How to Care for Your Fishbone Cactus

First, on our list on how to care for your Fishbone Cactus is to provide it with bright, indirect sunlight. It can handle a few hours of direct light or a little lower light, but it will grow well in bright, indirect light. If your Fishbone Cactus gets the proper amount and level of light over the year, it will reward you by flowering!

How to Grow and Care for Fishbone Cactus

Don’t have enough sun for desert cacti? This cactus thrives in lower light!

Cori Sears is a writer with over a decade of experience, specializing in houseplants, gardening, and home decor. She writes about trending news, interior design, houseplants, and gardening for The Spruce. Her expertise in these areas has led her to contribute to other major publications including Better Homes and Gardens and Apartment Therapy.

Kathleen Miller is a highly-regarded Master Gardener and horticulturist with over 30 years of experience in organic gardening, farming, and landscape design. She founded Gaia’s Farm and Gardens, a working sustainable permaculture farm, and writes for Gaia Grows, a local newspaper column.

The fishbone cactus (Disocactus anguliger) isn’t your average cactus. This tropical, epiphytic cactus is native to Mexico, and is perfect for those cactus lovers that don’t have the right conditions to keep the typical desert cacti alive. It does well without direct sunlight, and thrives in humid conditions.

Grown for its unique, angular toothed stems, the fishbone cactus is also commonly referred to as zig zag cactus, ricrac cactus, and the orchid cactus. Display your fishbone cactus in a hanging pot or planter to fully admire its stunning foliage.

Fishbone Cactus Care

The fishbone cactus is a low-maintenance plant that grows well indoors as a houseplant. It thrives in bright, indirect light and enjoys moist, humid conditions. Native to the jungles of Mexico where it grows from tree branches, the fishbone cactus is epiphytic, meaning it can also grow in low soil conditions if necessary.

Light

In its natural environment, the fishbone cactus grows as an understory plant and receives dappled, indirect light. When grown indoors, a location that receives several hours of bright indirect light is perfect for the fishbone cactus.

Soil

As an epiphyte, the fishbone cactus appreciates a potting mix that is well-drained, airy, and rich in organic matter. Combine one part commercial cactus/succulent soil, one part perlite, one part peat moss, and one part orchid bark mix to create the ideal mixture for the fishbone cactus.

Water

In contrast to desert cacti, the fishbone cactus appreciates regular watering. As a general rule, you should water your cactus once the top 2-3 inches of the soil have dried out. It is important to avoid watering your fishbone cactus with water that is too cold as it can shock the roots. Fishbone cacti are also sensitive to chemicals in municipal water so if your water is hard you should allow it to sit out for 24 hours before watering your cactus, or use distilled water.

Temperature and Humidity

Native to jungle environments, the fishbone cactus thrives in warm, humid conditions. Keep temperatures between 60 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit (15 to 25 degrees Celsius) and humidity above 60 percent.

Fertilizer

Your fishbone cactus should be fertilized once in the early spring with a liquid cactus/succulent fertilizer. As long as its potting medium contains organic matter (peat moss and/or orchid bark mix) the fishbone cactus will not require any additional fertilizing throughout the year.

Pruning

Fishbone cacti do not require regular pruning to stay healthy and happy, however, occasional trimming may be desired for aesthetic purposes. The good news is, any cuttings taken during trimming can be repurposed and propagated to create new plants.

Propagating the Fishbone Cactus

Fishbone cacti can be readily propagated by stem cuttings. Propagating your fishbone cactus is a great way to create new plants and fill out your existing plant. Avoid propagating your fishbone cactus during the fall or winter months as it enters its dormant period. Instead, propagation should be done in the spring and summer months. Here’s how to propagate your fishbone cactus by stem cuttings:

1. Using a pair or sharp scissors or pruning shears, take cuttings from your plant, keeping the cuttings between 4 and 5 inches long.
2. Set the cuttings in a cool, dry location for at least 24 hours to allow the cut edge to callous over.
3. Fill a small potting container with a well-draining, airy potting mixture and moisten the soil lightly.
4. Plant the calloused cuttings in the pre-moistened potting mix, and set the planted cuttings in a location that receives bright, indirect light.
5. Lightly water the cuttings every few days to ensure the soil stays moist.
6. Once you see signs of new growth the cuttings are considered established and normal fishbone cactus care can be resumed. If you wish to transplant the cuttings into a new container, you can do so at this time.

Common Pests and Plant Diseases

Since the fishbone cactus enjoys humid conditions it is susceptible to a number of common pests and diseases. Common pests include mealybugs, fungus gnats, and aphids; while common diseases include root rot, and fungal leaf spots.

How to Get a Fishbone Cactus to Bloom

To promote blooming in the late summer and fall, the fishbone cactus should be exposed to cold temperatures in the winter to early spring—ideally between 52-57 degrees Fahrenheit (or 11-14 degrees Celsius). During the late spring, resume regular care. Some growers have found that fertilizing their fishbone cactus with a high-potassium tomato fertilizer in the summer can help to promote blooming later in the season.

If these measures don’t result in any blooms, try again next year! Fishbone cacti are notoriously difficult to get blooms from indoors and may need a couple of years of care before they are ready to flower.

Common Problems With the Fishbone Cactus

For the most part, fishbone cacti are low-maintenance and relatively problem-free. The most common problems with these jungle cacti normally arise from improper watering or light conditions.

