Coral Cactus - Rhipsalis cereuscula - 2L / 17cm / Medium
$30.00Rhipsalis cereuscula
(commonly known as Coral Cactus)
Rhipsalis cereuscula, often called Coral Cactus, is a soft, mop-headed epiphytic cactus with masses of slender, branching stems that resemble underwater coral. Native to the tropical rainforests of South America, this spineless species grows as a tangle of bright green, cylindrical segments that spill beautifully over the sides of pots or hanging baskets. In ideal conditions, it may also produce tiny white flowers followed by translucent white berries.
Unlike desert cacti, Rhipsalis thrives in humidity and indirect light, making it perfect for bathrooms, shaded greenhouses or indoor hanging displays. Its unique texture and trailing habit give it a sculptural, soft presence that's both modern and wild.
Non-toxic to pets.
Comprehensive Care Instructions for Rhipsalis cereuscula (Coral Cactus)
Lighting Requirements
Indoors: Prefers bright, indirect light or light shade. Too much direct sun can cause yellowing or burn the delicate stems.
Outdoors (mild climates): Grow in dappled shade or filtered light. Avoid harsh midday sun.
Watering Regimen
Active Growth (Spring to Autumn):
Water when the top 2–3cm of soil is dry. Keep soil lightly moist but never soggy.
Cooler Months:
Reduce watering. Allow the soil to dry more deeply between waterings without letting the plant completely shrivel.
Temperature & Humidity
Thrives in warm, humid environments between 18°C–26°C.
Keep above 10°C and avoid cold draughts. Appreciates higher humidity—great for kitchens or bathrooms.
Fertilizing
Feed monthly in spring and summer with a diluted cactus or general houseplant fertiliser. No feeding required in winter.
Pruning & Maintenance
Trim stems to control length or remove damaged growth. Cuttings root easily in moist soil.
Rotate the pot occasionally to keep growth even.
Repotting
Repot every 2–3 years or when rootbound. Use a very free-draining mix—cactus soil with added bark or perlite is ideal.
Pests & Troubleshooting
Generally low-maintenance, but may attract mealybugs or fungus gnats in overly damp soil.
Shrivelled stems = underwatering. Yellowing or mushy stems = overwatering or poor drainage.
Important Note: Not a Desert Cactus
Rhipsalis cereuscula loves shade and moisture—think rainforest, not desert. Its coral-like form and soft texture make it perfect for anyone wanting an unusual, pet-friendly trailing plant that thrives away from the sun.
Plant Size Guide
The plant in the photos is an example and an approximate guide only however we try to show an average sized example. Sizes, flowering state and colours change throughout the seasons and variation will occur. In summer & autumn, plants are often larger or the same size as than the example picture but around winter and spring, they can be a little smaller but still at a size similar to the example. We aim to update the pictures to reflect significant differences.
Plant Heights - because the plant's foliage must fit inside our Plant Cartons, the actual height of a plant's central trunk (meristem) will be shorter than the box it fits in.
Small Plants - 14cm wide nursery pot - 1 Litre volume - Plants fit in a 50cm tall box.
Medium Plants - 17cm wide pots either 2L hanging pot or 2.5L nursery pot - Plants fit in a 75cm tall box.
Large Plants - 25cm wide pot, 10L volume. Plants fit in a 100cm tall box.
XL Plants - Plants over 100cm tall in pot sizes specified, 25cm/10L or greater and are hand delivered within Auckland/Northland only.
Dispatch Times
Plant courier orders are processed Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday.
North Island orders are targeted overnight delivery, South Island orders are sent on a 2-day target but these are not a guaranteed delivery timeframe.
Add 1 extra day after a public holiday as well as for rural addresses or remote towns.
Monday - We send orders placed on previous Wednesday, Thursday & Friday.
Tuesday - We send Weekend orders from previous Saturday & Sunday.
Wednesday - We send orders placed from Monday & Tuesday.
XL Plants are delivered only within urban Auckland & Whangarei and this service is for non-urgent orders. This excludes satellite destinations such as Beachlands, Pukekohe, Piha, Helensville etc and Whangarei Heads. We may deliver at any time Sunday, Monday, Wednesday or Thursday in Auckland and you need to have a sheltered accessible position for us to deliver to.
Plants in Transit
Each Small, Medium & Large plant is individually contained within its own protective cardboard Plant Carton which may be joined to other cartons in your order.
Plants typically take just a day or two to arrive, however they are usually fine in their cartons for 1-2 weeks, and many can go longer, so a few extra days are not usually cause for concern.
Whether it takes 1 or 7 days, let your plant recover from its journey by placing in gentle light and adding a little water and it will be back to its best within a couple of days. Let us know if there are any major issues via the contact page.
