How to Grow and Care for Dancing Bones Cactus (Hatiora salicornioides)

The Dancing Bones cactus is an epiphytic plant that hails from South America. It features contorted stems that have multiple joints. Each jointed section is quite thin and bottle-shaped. 

Except for the green color of the stems, the plant can look like coral due to the general structure of the stems. During spring, the plant produces small orange-yellow flowers at the ends of the stems. Although these flowers are quite small, they do add a splash of color when the plant is in bloom.

Over time, the green stems can become woody. You’ll find that each stem will branch at the tip and this branching will be divided into either 2, 4, or 6 segments. This eventually gives the plant its bushy look.

Once the flowers have finished, the plant will produce small, round fruits that are translucent white. One important thing to take into consideration is that once the plant produces flower buds, you should not move it. This is because the flower buds can easily drop off before they open if the plant is disturbed.

History

Hatiora salicornioides is an epiphytic plant. Therefore, it was originally found growing on trees in the rainforests of South America. As an epiphyte, it enjoys a symbiotic relationship with the host tree and does not harm the tree it’s growing on in any way.

This plant only uses the tree as a support structure as the roots grow into the bark of the tree. All the moisture and nutrients that the plant needs come from the rain and anything that drops from above. 

Plant Facts

How to Plant and Grow Dancing Bones Cactus

You can either plant this cactus in a decorative pot or a hanging basket. Just make sure you select a pot that is only slightly larger than the root ball of the plant. Also, ensure that the pot you choose has plenty of drainage holes because you don’t want to let the plant sit in water at any time.

If you live in a warmer climate, you can grow the Dancing Bones cactus outdoors but do protect it from the harsh midday and afternoon sun. However, it doesn’t handle frost, so bring it inside if you’re likely to get a cold spell.

In fact, in colder climates, it’s best to grow this cactus indoors as long as it gets plenty of bright, indirect light.

How to Propagate Dancing Bones Cactus

You can easily propagate the Dancing Bones cactus using stem sections as cuttings. The ideal time to take these cuttings is late spring.

Let the cuttings sit in a warm, dry spot and wait for the cut ends to callous over. Once the callouses have formed, plant the cuttings, callous end down, in a succulent mix that’s similar to what your mother plant is growing in.

Keep the cuttings relatively moist but not wet until roots have been well-formed. You should expect roots to start growing within about 4 to 6 weeks.

Care and Maintenance

This cactus is super easy to take care of. It only requires watering when the top few inches of soil are dry and will handle most normal room temperatures. 

However, if you want your plant to flower in spring, you’ll need to expose it to some cooler temperatures during winter. Anything below 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius) is fine.

Soil

You can plant your Dancing Bones cactus into a regular cactus or succulent mix. Alternatively, you can make your own mix using equal parts of sand, loam, and coconut coir. 

Cactus enthusiasts have also grown this variety quite successfully in a standard potting mix that has been amended with some sand to make it drain faster.

You can also use a mix that is designed for bromeliads or orchids as this plant is an epiphyte similar to these other flowering plants.

Water

Being a cactus, this plant only requires minimal watering during the growing season and can be left to dry out during the cold winter months. During the year, other than the months of December and January in the northern hemisphere, you should allow the top two to three inches of soil to dry out before giving the plant some more water.

This plant can tolerate a little more water than other cacti species but it still shouldn’t be allowed to sit in water, ever.

Fertilizer

This cactus does benefit from a regular application of liquid fertilizer. In spring, diluted liquid fertilizer can be added every 2 or 3 weeks and this can be reduced to once a month during summer. In winter, fertilization is not required as the plant will be dormant.

Sunlight

This cactus likes to grow in bright, indirect light when grown indoors. This is especially important in the morning during its main growth period. 

Temperature and Humidity

This plant will grow quite happily indoors at a normal temperature range of around 72 degrees Fahrenheit (22 degrees Celsius). However, if you want the plant to flower in spring, you will need to give it a bit of cold during the winter months. The ideal temperature to induce flowering is around 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius) or below.

Pruning

In general, this cactus doesn’t require much pruning as it’s quite low growing. However, if the growth does get out of hand, it can be lightly pruned back. Makes sure that you save the cuttings and use them to propagate new plants.

Pest and diseases

The Dancing Bones cactus has very few problems when it comes to pests and diseases. However, mealybugs can attack your plant as these are common houseplant pests.

If you do happen to spot some mealybugs on your plant, you can easily remove them with a damp cloth or cotton swab dipped in alcohol. If the problem persists, you can spray the plant with a diluted solution of water and insecticidal soap or neem oil.

One other thing to watch out for is the leaves or stem sections turning yellow and falling off. If this happens, your plant is getting too much water. Make sure you only water when the top two to three inches of soil are dry and let all the excess drain away.

Uses of Dancing Bones Cactus

This plant is generally grown for its ornamental value only. It looks great in a nice decorative pot and will even do well in a hanging basket.

This plant can be toxic to pets so it’s best to keep it out of reach of both pets and small children.

Common Varieties and Cultivars

There are currently 8 accepted species of plants in the genus of Hatiora. These are:

• Hatiora cylindrica
• Hatiora epiphylloides
• Hatiora gaertneri
• Hatiora x graeseri
• Hatiora herminiae
• Hatiora pentaptera
• Hatiora rosea
• Hatiora salicornioides

All of these species are epiphytes and require similar care.

Conclusion

The Dancing Bones cactus is an interesting species to grow and requires very little care. It has lovely, erect branching stems and yellow flowers in spring. Being so easy to grow makes it a perfect addition for any cactus grower or enthusiast.