I love structural hanging plants. I’ve tried a few. Love cactus...or rather they survive and are easily propagated. Jungle cactus varieties are often a combination of hanging and cactus like characteristics. I had to rule some out because they simply got too big and their leaf structure blocks out light from the windows. Those had to find new homes. For a small home here are a few I have collected over the years and still live with me. Some are very slow growing and some can make a statement in a year or so. A word about jungle cactus varieties. They generally like to be well watered and to be let to dried out for a length of time. Easily started from cuttings, you simply stick them in soil. Here is the first variety I got from a big box store years ago. The large plant in the second photo is the original I gave to DOL and the one next to it is a cutting. This rhipsalis is called Drunkards Dream or Dancing Bones, many varieties have that name. I am not sure of its scientific name, but it does have little yellow flowers. I keep young plants to set in head pots for green hair. Or just because. This next one is a plant I got cuttings of in August. I loved the light airy straight form. It’s rhipsalis baccifera. It may end up being my new favorite hanging plant. It’s common name might be beard cactus. The mother plant the cuttings came from was big and lush looking with such a pretty cascading appearance. The stems are already starting to lengthen. OK, now your saying , “Those look the same to me!” You are right, but I love the subtle differences of looks and growth habits. Here are a couple that have more noticeable cactus spines. Rhipsalis horrida or mouse tail...at least one of them is. The other is another variety called mouse tail in the rhipsalis family. Both are extremely slow growing for me and I’ve had for years. The first one has white flowers and the mother plant is out in the shed blooming away. I will be repotting it and giving part away. That’s what happens to plants growing in my small spaces. The second one has a nice gentle curving form and to me looks more cactus like. An unusual form to me and I can’t wait to see how it matures and blooms. And last but not least is the dog tail cactus, selenicereus testudo. I got the original plant on clearance at Walmart, took a few pieces and gave away the parent plant. The original plant was in a huge 10 inch hanging basket with much of the plant broken off. You can see the aerial roots that tend to form along the spines. I just cut most of them off this last week. Since it is in the small bathroom window the damp air probably encourages the root formation. I will be restarting this gem and giving away one you see. I am keeping it dwarfed to fit my home, but it wants to be huge. Thanks for letting me blither on about another family of houseplants that I enjoy. Happy gardening Does anyone else at the Stew enjoy these types of plants or might like to give them a try? Would love to hear and see what you might have or want to have.
That last pic looks like a Star Cactus,, just for the shape of the blooms ! Let me know if you ever run across a Pencil Tree ! Would love to have one of those !
@mart had one, but it got too big. At about three and half feet and almost as wide I set it on the street. Someone else got to take it home. They grow really fast from a small piece so if you ever find even a small piece you can have a good sized plant in no time. They can have a pretty red coloring if they get a little sun.
I have these pitahayas that sprouted a month ago. I don't know if they are supposed to grow so slowly. I do know they are cactus though.
Yes I know but have only seen one in my life ! Nursing home had one a good 6 feet tall ! Would love to have a cutting from one !
