The other week I bought a Rhipsalis Disocactus, or Bits’n’Pieces, and I must admit it was love at first sight.
Although I have heard other, less savoury, names for this plant, such as Cockroach Legs and Alien tentacles ... I think I’ll stick to Bits’n’Pieces
The name comes from the fact it has all these odd shaped leaves and hairy tentacles protruding from the main stem and I guess the aesthetic of the plant is a bit all over the place. The one pictured is only a young plant, so it’s not quite at ‘alien’ stage.
I actually love its’ weirdness and even though it doesn’t have any real leaves, it still feels lush and is the perfect fit for a lush, tropical rainforest look.
In all honesty, I’ve been in love with Rhipsalis for a while, but this is the first one I’ve bought home and I plan on bringing home a few more!
Why? Firstly, I think they are a fantastic indoor plant that have really small roots, meaning I can keep them in my smaller planters. Secondly, although Rhipsalis belong to the cacti genus, they don’t really behave like a typical cactus. Funnily enough they hate full sun, and much prefer a warm, shady spot, with a little moisture around them. In their natural habitat, you would find them in the tree canopy, so I find growing them inside, in a pot with sphagnum moss, in a position which they can ultimately hang down the sides, is perfect.
Bright, indirect light is perfect for them- imagine the dappled shade that a rainforest canopy would provide. I find that like most indoor plants, they don’t like to be over watered, so just give them one big drink, drain and then let them dry out. I water mine about once a week in summer, to once a month in winter as this is when Bits’n’Pieces are basically dormant, so it is best to slow down your watering at this time, especially if your house gets really cold.
If your houseplant collection needs a new kooky addition, then this is definitely the plant for you.