Rat Tail Cactus

Rat Tail Cactus Care

Disocactus flagelliformis

What is the plant

The Rat Tail Cactus (Disocactus flagelliformis) gets its name from its long, trailing stems that resemble—you guessed it—a rat’s tail. They’re soft to the touch (for a cactus!) and covered in fine, golden spines.

Its stems can grow over 3 feet (about 1 meter) long and look great spilling out of hanging pots or over shelf edges. In spring, this cactus can surprise you with bright pink, tube-shaped flowers along its stems. It’s pretty low-maintenance, too. Just give it plenty of bright light, let the soil dry out between waterings, and it’s happy.

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Humidity

Dry

Lighting

Full Sun

Temperature

24°C - 32°C

Hardiness zone

11 - 12

Difficulty

Easy

How to Care for the Plant

Water
Water regularly during the growing season to keep the soil slightly moist. Reduce watering in the fall, tapering it off as you move toward winter. During its winter dormancy period, it generally does not need water, but you can water it lightly if the soil is completely dry.
Fertilizer
Feed your rat tail cactus liquid fertilizer diluted to about half strength about once every two weeks during the growing season in spring and summer.
Sunlight
This is a cactus that thrives in desert conditions: bright, direct sunlight year-round will help it thrive. Place it in a south- or west-facing window to receive direct sun.

Disease diagnosis

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Soil
Rich potting soil is best: Any good organic potting mix should be just fine.
Temperature
Regular room temperatures are just fine, particularly for the spring, summer, and fall. In winter, it helps to keep the plant in a relatively cool place to encourage a rest period; about 50 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal, but it doesn't have to be that cold. Overall, this is a fairly hardy cactus that can tolerate temperatures as low as 40 degrees and as high as 90 degrees, but it is not frost-hardy, so make sure it never freezes.
Container
It may need a larger pot or basket, depending on whether the plant has fully matured, but it definitely needs new potting soil.