How to Care for Mistletoe Cactus

Select a pot or hanging basket for your mistletoe cactus. Use a container that has one or more holes in the bottom for drainage. Good drainage is critical for mistletoe cactus.

Put 1 inch of coarse gravel in the bottom of the container to keep the potting mix from falling out and to improve drainage.

Fill the pot with a mix of 2 parts peat moss and 1 part sand. Add 1/2 to 1 cup of bark to the mix and blend it thoroughly.

Add water to the potting mix until it is thoroughly damp and crumbly to the touch. Fill the pot or hanging basket with the damp mix.

Plant the mistletoe cactus in the pot at the same depth it was in the nursery container. Press down on the potting mix to firm up the area around the roots.

Take the pot or hanging planter to a sink or outside, and water it until liquid begins to drain out of the holes in the bottom. Leave the pot to drain.

Keep the mistletoe cactus in an area that gets indirect light or outside in full shade. If you move it outdoors in summer, bring it in in winter before night temperatures drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Fertilize once a month between spring and fall using a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer. Water when the top of the soil mix starts to dry out.

Discontinue fertilizing in the fall to allow the mistletoe cactus to go into a dormancy period. Water lightly in winter, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.