Rhipsalis cassutha is an original and spectacular plant from the cactus family. It is sometimes colloquially called a stick insect, due to its characteristic appearance. Naturally, it can be found in North America, South America and parts of the Caribbean. There it grows on rocks, cliffs and branches of trees and shrubs. Most of them are epiphytes, i.e. plants that are not parasites, but live on other plants in nature. Epiphytes include some ferns, as well as brassica, the popular fern and echmea.
Rhipsalis cassutha: how to care and how to thicken the stick insect? Place is important
A hanging stick insect looks great in a suspended pot, macrame or on a high shelf. You can easily replace slightly capricious ones with it. With proper care and pruning, the stick insect can reach up to 3 meters in length. It is worth combining pruning with reproduction and doing it in spring. Gently tear off or cut off the shoot with aerial roots.
Place the pot in a place where the light is diffused. It can also be a place partially in the shade. It’s good for it to be a warm and bright place. Placing the pot in full sun will unfortunately result in burns to the leaves, and too much shade will prevent the plant from growing.
How often should you water a stick insect? Before you pour out the water, do a finger test
The stick plant is not a demanding plant. As befits a succulent, it needs sparing watering and periodic sprinkling. In the summer, you can give him a shower from time to time. Sprinkling is a way to get Rhipsalis to develop aerial roots. Thanks to them, you can propagate the plant. Water it sparingly, but regularly, preferably when the soil dries out. Overwatering it will harm it as much as over-drying it.
In autumn and winter, it is enough to water Rhipsalis once every 4 weeks, or even less often if the room is cool and quite humid. In summer, water it about once a week or every 10 days. The frequency also in summer depends on the temperature and the size of the pot. However, always check the moisture of the substrate with your finger first. The top layer (approx. 2 cm deep) must dry. A sign that the stick insect needs water is shriveling leaves. In spring and summer, apply home-made mixtures to cacti, succulents, e.g. banana conditioner or fertilizer.
Source: Gazeta
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