Ric Rac Cactus (Fishbone cactus) care

Light

Ric Rac Cactus is what florists mean by "bright spot, no direct sun" — close enough to a south or east window to feel the brightness, with a sheer curtain or a few feet of distance keeping the sun off the leaves. As a forest epiphyte, it grows under a tree canopy, so it wants bright, indirect light rather than harsh sun. An east- or west-facing window, or within about three metres of one, is ideal. More than two hours of strong direct summer sun scorches the flat stems, leaving bleached or brown patches, while too little light produces thin, leggy growth that rarely flowers. A phone lux-meter at the leaf surface should read 1,500-3,000 lux at noon.

Watering

Water ric rac cactus when the top 2-4 cm of compost is dry, roughly every 7-10 days in summer. The actual day count varies with pot size, light, and season — the finger test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) is more reliable than a fixed calendar. Empty any drainage saucer afterwards so the pot isn't sitting in water. Water thoroughly until it runs from the drainage holes, then let the top 2-4 cm dry before watering again; never leave the pot standing in water, as this is the fastest route to root rot. Being epiphytic it dislikes constantly soggy roots but, unlike desert cacti, should not be left bone dry. Cut watering right back over winter, keeping the mix only just moist.

Soil and pot

Ric Rac Cactus grows best in free-draining epiphytic cactus mix. Use a peat-free cactus or houseplant compost loosened with orchid bark plus perlite, pumice or grit. The bark mimics the leaf-litter and tree-bark pockets it roots into in the wild, while the grit and perlite keep the mix airy and fast-draining so the fleshy roots never sit wet. A pot with generous drainage holes is essential. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Ric Rac Cactus sits happiest at around 40-60% humidity and 15-25°C (59-78°F). Coming from humid cloud forest, it appreciates moderate to high humidity and is happiest around 50-60%. Average centrally heated rooms are usually fine, but in dry winter conditions stand it on a pebble tray or group it with other plants. It is far more forgiving of low humidity than most jungle cacti, so misting is optional rather than essential. If you keep the room above 15 year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed ric rac cactus sparingly. 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. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on ric rac cactus in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Root rot from overwatering — The single most common killer. Soft, brown, collapsing stems and a sour-smelling mix mean the roots have rotted. Let the top few centimetres dry between waterings, use a gritty free-draining mix, and never let the pot sit in a saucer of water.
• No flowers — Plants need to be mature (often 3-6 years from a cutting) and require a cool, drier winter rest at around 11-14°C to set buds. Kept warm and watered year-round, a healthy plant will grow happily but stubbornly refuse to bloom.
• Mealybugs and scale — White cottony mealybugs and limpet-like scale hide in the stem notches and crevices. Inspect regularly and wipe off with a cotton bud dipped in dilute insecticidal soap or diluted alcohol; heavy infestations weaken and distort the stems.
• Leggy, scorched or wrinkled stems — Thin, stretched growth signals too little light; bleached or brown patches mean too much direct sun. Limp, wrinkled stems usually indicate underwatering or, paradoxically, rotted roots that can no longer take up water, so check the roots before simply adding more.

Companion plants

Ric Rac Cactus pairs well with Rhipsalis, Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera), Hoya, and Epiphyllum oxypetalum. These are species with similar light and water needs, so you can group them in the same room or on the same shelf and water as a batch.

Propagation

Easy from stem cuttings and no node is needed. Snip a healthy stem segment at least 7-10 cm long with clean, sharp scissors, then leave it in a dry, shady spot for a few days until the cut end callouses over. Insert the callused end into barely moist cactus mix, keep it lightly moist and warm in bright indirect light, and roots usually form within a couple of weeks. Spring and summer give the quickest results. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Ric Rac Cactus is pet-safe. The ASPCA does not individually list Disocactus (Epiphyllum) anguliger, but it does list its close congener, the Orchid Cactus (Epiphyllum oxypetalum), as non-toxic to cats, dogs and horses, and no cactus in the family Cactaceae is on the ASPCA toxic list. On that basis the ric rac cactus is regarded as pet-safe and contains no known toxic compounds. As a sensible caveat, the stems carry small bristly spines along the notches and new growth, and chewing any houseplant can cause mild, transient stomach upset, so keep it out of reach of determined nibblers. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Ric Rac Cactus deep-dive guides

Every aspect of ric rac cactus care, each with its own calibrated guide:

• Ric Rac Cactus watering schedule
• Ric Rac Cactus light requirements
• Best soil mix for ric rac cactus
• Ric Rac Cactus fertilizing guide
• When to repot ric rac cactus
• How to propagate ric rac cactus
• Ric Rac Cactus growth rate & size
• Ric Rac Cactus cold hardiness
• Ric Rac Cactus temperature & humidity
• Is ric rac cactus toxic to cats & dogs?

Related guides

Ric Rac Cactus is also known as Ric rac cactus, Fishbone cactus, Zigzag cactus, Fishbone orchid cactus, and St Anthony's rik-rak.

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