Rhipsalis pilocarpa aka Pencil Cactus

Rhipsalis pilocarpa is a forest cactus from southeast Brazil. Its native range reaches south to Paraná. It belongs to the cactus family, Cactaceae. Gardeners also call it hairy-fruited wickerware cactus. It grows on tree branches in tropical rain forests. It can also grow on rocks, though this is rare. Wild plants occur at 1,640–2,950 feet [500–900 metres] above sea level. Farms and towns threaten its small, broken native range. Chicago Botanic Garden reports its conservation status as Vulnerable.

This evergreen succulent forms a bush that hangs down. Garden plants reach 0.3–1.6 feet [0.1–0.5 metres] tall and wide. They take five to ten years to reach full size. Young stems stand upright, then droop as they age. The thin, round stems are dark green or purple. They can reach about 1.5 feet [0.45 metres] long. Two to four branches form rings near their tips. Woolly areoles carry pale hairs or short bristles. These give the stems their hairy look.

White or cream flowers open at the branch tips. Each tip bears one flower or a pair. The flowers have a strong scent and may show pink tips. Sources give flower widths of 0.07–0.13 feet [0.02–0.04 metres]. Chicago Botanic Garden describes bloom from late summer into autumn. Its bloom table also lists every month of the year. Round, bristly berries follow the flowers. RHS and LLIFLE describe red fruit; Chicago reports white berries. The supplied sources do not establish edibility or toxicity.

For cultivation, RHS recommends bright light without direct sun. LLIFLE also favors some shade, despite full-sun labels elsewhere. Use a free-draining mix made for epiphytic cacti. LLIFLE favors a mix rich in organic matter. Water during growth, allowing the mix to dry a little. Keep it barely moist during winter and provide high humidity. RHS recommends daily misting with soft water. Feed monthly during growth with dilute, low-nitrogen fertilizer. Frost harms this cactus; LLIFLE sets a 5°C minimum at night. RHS rates it H1B, while Chicago lists USDA zones 10–12.

RHS lists it for containers and summer patio use. Its hanging stems suit that role. LLIFLE describes it as easy to grow and tolerant of neglect. It needs no routine pruning. Raise new plants from seeds or pieces of stem. Mealybugs may attack it, but RHS reports few disease problems. Keep the plant in place once buds form. LLIFLE warns that moving it can cause bud loss.