Family: Cactaceae
Common name: Mistletoe cactus, Sphagetti cactus
Mistletoe cactus is a unique and fascinating cactus that can be grown in hanging baskets, loved for their cascading green stems. They are native to Central and South America, and they thrive in a variety of weather conditions.
Plant characteristics
Mistletoe cacti are epiphytic plants that can grow well on tree trunks or wooden structures, absorbing water and nutrients through their roots and stems. Stems are green, cylindrical, and succulent, designed to store water for the plant.
These stems can grow to length of 1.5 to 2 meters when grown as a houseplant in controlled environments. But in the wild, they can grow up to 7-8 meters with thick, long stems.
Unlike most cacti, the Mistletoe cacti do not have thorns, which makes them easy to handle and maintain. The stems are segmented into distinct sections with a constriction after each segment, which can be broken easily.
In mature plants, the nodes produce brown colored fibrous roots that hang down from the plant. These are helpful in absorbing moisture, and should not be cut off.
Like most cacti, this plant also has small scale-like leaves which are inconspicuous – nature’s adaptation to help save water. Leaves are 1-2 mm long and they do not photosynthesize like normal leaves.
Mistletoe cacti produces small, delicate white or cream-colored flowers though they are not very common in houseplants. The flowers are 1-2 cm in diameter, tubular and have a mild fragrance to attract pollinating insects.
The plant also produce small, rounded, berry-like fruits that are white or pink in color. These fruits look like Mistletoe, giving the cactus its name. The fruits are eaten by birds and small animals.
Gardening tips
Mistletoe cacti do not like bright direct sunlight since they grow in the shade of trees in their natural environment. They do well with filtered sunlight, or even indoors near a bright window.
Water only when the soil is dry to touch, since overwatering can quickly damage the succulent stems of the plant.
Mistletoe cacti are ideal for hanging baskets or pots since their stems cascade down from the edges of the pot very gracefully. Since they do not need regular watering and fertilization, these plants are easy to grow and maintain, even for amateur gardeners.
Do not pot the plant in very large pots. It is good to maintain cacti in pots that are just the right size for it, since the roots don’t grow very thick. Once the plant fills a pot, repot it into a container that is slightly bigger.
These plants are resistant to pests and other infestations unless they are growing in complete shade, which can affect the plant’s health. It is a long-living plant, and with good care, they can live for many years.
Uses of Mistletoe cacti
Mistletoe cacti are mostly grown as ornamental plants in hanging baskets or pots in home gardens, parks, and landscaped areas. They have some medicinal uses in the treatment of snake and scorpion bites.
As always, a word of caution, to never self-medicate. Always take expert advise before using any part of a plant as food or medicine.
Propagation
Propagation can be very effectively done through stem cuttings. Mature plants grow stems from their nodes. A part of this stem can be cut with a sharp knife and replanted. Allow the cutting to dry out for a day before planting in a cactus mix that is well-draining.
Photographed at: Thrissur, Kerala
