The Monkey Tail Cactus is a prickly plant that’s easy to take care of. It’s famous for its long, hanging shape covered in soft, white, hair-like spines. You can hang it or let it trail from a shelf, and its stems will grow about a foot each year.
What’s cool about this cactus is its bright red flowers that bloom all through the growing season. Unlike some other cacti that need perfect conditions to bloom, this one will keep flowering without much effort from you.
These cacti come from the mountains of Bolivia. They are epiphytes, which means they do not grow in soil but in cracks on rocks or cliffs. Monkey-tail cacti store water in their stems. So, you don’t need to water them often. They have 3–5 stems that branch out as they grow. With stems getting up to 3 inches (ca. 76 mm) thick and 8 feet (ca. 244 centimetres) long in the wild, although they are usually around 4 feet (ca. 122 centimetres) indoors, even though they might look white, they are yellow-green. But it depends on the type you have; the white spines might cover the plant a lot. This makes it hard to see its true colour.
Light Needs.
When you are taking care of your monkey tail cactus indoors, it likes being in bright but not direct sunlight. Put it close to a window where it can get lots of sunlight during the day. But be careful not to let it be in the blazing sun. Especially in the hottest times, because that can hurt its delicate stems. If you see the stems reaching out towards the light, it might mean it needs more bright light. You could think about using a special light to help it grow if it’s not getting enough from the sun.
If you want to grow your Monkey Tail Cactus outside, it will be happy in a place with full sun. Put it where it can get 4–6 hours of direct sunlight every day. This cactus likes warmth and can handle high temperatures. So, it will do fine in a sunny spot outside. But introduce it to the outdoor conditions slowly to avoid hurting it with too much sun. Start by putting it in a partly shady spot, and then let it have more sun over a few weeks.
But you should remember that light is super important for your monkey tail plant to grow well and stay healthy. But you have to find the right balance. So, little light can make the stems weak and too long. Watch your cactus closely and move it around as needed to make sure it’s getting just the right amount of light.
Take Care of Monkey Tail Cactus.
When you are looking after your monkey tail plant, you need to find the right balance with watering. Many people worry they are not getting enough water. But often, they are getting too much. This is especially true for cacti because they don’t like wet soil, which can make their roots rot. Before you water, make sure the top two inches of soil are dry.
When the plant is growing in summer and spring. You can water it well, letting the water soak the soil all the way through. But remember, let the soil dry before watering again. However, avoiding too much water can hurt the plant by causing root rot.
The plant does not need as much water during this time. Water it a little and let the soil dry out between waterings. Watch your plant and adjust how typically you water it based on what it requires.
Each plant is different. So, pay close attention to your monkey tail plant. If the stems start to shrink or turn yellow, they might need more water. If the stems get soft or change colour, they might be getting too much water. Change how often you water to keep your plant happy and healthy.
Last Words:
The Monkey Tail Cactus is a cool cactus with long, droopy stems that look like a monkey’s tail. It’s special because it goes from prickly to smooth and has colourful tube-shaped flowers. You have to take care of it, give it good soil, lots of sunlight, and water it now and then. It’s a great plant to have because it looks awesome and is not too hard to care for. So, you can get your own Monkey Tail Cactus now and enjoy its beauty.
