The Zigocactus and Schlumgergera (Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas cacti one finds seasonally) get pretty large for a vivarium, but some of the Hatiora and Rhipsalis do make interesting epiphytes, especially those that are not spiny and have recessed areoles, which makes them somewhat safer with frogs. R. paraxoxa is especially fascinating. Most have rather small flowers, but these are followed by red, white or purple fruit. I have the following in some of my vivariums: R. mesembryanthemoides, quellebabensis, hispata, rhomberia, houlletiana, rhombea, schaferii, capilliformis, warmingiana and clavata. There is a specialist in epiphytic cacti on the net that you can find by searching under Rhipsalis. I'll post the site later if I can find it again myself, since I've lost the address. I've found that they don't bloom in the vivs for me, probably needing much stronger light than I provide, but they are interesting additions, none the less, and don't seem to etiolate(scraggle and put out pale, long weak growth) under relatively low light. The photos are of newly potted cuttings of 3 of the species.

One of the cautions about using any cacti is that although some are virtually spineless, they all still have bristles in the areoles or "pores," that can be very irritating. If you've ever been tempted to "pet" the spineless bunny ears Opuntia microdasys, that's an extreme example.

Let us know how the pepper plant fares over time.









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Patty
Pahsimeroi, Idaho

4 D. auratus blue
5 D. galactonotus pumpkin orange splash back
5 D. imitator
6 D. leucomelas
4 D. pumilio Bastimentos
4 D. fantasticus
4 P. terribilis
4 D. reticulatus
4 D. castaneoticus
2 D. azureus
4 P vittatus

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• ornimental pepper plant?? - iceyesnteeth, Mon Sep 19 09:42:27 2005
• RE: ornimental pepper plant?? - pastorjosh, Mon Sep 19 18:28:07 2005
• RE: ornimental pepper plant?? - slaytonp, Mon Sep 19 21:04:33 2005
• RE: ornimental pepper plant?? - iceyesnteeth, Tue Sep 20 13:41:23 2005
• RE: ornimental pepper plant?? - slaytonp, Tue Sep 20 19:07:52 2005
• RE: ornimental pepper plant?? - slaytonp, Tue Sep 20 19:54:15 2005