Overwintering guide
How to overwinter pencil cactus rhipsalis
Winter watering
Cut watering right back — pencil cactus rhipsalis uses far less while growth slows, and cold, wet compost is the usual cause of winter root rot. Stop feeding until spring.
The mistake that kills pencil cactus rhipsalis in winter
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and pencil cactus rhipsalis rots from the base.
More pencil cactus rhipsalis care
Overwintering pencil cactus rhipsalis — FAQ
Does pencil cactus rhipsalis need to come indoors for winter?
Pencil Cactus Rhipsalis is hardy to roughly USDA zone 10 — winter lows around -1°C. That means it will not survive frost and needs to come inside. Pencil Cactus Rhipsalis is frost-tender, so overwintering means bringing it inside and letting it rest rather than pushing it to grow. Move it indoors well before the first frost, give it the brightest spot you have (light levels indoors drop sharply in winter), and keep it away from both cold window glass and hot radiators — the swing between the two does more damage than the cold itself.
When should I move pencil cactus rhipsalis for winter?
Bring indoors when nights start dropping below about 10°C, ahead of the first frost.
How often should I water pencil cactus rhipsalis in winter?
Cut watering right back — pencil cactus rhipsalis uses far less while growth slows, and cold, wet compost is the usual cause of winter root rot. Stop feeding until spring.
What kills pencil cactus rhipsalis over winter?
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and pencil cactus rhipsalis rots from the base.