Expert: Greg Simpson - 6/18/2006

Question
I recently purchased a succulent, or at least I think it is a succulent. It was signed as a fish hook plant. I know it is not a fish hook cactus because I looked up this type of cactus on the internet and it is not the same. This plant appears to be a hanging cactus. The "shoots" coming from the center are about three feet long and cascade down. Each shoot has little appendages the look lie a fat fish hook or tiny banana (but this is not a monkey tail cactus the tiny appendages are not that close together).The little fish hooks are almost 3/4 of an inch apart and the plant has almost thirty cascading shoots. There isnt really a body to the plant just all these cascading shoots. Please help it is an attractive plant that I dont want to kill.

Answer
Dear Christina,

It would be very helpful if you could send me a picture of the plant. My email address is gregandkat@msn.com. Even though you give a great description, it doesn't sound familiar. Please send a picture if possible. Thanks.

In general, if it is a succulent, don't water unless the soil is dry, keep it out of direct sun unless it was in direct sun to begin with. And lastly, protect it from temps below 40 degrees.

Sincerely,

Greg