I have a Rhipsalis cereuscula (I think) and Hatiora salicornioides (I think), in a hanging basket together, and I'm worried because there are wrinkled portions on both plants, and watering them hasn't helped. I'm afraid I've either watered them too much and rotted the roots, or haven't given them enough water, or maybe it's time to check for root mealies?

Hi chirpie! Welcome to ATP!

Can you describe the location in your garden, where you have the hanging basket. Is it in full sun? Or what orientation is it getting the sun, south, west or east? I would try to move the basket into a part sun/part shade. Also how are your temperatures right now?

In my area, since it is just so bone dry here and our temps soaring, I have to thoroughly water my similar cacti at least once a week. I have it in part sun and part shade. It seems to be really okay when temps are just mildy warm, like 70 to 80F, but our temps are going much higher than that, triple digit heat here at times. So I would also give midweek light watering, and I do my watering direct to the root zone. I do the watering early in the morning.

Hi tarev! Nice to meet you!
Right now it's in an air-conditioned room in a west-facing window, so it only gets a little direct sun in the afternoon, and the temperature stays in the 70s.

Hmm..I grow most of my cacti outdoors, except if I am protecting them from winter. I guess exception for me are the Schlumbergeras, I just keep those indoors but by a well lighted west facing window.

These cacti you have are considered jungle cacti, they would really have better growth outdoors, perhaps find a part sun/part shade area. Light is very essential for cacti, though these ones in my area is okay with some afternoon shade, since it is too dry and hot here. And I think you have much better ambient conditions there in Atlanta, than what we have here, your cacti will thrive much better outdoors. So that is my suggestion now, if you can try and acclimate it outdoors now.

Yeah, you're right. I've been wanting to find or make a place to hang them outside.
Luckily, they've perked up since I last posted. I had some systemic pesticide granules for a scale problem on another plant, so I added some to this basket just in case there were some root mealies. Of course, you have to add water along with the granules, so I don't know if it was the extra water or the granules that helped.

How are things going, Chirpie?

The angular growth is typical of young plants from seed and some species grow that way from cuttings until the plants acclimate to growing conditions. Difficult to guess the species at the time the photo was taken. Some Rhipsalis grow well in full sun; many do well in filtered sun. Plants get red tinge in sun but to put them in sun you have to acclimate them slowly or they can scald. Much depends on what state you grow in. Many plants grown by Tropiflora have a pendant habit from being grown under shad cloth. The same plants grown in southern California will have an upright habit and thicker segments. Growing conditions also mean different potting mediums. What works in one area may not work elsewhere. Check out rhipsalis.com.

Hi, I have several Rhipsalis plants and one of them is quite old. I made the mistake of putting outside where it got sun from 11 am to 1 pm. Bad move. I ended up cutting off all the sunburned parts. It is growing inside now, and I'm going to put it undercover this spring but I would like to even out the growth. Some of the plant is putting up strings that are 3 feet long. But only on one side. How do I stimulate growth on the other side? Also, Can epiphyllums be pruned back to make them smaller? Thanks for your time and attention.

Hello kayturley, I don't really have good suggestion for your Rhipsalis other than to reposition it so the other side gets its turn to get more light.

I saw this youtube on pruning Epis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?...