The Monkey Tail Cactus Cleistocactus colademononis is a curious plant because it has an out of the ordinary appearance and at the same time, easy care is needed for its cultivation. It is called a monkey tail because of its long, trailing stems which are covered in white hairs.
Anyway, being the exotic looking plant that it is, this particular one has gained a lot of in popularity during recent years and quite rightly so as it seems to be somewhat of a must have for both those who love their succulents and those particularly drawn towards cacti.
In this guide, you will learn all about the Monkey Tail Cactus including how to care for it and propagate your own plants along with some of my personal observations on growing these wonderful succulent bonsai trees.
This guide will give you all the insight on Monkey Tail Cactus care and getting to enjoy their beauty!
What is a Monkey Tail Cactus?
The Monkey Tail Cactus hails from the Bolivian mountains, and enjoys rocky elevations in these regions. The plant gets its name from the characteristic long, arching stems that can reach up to 8 feet in length! These grow long stems covered in white, hair-like spines that make it look like a fuzzy monkey tail.
This cactus has the most striking bright red or magenta flowers, which bloom in late spring to early summer. The large, tubular flowers give a beautiful contrast with the plants silver-white spines. These beautiful flowers only last a day but are such an amazing sight for any plant lover.
As A Monkey Tail Cactus Enthusiast My Experience
I fell in love the first time I found a Monkey Tail Cactus on my local, city based plant nursery. To start with, it looked so bizarrely hairy in comparison to all the other cacti I had seen until then. In my head, I said to myself, this one will be a conversation piece at home! So, despite not knowing what it was or how to care for it, I took one home.
The first thing I discovered is that as intimidating a plant the Monkey Tail Cactus comes across, it is very forgiving. At first I was afraid to own one as it is my biggest baby ever and the previous 1s are all tinier succulents & cacti. But it had surprising resilience and turned out to be one of the easiest plants I have kept.
So, gave it lots of light, water and a good atmosphere this plant loved me and began to grow quite quickly; in less than three months the tails were spiraling down off the side of my planter.
After year one, cactus also bloomed and I watched them turn red! While the blossoms didn’t last forever, it looks very pretty in my living room. A stand-out in my indoor garden, it is a crowd favorite among visitors.
Monkey Tail Cactus Care and Benefits of Growing a Monkey Tail Cactus
So, before sharing our care tips it worth considering why you might want to add a Monkey Tail Cactus to your collection:
- Distinctive Looks
With its long hanging stems and soft white hairs, the Monkey Tail Cactus sure is a head-turner. It lends character and texture to any interior or exterior environment.
- Simple to take care of
Despite looking like a little alien planet, the Monkey Tail Cactus is pretty easy going. Best suited for busy plant keepers that want gorgeous without the fuss?
- Hang it High
Monkey Tail Cactus is a trailing plant so keeps shelves high or in hanging baskets where they can grow downwards. It also keeps the horizontal space open.
- Beautiful Blooms
The flowers are temporary, but when they do bloom oh my. These come in bright red or magenta which can give a color explosion to your home.
Taking Care of Your Monkey Tail Cactus
The Monkey Tail Cactus looks like its straight out of Mars, but what makes it so great is as alien-looking as the plant appears to be, the care needed for this cactus is basic. We break them down below so that your plant can live its best life.
- Light Requirements
Monkey Tail Cactus This plant likes bright, indirect light It grows in its natural habitat at high altitudes, with strong sun used for food but often indirectly filtered by clouds or other above ground vegetation. Loose garden soil should be placed in a pot inside of it, set on an indoor sunlit windowsill, preferably one facing south or east.
My own Monkey Tail Cactus, for example, sits on a high shelf by an expansive south-facing window and receives all the bright indirect light it could ask for. In the summer, I take it outside in my garden for a few hours of early morning sun here and there, and seem to like that too.
- Watering
Categories How-to Tags care of cactuses, caring for a grafted cactus learn how to prevent overwatering, one important point you should keep in mind when looking after any type of cactus. This is the one exception to watering thoroughly, as we like waterlogged roots even less than crispy leaves.
I water the Monkey Tail Cactus every 2 weeks or so in the warmer months and always check her soil before I do it. During winter, when the plant is dormant, I almost cease watering it and reduce its water to once a month.
- Temperature and Humidity
Ideal Monkey Tail Cactus temperatures are anywhere from 50°F to 80°F, consistently warm but not hot. It is more cold hardy, but should never be frozen in frost conditions
This cactus tolerates dry indoor air, so humidity is not as big of a concern. However, if you are in a highly humid part of the world make sure this is not leading to any humidity related problems such as rot and ensure that there will be good enough air circulation around the plant.
- Soil and Fertilizer
Just make sure to provide the Monkey Tail Cactus with some well-draining soil. Ideal is a cactus or succulent mix, but you can blend your own using every day potting soil and adding perlite or coarse sand for added drainage.
- Pruning and Repotting
The beauty of the Monkey Tail Cactus is in its quick and easy growth! You might need to prune these trailing stems after a while, just for the looks of it. Trimming is a very simple task you can do it with clean and sharp pair of scissors by carefully cutting them down to your wish size.
Repot the plant every couple of years when it becomes root bound. When you report, choose a pot with good drainage and at least one size larger than the current to allow room for growth.
Common problems, and solutions
Troubleshooting the Monkey Tail Cactus is easy, but a couple of things can go wrong:
- Overwatering
Over Watering, Root Rot, are most common issues. Make sure you wait for the soil to dry out fully before watering it again, especially in winter.
- Pests
Occasionally the Monkey Tail Cactus may attract pests like spider mites or mealybugs but it is definitely no tattoo pest. Be on the lookout for any signs of bugs, small webs or white cotton like spots and apply insecticidal soap or neem oil.
- Leggy Growth
If it has overgrown and losing its compactness, this means that your Plant needs more light. Place it in a brighter area and watch the new growth spring up.
Propagation of Monkey Tail Cacti
How to Propagate Monkey Tail Cactus Even though the donkey tail plant is quite rare, it can be easily propagated by taking a simple temporary cutting and planting in striking soil. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
Using a sharp, clean knife or scissors Cut: Select an area of the stem to be snipped from. Cutting should be a minimum of 4–6 inches long.
Leave the Cutting this is an important step, or else your plant could rot when you plant it.
Plant the Cutting:When you see that end started to sealed, dig in succulent garden mixtoFloat your pot Keep the cutting in a shady spot, and give it no more than a splash of water each week until roots start growing this can take weeks before you see any.
Tending: Once the cuttings have rooted and you have to care for them as a mature Monkey Tail Cactus in lots of light and periodic water.
Conclusion
The Monkey Tail Cactus is a spectacular plant and will no doubt be the talking point of any collection. Casual plant lovers, those who just want to get some green fun without worrying about it a lot act Hedera helix by fine.
Based on my own Monkey Tail Cactus care this makes sense and does not surprise me. It grows insanely fast, looks absolutely beautiful when it blossoms which will provide a sense of happiness in someone’s house, and is just so unusual that people will come to you talking about this.
