Pseudorhipsalis ramulosa subsp. ramulosa 'Red Coral'

Habitat, range and background

Kimnachia ramulosa subsp. ramulosa ranges from central and southern Mexico through Central America and the Caribbean to northern and western South America, including parts of Brazil and Bolivia. It is a succulent epiphyte of wet tropical forest, growing on trees in humid forest and canyon environments without parasitising its host.

The flattened hanging stems intercept filtered canopy light, while pale berries suit dispersal by animals. Red and purple colour can intensify in exposed or stressed tissue, giving ‘Red Coral’ part of its variable cultivated character. Botanists now place the species in Kimnachia, while the older name Pseudorhipsalis remains familiar in horticulture and appears in the product title.

Seasonal care for a dry-growing plant

Light, settling in and support: Pseudorhipsalis ‘Red Coral’ grows well in bright, filtered light with some mild morning or evening sun after acclimatisation. Adequate light supports compact hanging stems. Mild sun may deepen the stem colour; do not increase exposure beyond the point where stems begin to bleach or scorch. Growth and water use fall in cooler, darker periods.

Root care, watering and support: Use a coarse mixture of bark, mineral particles and a modest moisture-holding component. This forest cactus needs more regular water during active growth than a desert cactus, but its roots must regain oxygen between waterings. Wet the mix thoroughly, allow partial drying, and never leave the pot continuously saturated. Hanging stems and a small container can dry faster than the surface suggests.

Feeding, light and support: Use a weak low-nitrogen feed while fresh stems are developing. Brighter filtered light can support the red-purple colouring, but drought or harsh sun should not be used to force it. Trim a healthy stem at a joint if a denser plant is wanted. Cut sections with several growth points, let the wound dry briefly, then root them in an airy, lightly moist medium.

A guide to common problems

Red or purple colouring can be a normal response to brighter filtered light. It becomes a problem when tissue also turns papery, bleached or sharply tan, which indicates sunburn. Soft translucent patches suggest cold or excess moisture instead. Move the plant out of damaging exposure and judge the correction from firm new segments; existing scorch will remain marked.

Wrinkled stems may mean the mix is too dry, but they can also occur when rotten roots cannot absorb water. Check root-zone moisture before soaking. When the roots are firm and the mix is dry, soak the root ball and let it drain. If roots are dark and mushy or the stem base is soft, cut away decay and restart sound jointed sections after their wounds dry briefly.

Expanding black or water-soaked areas are not normal red pigmentation. Remove affected tissue back to a clean joint, keep wounds dry and correct cold, wet or stagnant conditions. Mealybugs and scale hide at joints and may leave cottony wax, bumps or sticky residue. Isolate confirmed infestations and use a cactus-safe labelled treatment, checking the hanging inner growth as well as exposed tips.

Keep Pseudorhipsalis ramulosa subsp. ramulosa ‘Red Coral’ away from children and pets

• Keep this plant away from children, cats and dogs.
• Its effects after chewing or swallowing are unclear, and plant material can still cause an upset stomach.
• Contact a veterinarian or medical professional if symptoms develop or do not settle.

About the names Pseudorhipsalis ramulosa and Kimnachia ramulosa

Pseudorhipsalis means false Rhipsalis, reflecting a superficial resemblance. The epithet ramulosa is Latin for having many small branches or twigs.

Nathaniel Lord Britton and Joseph Nelson Rose established the genus Pseudorhipsalis in 1923 in The Cactaceae, volume 4, page 213.

Joseph Franz Maria Anton Hubert Ignatz Fürst zu Salm-Reifferscheid-Dyck first described it as Cereus ramulosus in 1834 in Hortus Dyckensis, page 340. Wilhelm A. Barthlott later placed it in Pseudorhipsalis as Pseudorhipsalis ramulosa in 1991 in Bradleya, volume 9, page 90.

Kew’s World Checklist treats Pseudorhipsalis ramulosa as a synonym of Kimnachia ramulosa. Salvador Arias Montes and Nadja Korotkova placed the species in Kimnachia as Kimnachia ramulosa in 2017 in Phytotaxa, volume 327, page 30.