Most people think that Rat Tail Cactus and Monkey Tail Cactus are the same. If you are here it means you also want to be clear about this topic. No worry in this writing piece you’ll get an in depth sight about this myth. The Rat Tail Cactus is a trailing cactus plant characterized by its long and thin stems while the Monkey Tail Cactus is another trailing cactus with hanging stems. But as with any other college major, they have certain features that make them. Here’s a comparison of the two;
Rat Tail Cactus:
- Aporocactus flagelliformis is another name of Rat Tail Cactus having following properties;
Appearance:
- This grows to be a substantial cactus with long slender stems that can be 120cm long.
- The stems have peculiar, rather short, bristly spines yellow to reddish-brown in color in their lower half.
- These organs are green in color but turn red with the intensity of direct sunlight.
Flowers:
- As was mentioned it forms bright, bell-flowers which are usually pink or red in color.
- The flowers are 2 inches in diameter and bloom between late spring up to early summer.
Growth Habit:
This cactus is quite a fast growing one and can accumulate and array of mass like structures.
It is commonly placed in hanging baskets since it has trailing branches.
Care:
It needs bright, indirect light; however, it can endure some direct sunlight.
Must be planted in well drained soil and need a good soaking if the soil has become dry around the plant.
It has to be watered during the growing season though during winter it needs to be watered sparingly.
Monkey Tail Cactus:
(Cleistocactus colademononis) a native plant of South America. It has the following Characteristics.
Appearance:
Monkey Tail Cactus has a slender and drooping stem which may grow up to a height of 24” to 8’ feet.
The stems are densely spotted with long, soft and white bristles that have a wool-like feature.
The stems are generally green although in photosynthesis conditions they are slightly red.
Flowers:
It comes with spectacular red cylindrical flowers that grow from the center of the spikes of the stems.
The flowers are larger and apparently more numerous in the Bridal bouquet Cactus than in the Rat Tail Cactus one.
Growth Habit:
This cactus also grows in a trailing style and would require growth in hanging baskets or maybe elevated pots.
It tends to be slower to grow than the Rat Tail Cactus but can have sturdier and more impressive stems.
Care:
Favored to be planted in the shady areas but requires lit instead of direct sunlight that affects the tender spines.
The soil should have good drainage and should be watered comparatively less frequently, letting the soil get as dry as possible before the next watering.
Must be protected from frost and should be grown in warm conditions.
Key Differences
Spines: The spines of the Rat Tail Cactus are short and bristly while those of the Monkey Tail Cactus are long, soft, white spines making the plant look like it has fur.
Stems: The stems of the Monkey Tail Cactus are nearly longer and thick as compared to those of the Rat Tail Cactus.
Flowers: Both kinds bear red or pink flowers but the Monkey Tail Cactus flowers are bigger and are reportedly more numerous.
Growth Rate: Rat Tail Cactus has higher basal growth rates and various types of mat density or mass while Monkey Tail Cactus has comparatively slower basal growth rates but thicker stems.
Conclusion
The Rat Tail Cactus and the Monkey Tail Cactus look best when placed in hanging baskets or other kinds of plant pots and containers that are mounted above the ground. Since they look different and have unique needs, they fit different tastes and settings and demonstrate a rather captivating example of nature’s variety within the framework of cacti.
