Although it is called a cactus, rice cactus (Rhipsalis cereuscula) is an evergreen succulent that also goes by the name coral cactus. It gets its name from its long, thin, downward-growing stems that are composed of small sections that look like grains of rice. During the spring, tiny white flowers bloom. Rice cactus is native to South America and thrives in Sunset Climate Zones 16 through 22. Rice cactus survives outside in temperatures of 60 degrees Fahrenheit or higher; otherwise, it works best as an indoor plant. At maturity, the plant stands 23 to 24 inches tall.  
1
Fill a 3 ½-inch wide pot or hanging basket about 1/4 of the way with a soft, sandy potting mixture. Choose a mixture with one part sand and three parts soil. Rice cactus grows in both acidic and alkaline soil conditions. Ensure that the pot or hanging basket has holes for drainage, as rice cactus requires well-drained soil.
2
Plant the rice cactus in the pot or hanging basket and fill the remainder of the container with potting mixture. If you are using a planting container large enough to accommodate multiple rice cactus plants, allow 6 to 12 inches of space between plants.
3
Place rice cactus in an area that is bathed with natural light but out of direct sunlight. Rice cactus grows best in partial to full shade. It thrives both indoors and outside, but if nighttime temperatures drop below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, move rice cactus indoors.
Maintenance and Care
1
Water rice cactus once every four to five weeks when the top 3 inches of soil is completely dry to the touch. Pour 8 to 16 ounces of water into the soil. Provide additional water only if the weather if particularly hot and dry.
2
Fertilize rice cactus with a slow-releasing, low-nitrogen, 5-10-5 compound early in the spring, just before the plant flowers. Rice cactus blooms in late spring. Allow at least 15 to 20 days between the time you fertilize the time that the first blooms appear.
3
Prepare the 5-10-5 fertilizer compound according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Mix the fertilizer into the plant’s potting soil.