Leggy Growth

The stems of a healthy fishbone cactus should be flat with wide zig-zagging edges. If you notice that all of the stems are staying thin and round, this may be an indication that your plant is not receiving enough light. Try moving your fishbone cactus closer to the window.

Leaves With Brown Spots

Excessive humidity or water left sitting on its leaves can result in your fishbone cactus being infected with fungal leaf spots. These brown spots are normally slightly raised. This is more common in plants grown outdoors, but can occur on indoor plants as well. While the leaf scarring is unsightly, it will not kill your plant. Simply cut off affected areas to prevent the fungus from spreading.

Wrinkled Leaves

Wrinkled leaves are an indication that your fishbone cactus needs more water. Not to fear though, as long as the stems aren’t completely dried out your cactus should bounce back as soon as it has been watered.

Why is my fishbone cactus growing roots above the soil?

These are aerial roots, and they are totally normal for fishbone cacti! In the wild, these aerial roots help fishbone cacti anchor themselves to other plants and trees, and absorb nutrients and moisture from the surrounding air and organic material.

Why are the stems of my fishbone cactus going brown and mushy?

This is likely root rot, which is a result of overwatering. Unfortunately, there is no way to cure root rot, and the affected portions of the plant will need to be cut out and removed. To prevent more root rot in the future, ensure that the soil is well-draining, that the potting container has drainage holes, and that the top couple inches of the soil dry out between watering.

The fishbone cactus is considered a medium grower, growing faster than most desert cacti, but slower than other tropical plants such as pothos or philodendron. When cared for properly, you will be able to see noticeable growth on your fishbone cactus throughout each growing season.

How to Care for Your Fishbone Cactus

The Fishbone Cactus is the edible and peculiar-looking plant popping up in your Instagram feed. It’s easy to take care of and it grows pretty fast. Here’s how to care for your Fishbone Cactus, the must-have crazy zigzag cactus for the black thumb gardener.

Some call it Ric-Rac, others call it Zigzag, but we can all agree on one thing, it’s a peculiar-looking plant that we want to add to our houseplant collection. With its signature long, zigzag leaves that resemble a fish skeleton, it’s one of the must-have houseplants this 2021. Plus, if it blooms, it is a thing to behold! Of course, if the conditions are right. That’s why it’s also called as Fishbone Orchid.

Fun Fact: The Fishbone Cactus is a great choice as a hanging plant because its stems trail down as they grow and get longer.

Fishbone Cactus Care Tips

Caring for your Fishbone Cactus is pretty easy that even a new plant owner can do it. Follow our guide on how to care for your Fishbone Cactus, from sunlight requirement to common problems and their solutions.

Sunlight

First, on our list on how to care for your Fishbone Cactus is to provide it with bright, indirect sunlight. It can handle a few hours of direct light or a little lower light, but it will grow well in bright, indirect light. If your Fishbone Cactus gets the proper amount and level of light over the year, it will reward you by flowering!

Common Problem: Dark patches on your Fishbone Cactus indicates leaf burn from too much direct sunlight.

Solution: Cut away the burnt leaves and place your Fishbone Cactus in a shadier spot.

Water

Next on our list on how to care for your Fishbone Cactus is to water it when the top inch of the soil is dry. Usually, once a week is enough. Plus, it depends on the type of climate. Water more during sunny weather. It’s important to keep the soil moist, but avoid overwatering it since it can lead to root rot.

Common Problem: Crispy, discolored, and limp Fishbone Cactus leaves are signs of insufficient water.

Solution: Your Fishbone Cactus need a little more water. Make sure the top inch of the soil is dry between waterings.

Note: Some houseplants can be sensitive to salts in tap water, so it’s best to use distilled water or a water filtration system. However, if this is not possible, leave the water in an open container overnight.

Humidity and Temperature

Adding to our list on how to care for your Fishbone Cactus is to put it in a room with a bit more humidity since it will grow best in a humid environment. In case you want to increase the humidity, we suggest that you mist it often, place it near a humidifier, or use a pebble tray.

Fishbone Cactus prefers temperature, between 60°F and 77°F during summer. It can survive a temperature drop to about 50°F during winter.

Toxicity

The Fishbone Cactus is non-toxic to cats and dogs.

Food

Another on our list on how to care for your Fishbone Cactus is to feed it regularly with a high-quality fertilizer that has a 10:10:10 ratio every two weeks, until the late summer or early autumn. Do not fertilize your Fishbone Cactus once the flowers bloom.

Note: Avoid over-fertilization since it can lead to brown leaf tips. Make sure the soil is damp before applying fertilizer. It’s important to follow the prescribed amount of fertilizer and schedule to avoid fertilizer burn or plant burn.

Pests and Other Problems

The most common problem is not getting sufficient water. Increase your Fishbone Cactus’ water intake gradually. Avoid overflowing the pot with water, but soak your Fishbone Cactus in water until the roots have absorbed enough water. Another solution is to move your Fishbone Cactus to a shadier area. Your Fishbone Cactus is prone to potentials pests like scale and succulent mealybugs.

That’s a wrap on how to care for your Fishbone Cactus! Go crazy with your Fishbone Cactus by mounting it, which is very popular to do with Staghorn Ferns.

Check out our Plant Care blog to learn more about different houseplants and tips on how to keep your plants alive and healthy.

Whatever houseplant you choose to transform your home into a lively oasis, you’ll definitely need a stylish planter to display your plant baby in. No matter what your style, there’s an Omysa planter that will be perfect with your garden and home’s décor. From ceramics to fiberstone, check out Omysa’s Shop and add it to your cart!

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