Rhipsalis micrantha
Bird's foot cactus · Prickly Prongs
Care Guide
💧 Water
☀️ Light Partial sun
Bird's foot cactus is native to places with filtered light, such as the forest understory or rocky locations that provide natural shade. It prefers partial sun but can also withstand full sun.
🌡️ Temperature 20–37.8°C
Bird's foot cactus does best in warm settings and needs higher temperatures during the growing season to encourage growth and metabolic activity. It prefers plenty of sunlight, proper moisture, and good air circulation. However, it is vulnerable to harm from temperatures that are too low and from overwatering. It is important to maintain balance and avoid temperatures that are too high and conditions that are too dry.
💨 Humidity
🪴 Soil 6-7
🌱 Fertilizer
For Bird's foot cactus, use light amounts of fertilizer once or twice a year during the growing season. Do not fertilize in winter or summer when the plant is dormant. Cut back on fertilizer for plants that have been repotted and wait a couple of months after repotting before you start feeding. Fertilizing helps keep the plant healthy and encourages flowering.
🪴 Pot & Repot 2-3 years
Repot Bird's foot cactus in spring or summer, selecting a pot slightly larger than the current one that offers good drainage. Use a well-draining, sandy or gritty cactus mix. Handle the plant carefully to avoid its spikes. Let the cactus dry out before repotting to help prevent root rot. After repotting, wait one week before watering so the roots can heal.
✂️ Pruning
🌿 Propagating
🐛 Diseases & pets
☠️ Toxicity
Characteristics
- Plant Type
- Succulent
- Life Cycle
- Perennial
- Genus
- Rhipsalis
- Family
- Cactaceae
- Hardiness Zone
- 10-12
- Mature Height
- 30 cm to 61 cm
- Mature Spread
- 30 cm to 49 cm
- Leaf Color
- Light Green
- Leaf Type
- Evergreen
- Flower Color
- White
- Flower Size
- 0.51 cm to 1.02 cm
- Bloom Time
- Mid winter, Late winter, Early spring
- Planting Time
- Spring, Summer
- Harvest Time
- Mid spring, Late spring, Early summer
- Native Area
- Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru