Rhipsalis elliptica

Natural range and habitat of Rhipsalis elliptica

Rhipsalis elliptica is native to southeastern and southern Brazil, from Minas Gerais to Santa Catarina. It grows on trees and can also occur on rock in Atlantic Forest habitats.

Care guide for Rhipsalis elliptica

Light: Bright indirect light suits the broad oval sections. If you add morning or evening sun, introduce it gradually.

Watering: Allow the top of the mix to dry and wait until the pot feels lighter before watering again. Give the roots a thorough soak, then let the pot drain completely.

Room conditions and mix: Warm, stable temperatures and moderate humidity are suitable. A loose bark-based mix with pumice or perlite keeps plenty of air around the roots.

Feeding and repotting: Feed lightly while new oval sections are growing. Reduce feeding when growth slows, and repot after roots fill the pot or the mix becomes dense and slow to drain.

Propagation: For propagation, take a healthy oval section and place it in an airy mix kept lightly moist.

Problems to watch for on Rhipsalis elliptica

• Oval sections become thin, soft and wrinkled: Thin, wrinkled oval sections usually mean the plant is too dry. Check that the mix is dry and the pot feels light before watering thoroughly.
• Broad bleached areas appear on one face: Bleaching on the side facing the window usually means the direct sun is too strong. Move the plant into bright indirect light and introduce any future direct sun gradually.
• Cottony white insects gather along the scalloped edges: The scalloped edges can shelter mealybugs. Isolate the plant, remove visible insects, and use a product labelled for mealybugs on ornamental plants. Follow the label, including any repeat treatment.
• A dark wet-looking patch crosses a joint: A dark, wet-looking patch crossing a joint can indicate rot. Use a clean tool to remove every soft or decaying section back to firm healthy tissue and discard the rot. Check the roots and potting mix as well; repot only if the roots are affected or the potting mix stays wet too long or has become dense.

Keep Rhipsalis elliptica 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.

How did Rhipsalis elliptica get its name?

Rhipsalis comes from Greek rhips, wickerwork or basket weave. The epithet elliptica is Latin for elliptical and directly describes the broad, flattened, elliptic stem segments.

Joseph Gaertner established the genus Rhipsalis in 1788 in De Fructibus et Seminibus Plantarum, volume 1, page 137.

Karl Moritz Schumann first described Rhipsalis elliptica in 1890 in Flora Brasiliensis, volume 4, issue 2, page 293; Gustaf Anders Lindberg had proposed the name.