Rhipsalis pacheco-leonis ssp. catenulata

Origin of Rhipsalis pacheco-leonis ssp. catenulata

Rhipsalis pacheco-leonis subsp. catenulata is native to southeastern Brazil in Atlantic Forest habitats. It grows on trees and rock, including on limestone at around 860 m elevation.

Care and growing conditions for Rhipsalis pacheco-leonis ssp. catenulata

Light and display: Bright indirect light suits the long flexible branches. A hanging pot or high shelf gives them room to hang, and morning or evening sun can be introduced gradually.

Watering: Water when the upper part of the mix is dry and the pot feels lighter. Wet the mix thoroughly, then allow it to drain.

Room conditions and mix: Warm, steady indoor temperatures and moderate humidity are suitable. A loose blend of fine bark and pumice or perlite keeps the mix airy around the roots.

Feeding and repotting: Repot when roots are crowded or the old mix becomes dense enough to drain slowly. Feed lightly while new sections are growing and reduce feeding when growth slows.

Propagation: Use a healthy stem section for a cutting. Root it in an airy mix kept lightly moist.

Troubleshooting common issues with Rhipsalis pacheco-leonis ssp. catenulata

• The short winged areas wrinkle and flatten: Wrinkling in the short winged areas usually means the plant is too dry. If the mix is dry and the pot feels light, water thoroughly and let it drain.
• Tissue below an areole turns dark and soft: Dark, soft tissue below an areole 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.
• Cottony white insects gather around the areoles: Mealybugs often settle around the areoles. Isolate the plant, remove visible insects, and use a product labelled for mealybugs on ornamental plants. Follow the label, including any repeat treatment.
• New stems become unusually thin and elongated, with weakly defined ridges: If new stems are much thinner and longer than normal, with less distinct ridges, low light may be contributing. Move it closer to a bright window with indirect light.

Keep Rhipsalis pacheco-leonis ssp. catenulata 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.

The meaning and history of Rhipsalis pacheco-leonis

Rhipsalis comes from Greek rhips, wickerwork or basket weave. Pacheco-leonis honours the Brazilian physician and botanist Antônio Pacheco Leão.

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

Albert Loefgren first described Rhipsalis pacheco-leonis in 1918 in Archivos do Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro, volume 2, page 38.