Aporocactus 'Melanie'

Cultivated form and natural range of Aporocactus 'Melanie'

Aporocactus is a group of trailing cacti from mountain forests in Mexico, including cloud forest and pine-oak woodland. These cacti grow in places with regular moisture and good air movement.

In the wild, they can root on tree branches or rock faces where loose material collects. 'Melanie' is a cultivated trailing cactus from this group.

Forest-cactus care for Aporocactus 'Melanie'

• Light: Bright filtered light with a little gentle direct sun works well. After a move, add more sun a little at a time.
• Temperature and humidity: Keep temperatures around 18–28 °C. Aim for about 40–50% humidity. A minimum of 10 °C is suitable. Average household humidity is fine; humid rooms benefit from airflow around the long stems.
• Watering: Let the potting mix dry almost completely between waterings. Once the pot feels very light and the mix is dry through most of its depth, water thoroughly and drain the excess.
• Potting mix: Start with a very airy cactus mix containing fine orchid bark, pumice or perlite. It should drain quickly while leaving plenty of air around the roots.
• Feeding: As new stems extend, use a dilute cactus fertiliser at a moderate dose for potted cacti.
• Support: The stems can cascade from a high position; alternatively, fasten them loosely to a hoop or trellis.
• Repotting: Repot when the roots have filled the pot or the mix has become dense. Choose a pot that drains freely.

Aporocactus 'Melanie': stem condition and pest checks

• Thin, pale new stems: Low light is the cause. Move it to brighter filtered light in stages.
• Wrinkled stems with dry mix: The stems have used much of the water they store. Water deeply and leave the pot until the excess has run out.
• Soft, dark tissue near the base: Wet mix around the base can cause decay. Cut affected tissue back to firm healthy tissue with a clean, disinfected tool, discard the removed material and repot healthy growth into fresh, airy mix.
• Cottony clusters, fine pale speckling or fixed bumps: Mealybugs or scale insects may be present, while fine pale speckling can point to spider mites. Check along the stems and rinse or remove small infestations; if you use a treatment, select one labelled for indoor cacti and follow the repeat interval on the label.

Aporocactus ‘Melanie’ has sharp parts

• Keep this plant away from children and pets because its effects after chewing or swallowing are unclear.
• Sharp spines can puncture the mouth, eyes, skin or paws.
• Handle it carefully. Contact a veterinarian or medical professional after a serious injury, especially to the eye.

What does Aporocactus mean, and who first published it?

Aporocactus combines a Greek element meaning difficult to pass or impenetrable with cactus.

Charles Lemaire established the genus Aporocactus in 1860 in L’Illustration Horticole, volume 7, issue Misc., page 67.