines, when scraped or cut, can release an irritating white sap.

All parts of the plant are poisonous if ingested.

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Growth

Grown indoors, the trunk may reach 3 ft in height. Outdoors, it may reach 20 ft.

When grown outdoors, the succulent (it’s not a true palm tree) may produce white trumpet-like flowers.

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Origin

Madagascar

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Propagation

Offsets

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Dormancy

Winter dormant. Don’t fret if it drops its leaves.

Pachypodium lamerei madagascar palm

Pachypodium lamerei madagascar palm is a succulent and not related directly to any palm trees.

Pachypodium Lamerei plants in the garden

Workshops at Growing Hobby

Workshop schedule set for after work hours and on Sunday afternoons. We now have central heating and air to make you more comfortable while you shop and attend workshops.

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Opuntia

Also called the Prickly Pear cactus, Opuntia has more than 300 varieties. You’ll find it in landscaping in South Carolina, and in random locations. It is said that the enslaved Africans planted prickly pear cactus to mark cemeteries and to discourage spirits from walking the earth. We once talked to a customer that planted it outside their daughter’s bedroom window…

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Most Popular Types

Opuntia microdasys, or Bunny Ears cactus, is the most popular Opuntia at Growing Hobby. Out in the open, the most common Opuntia is the humifusa, or eastern prickly pear. Very rare but beautiful is the Carolina Prickly Pear, Opuntia tunoidea, with bluish pads and bright yellow flowers.

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Light

Opuntia prefer full sun.

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Temperatures

Many opuntia are hardy to extremely cold temperatures. We recommend protecting Prickly Pear cactus when temps are below freezing to keep the fluid in the pads from freezing and damaging the cactus from the inside out.

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Watering

Opuntia can be watered twice monthly in the summer and once monthly otherwise. Opuntia does well planted directly in the ground, and they can survive on natural rainfall.

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Toxicity

Prickly Pear fruit is often used for candies and jellies, but the fruit has fine spines that are difficult to remove. Opuntia cactus pads are said to be dangerous, if not poisonous, to humans and pets.

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Growth

Opuntia can grow to 20′ in its native habitat.

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Origin

Opuntia can be found across North, Central, and South America.

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Propagation

Prickly Pear cactus is most easily propagated by stem cuttings.

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Dormancy

Opuntia is winter dormant.

Opuntia tunoidea eastern prickly pear

Opuntia tunoidea/macrarthra, or eastern prickly pear cactus, is native to South Carolina.

Opuntia prickly pear flowering

Prickly pear Opuntia is often used in landscaping in South Carolina.

Opuntia prickly pear cacti assortment

Opuntia prickly pear cacti: left – microdasys rufida (red bunny ears), center front and back – Argentine, right – microdasys (bunny ears).

opuntia wave cactus

Wave Opuntia is easily propagated from stem cuttings.

opuntia crested roller coaster cactus

Workshops at Growing Hobby

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Moon Cactus

Gymnocalycium

Moon Cactus, or Gymnocalycium, are brightly colored, eye-catching, cacti. Since the toppers are grafted onto dragonfruit cactus, you’ll water them more often, as you would a tropical cactus.

Close up beautiful flower of Moon Cactus

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Most Popular Types

These fun cacti come in pink, red, orange, and purple. We’ve even seen some that look like they’ve been tie-dyed!

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Light

Full sun

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Temperatures

The dragonfruit can withstand temperatures down to 33°F, but only for short periods of time.

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Watering

For gymnocalycium in its natural state, water only when the soil has been completely dry for a week or so. For the grafted varieties (colorful balls on top of green dragonfruit cactus stems), water every 2-3 weeks.

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Toxicity

Non-toxic to people and pets.

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Growth

In nature, gymnocalycium is earth-toned. These colorful toppers are mutant hybrids lacking chlorophyll, needing to be grafted on dragonfruit segments to receive nutrients.

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Origin

Paraguay and Argentina

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Propagation

You’ll see offsets growing from the colorful ball topper. These offsets will not survive if removed, unless they are grafted onto a base plant. If the base plant grows additional limbs, it’s best to remove them and grow them into a separate plants – or use them as base plants.

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Dormancy

Winter dormant

Gymnocalycium mihanovichii moon cactus

Gymnocalycium mihanovichii, the moon cactus, has been genetically engineered to create colorful cacti. Because it can no longer produce chlorophyll, it is grafted onto a dragonfruit cactus for nutrition.

Moon Cactus

Close up of beautiful Moon Cactus

Workshops at Growing Hobby

Workshop schedule set for after work hours and on Sunday afternoons. We now have central heating and air to make you more comfortable while you shop and attend workshops.

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Mammillaria

Mammillaria Cactus

Mammillaria cacti are so named because each aerole sports a spine on the top half and hair or fuzz on the bottom half. There are more than 200 species of Mammillaria which grow to full height within approximately 5 years, after which time the cactus will begin to spread outward.

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Most Popular Types

lady finger cactus – Mammillaria elongata, pincushion cactus – M. zeilmanniana, Thimble cactus – M. gracilis fragilis

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Light

Direct sunlight

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Temperatures

mammillaria cactus prefer to be kept in temperatures between 50 and 85°F.

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Watering

Mammillaria do not require frequent watering. Water sparingly when soil is completely dry, and cut water regimine in half during winter.

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Toxicity

Non-toxic to animals or humans.

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Growth

Mamillaria range in size from 1 inch (fully grown) to 12 inches. Most are ground-hugging.

Flowers in the spring and summer will surround the top of the column, forming a crown.

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Origin

Southwest US, Mexico, Caribbean, and Central America

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Propagation

Cuttings or offsets

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Dormancy

Winter dormant.

mammillaria gracilis fragilis thimble cactus

The thimble cactus is a small mammillaria covered in spines. It grows in clusters.

mammillaria bombycina maybe

Many mammillaria have fine hairs along with sharp spines. Both help to shade the cactus from the harsh sun.

cactus brain Mammilaria elongata cristata

This cactus brain is a crested version of Mammillaria Elongata, Lady Slipper cactus.

mammillaria spinosissima

This spiny fishhook cactus shows its new growth surrounded by white spines.

mammillaria gracilis fragilis thimble cactus

Mammillaria gracilis fragilis thimble cactus

mammillaria bombycina maybe

Mammillaria zeilmanniana

Like many Mammillaria, the zeilmanniana variety shows off a ring of blooms.

Workshops at Growing Hobby

Workshop schedule set for after work hours and on Sunday afternoons. We now have central heating and air to make you more comfortable while you shop and attend workshops.

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