If you want to know fun facts about monkey tail cactus, a care guide, or the correct way for propagation, you are at the right place.
In addition, I’m going to show you an easy buying procedure as well.
Let’s look at what you’ll love to read:
- Monkey tail plant structure, suitable climate, pet’s safety, growth rate, and more
- Type of this plant: golden, white, and rat tail cactus.
- Its propagation guide including the best fertilizers for growth.
- Care of Hildewintera Colademononis, yellowish color sign.
- Buy Guide, where to buy, and what to look for.
Let’s deep dive in:
Monkey Tail Plant (Fun Facts)
The scientific name of the monkey tail plant is Cleistocactus colademononis.
The colors of the flower are red or orange. They bloom in late spring and summer. The plant can bloom as grows.
Colademononis seeds have a protective outer layer that houses the genetic material. These seeds are often small.
It grows in warm and arid climates. It is a desert native cactus. 21°C to 38°C is the optimum temperature for it. Frost is not good for it but it can bear cooler temperatures. Low humidity is suitable for it.
Colademononis is safe to touch if not touched too tightly. It has hair-like spines that can cause discomfort or irritation.
It is an indoor plant and it can bear harsh environmental conditions and is easy to cultivate. People like to grow it for its beautiful structure specially long thin stems. It is one of the houseplant enthusiasts.
Different pets behave differently with plants but it is safe for pets overall.
Hildewintera Colademononis is a soft plant. It is covered in a white, hair-like structure. This structure gives it a soft and fuzzy appearance.
The growth rate of monkey tail plant is considered slow to moderate. Environmental conditions, care practices, and life stages influence its growth rate.
The golden rat-tail cactus and monkey-tail cactus are two different names of the same plant.
The rat-tail cactus (aporocactus flagelliformis) has short, golden, prickly spines, and Dog Tail Cactus (strophocactus testudo) is medium green and has ridges of white spines. It can grow up to 10 feet. These two plants and the former are not the same.
Toxic
The plant is non-toxic to humans and animals. But caution should be taken while handling the planet as the spines of the plants can cause irritation on the skin when touched.
Types of Monkey Tail Plant
No authentic data is found about monkey tail cacti. The name shows a cactus plant like the tail of a monkey. So how do we categorize it into many types? However, We can easily categorize it according to flower colors or spine types.
So, I’m categorizing it into two main categories that are most famous and exist in the real world.
Golden monkey tail is named because of its goldish look. That look comes from its gold hair-like spines. It is very beautiful and people prefer to buy it rather than white.
White monkey tail has white very thin spines that are safe to touch. It has its own distinctive look. It all depends on your choice of what color you like.
Cleistocactus winteri or Golden rat tail cactus is similar to it.
Benefits
Monkey Tail Cactus works as a s natural air purifier that cleans the air and removes harmful chemicals. The plant is low maintenance and best for any room decoration. You can hang it on the basket, and it will be the center of attention for all your guests. Caring for the plant can work as a mind relaxation activity for you.
Propagation
With this proven guide, you can easily propagate at home.
You’ll only need the following things to decorate the house with this beautiful plant:
- 5 to 10-inch long piece of cactus. (You can select short or long according to your choice).
- A clay pot (it is better for this plant as the plastic pot can affect growth).
- Specially formulated cactus soil mixture.
- A knife
- Fungicide (it helps dry the cutting edges of cactus).
- Chorcol pieces (it is optional).
- Thick sand ( it is a good combination in draining organic soil mixture).
Buy or cut the piece of monkey cactus according to told size sharply. Apply fungicide at the cut size of this piece and covered in soft white paper. Leave it to dry for fifteen days.
Mix thick sand, organic soil, charcoal, and a small amount of fungicide thoroughly and put it into the clay pot.
Cover half an inch of the dried cactus piece with the side having spines. Do not give the water instantly and avoid it from rain.
Repotting this cactus is very easy and the process is the same, prepare the clay pot with the same procedure and transfer the plant to it.
You just need to give it some water and bright indirect sunlight.
Summer is the best growing season for propagating the monkey tail plant.
You may feed a slow-release high-potassium and low-nitrogen liquid fertilizer in the early growing stage. This dose is enough for the whole year. However, you can feed after every one or two months.
Care
In my personal experience, a cactus is a plant that doesn’t need much care and even I saw it growing at places where nothing was in its favor like in hanging baskets with direct sunlight. I mean dry soil, indirect light, etc.
Actually, this plant belongs to a plant family named Succulent plant. These plants have much water inside the body and do not need proper water.
However, caring is good, especially in the early growing season, and follow these things for caring:
Soil: The plant does not need a lot of soil. A neutral or acidic potting mix solid is the best that you can buy from a nursery. Soil should be drained.
Pot: A clay pot is good as it allows water to dry. The pot should be large enough according to plant size as its shallow root system grow very quickly. Small size pot will be overloaded with roots, making plant dead.
Water: Only give water to the Cleistocactus colademononis when the soil is totally dry. Let water run through the soil, helping to dry the ground out. Then water again. This is the soak-and-dry method.
Water it every six to eight weeks in the winter seasons. Overwatering can cause root rot.
Lighting: Strong light is tolerable for cactus plant. Even the speed of growth of buds depends on a strong light.
Cactus getting yellow: The main reason for getting cactus plant yellow could be excess of water. Improper water causes the development of a brown base and yellow stems.
If your cactus is changing color, drying, or is shaky or losing light, it means it is going to die.
Pruning
The plants need pruning to prevent any damaged areas. Look for any diseases you’re burnt areas and cut them off with clean pruning tools. The cactus does not regreen the yellow parts so cut them off.
Fertilizers
The plant can survive without fertilization but adding it can provide the important nutrients for its better growth. You can fertilize your cactus once a year. Use the (5-10-5) NPK fertlizer. Use dodge properly, and do not over-fertilize your plant. The best time to fertilize your plant is its growing season which is spring. Before a[[ly fertilizes water, the roots will be protected from damage. Always use the fertilizer mixed in water and apply it in moist soil; avoid spraying on dry soil as it can damage the roots.
Common problems
Mealybugs can be a real problem for your plant it causes white fuzz on the cactus. The symptoms are easy to spot, such as white fuzz and white spots on the leaves of the plants. It is essential to inspect your cactus to eliminate any bugs.
The other common problem is yellowing cactus. If you notice that part of your cactus plant is turning yellow, it could be because of more exposure to light, poor water quality, or poor soil quality.
Varieties and similar plants
Here is the list of similar plants, as this plant does not have varieties:
- Cleistocactus winteri
- Aporocactus flagelliformis
- Espostoa lanata
- Mammillaria hahniana
- Disocactus flagelliformis
Monkey tail plant for sale
You can buy it from a local nursery, Etsy, or Amazon. Before buying online, must check product rating, and number of reviews, read reviews, and buy the product that is most sold.
This short checklist can help you buy a healthy golden rat-tail cactus.
I hope you enjoyed reading this complete guide.
If I missed something, you can let me know in the comment section.
By the way, when are you going to decorate your room with monkey tail cactus?
What type do you select: Golden or White cactus?
