Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Ric Rac Cactus (Disocactus anguliger)— schedule & NPK
Also called Ric rac cactus, Fishbone cactus, Zigzag cactus, Fishbone orchid cactus, St Anthony's rik-rak.
More about ric rac cactus
About Ric Rac Cactus
Disocactus anguliger · also called Ric rac cactus, Fishbone cactus · houseplant
The ric rac cactus is an epiphytic jungle cactus from the cloud forests of Chiapas, Mexico, prized for its flat, deeply notched zigzag stems that trail like fishbones. Unlike desert cacti, its defining need is bright but indirect light with a freely draining yet moisture-retentive mix that is watered when the top few centimetres dry out.
Growth habit: A trailing, much-branched epiphytic cactus with flattened, leaf-like green stems cut into deep, alternating lobes that give the classic fishbone or ric rac silhouette. Stems arch then cascade, making it a natural choice for a hanging basket or high shelf. Mature plants flower in autumn.
What fertiliser ric rac cactus actually wants — and why
Ric Rac Cactus is a true minimal feeder — it stores its own reserves and is far more often killed by over-feeding than starved.
A weak, balanced or cactus-formula feed (low, even numbers such as a diluted 5-10-5 or a dedicated cactus food). Nothing high-nitrogen — fast lush growth is exactly what you do not want.
For the language behind the three numbers on the bottle — what nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium each do — see the NPK ratio explained entry. The short version for ric rac cactus: match the feed to the job the plant is doing right now, not to a generic “plant food” on the shelf.
How often to feed ric rac cactus, and which months
Feeding only earns its keep while the plant is in active growth and can use the nutrients — pour feed into a dormant or low-light plant and it simply builds up as root-burning salt. For ric rac cactus:
Feed lightly during the growing season only. A balanced houseplant or cactus feed diluted and applied roughly every fourth watering through spring and summer is plenty; some growers feed as little as once a year in spring. Stop feeding in autumn and winter. Over-feeding produces soft, weak growth and discourages the autumn flower buds. In practice that is sparingly through the growing season at most, only between spring through early autumn (roughly March to September) — never in the dormant winter months.
The dormant-season rule matters more than the exact interval: skip feeding entirely when ric rac cactus is resting. For the wider context on indoor feeding rhythms across the seasons, the houseplant fertiliser schedule walks through the year month by month.
What strength to mix for ric rac cactus
Quarter strength is the rule for ric rac cactus. A full-strength dose is a fast route to scorched roots; when unsure, skip a feed entirely rather than double up.
Feeding always goes onto already-damp soil, never dry roots — water ric rac cactus first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the ric rac cactus watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding ric rac cactus
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for ric rac cactus:
- A white or yellowish salt crust on the soil surface or pot rim.
- Brown, scorched leaf tips or margins despite normal watering.
- Soft, stretched, floppy growth that flops instead of standing firm.
- Roots that look burnt or brown when you next repot.
Signs you are under-feeding ric rac cactus
- Genuinely rare — these plants coast for a long time on very little.
- Very slow or fully stalled growth across a whole season in good light.
- Overall pale, washed-out colour after years in the same exhausted mix.
If the symptoms point at watering, light or roots rather than nutrition, the full ric rac cactus care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Because you feed so rarely, salts still creep up over time. Flush the pot of ric rac cactus with plain water until it runs freely from the base once or twice a year — and always repot into fresh gritty mix every 2-3 years rather than relying on feed.
Organic vs synthetic feeds for ric rac cactus
Organic options
Worm-casting tea or a very dilute seaweed feed once or twice in the growing season is plenty. In the UK an occasional drop of Westland or Levington seaweed feed; in the US a token quarter-strength Espoma Cactus! liquid. Honestly, fresh gritty mix every couple of years does more than any bottle.
Synthetic / liquid feeds
A purpose-made cactus and succulent feed at quarter strength — UK: Westland or Baby Bio Cacti & Succulent food; US: Miracle-Gro Succulent or Schultz Cactus Plus. Use the cactus formula precisely because it is low-nitrogen.
Brand names are examples, not endorsements, and UK and US ranges differ — check the label’s own NPK and dilution rate, since formulations change.
Fertilising ric rac cactus — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does ric rac cactus need?
A weak, balanced or cactus-formula feed (low, even numbers such as a diluted 5-10-5 or a dedicated cactus food). Nothing high-nitrogen — fast lush growth is exactly what you do not want. Ric Rac Cactus is a true minimal feeder — it stores its own reserves and is far more often killed by over-feeding than starved.
How often should I feed ric rac cactus?
Feed lightly during the growing season only. A balanced houseplant or cactus feed diluted and applied roughly every fourth watering through spring and summer is plenty; some growers feed as little as once a year in spring. Stop feeding in autumn and winter. Over-feeding produces soft, weak growth and discourages the autumn flower buds. Feed lightly during the growing season only. A balanced houseplant or cactus feed diluted and applied roughly every fourth watering through spring and summer is plenty; some growers feed as little as once a year in spring. Stop feeding in autumn and winter. Over-feeding produces soft, weak growth and discourages the autumn flower buds. In practice that is sparingly through the growing season at most, only between spring through early autumn (roughly March to September) — never in the dormant winter months.
What strength of feed for ric rac cactus?
Quarter strength is the rule for ric rac cactus. A full-strength dose is a fast route to scorched roots; when unsure, skip a feed entirely rather than double up.
What does over-feeding ric rac cactus look like?
A white or yellowish salt crust on the soil surface or pot rim. Brown, scorched leaf tips or margins despite normal watering. Soft, stretched, floppy growth that flops instead of standing firm. Roots that look burnt or brown when you next repot. Over-feeding is the number-one fertiliser mistake with ric rac cactus. It does not want a lush growth spurt — extra nitrogen makes it weak, etiolated and rot-prone, the opposite of the tough plant you bought.
Should I flush the soil of ric rac cactus?
Because you feed so rarely, salts still creep up over time. Flush the pot of ric rac cactus with plain water until it runs freely from the base once or twice a year — and always repot into fresh gritty mix every 2-3 years rather than relying on feed.
Keep reading
- Ric Rac Cactus care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water ric rac cactus — the watering schedule
- The houseplant fertiliser schedule — feeding through the year
- NPK ratio explained — what the three numbers on the bottle mean
- How to fertilise snake plant
- How to fertilise dracaena
- How to fertilise peperomia
- All 271 fertilising guides in the Growli library