Selenicereus anthonyanus (Rick Rack Cactus) care

Light

Selenicereus anthonyanus 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. Bright, filtered light or gentle morning sun. It tolerates semi-shade but flowers and grows best in bright indirect light; strong direct midday sun bleaches and reddens the stems. A phone lux-meter at the leaf surface should read 1,500-3,000 lux at noon.

Watering

Water selenicereus anthonyanus when the top 2-3 cm of soil is dry, about 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. Keep the mix lightly moist but never waterlogged in the growing season, allowing the surface to dry between waterings. Reduce watering in winter, but never let it bone-dry out like a desert cactus.

Soil and pot

Selenicereus anthonyanus grows best in light, airy epiphytic mix. A blend of cactus compost, orchid bark and perlite, or a standard potting mix lightened with bark and perlite. As an epiphyte it needs free drainage with some moisture and humus retention. 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

Selenicereus anthonyanus sits happiest at around 50-60% humidity and 16-27°C (61-81°F). Appreciates moderate to higher humidity, reflecting its rainforest canopy origins. It copes with normal room air but greener, lusher growth comes with a humidifier or a pebble tray nearby. If you keep the room above 16 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 selenicereus anthonyanus sparingly. Feed every two to four weeks in spring and summer with a balanced houseplant feed at half strength, switching to a higher-potassium feed to encourage blooming. Pause feeding over winter. 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 selenicereus anthonyanus in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Reluctant to bloom — Flowering needs maturity, bright light and a cool, drier winter rest. Indoor plants kept warm and watered year-round rarely flower; give a few weeks at 10-15°C.
• Limp or wrinkled stems — Underwatering or root issues cause shrivelling; rot from overwatering causes soft, yellowing segments. Check the roots and adjust watering and drainage accordingly.
• Reddening or bleaching — Stems flush red or turn pale in too much direct sun. Some blush is normal stress colour, but move it to brighter indirect light if it looks washed out.
• Mealybugs — Cottony white clusters settle along stem ribs. Remove with an alcohol-dipped cotton bud and treat repeatedly with insecticidal soap until clear.

Propagation

Very easy from stem cuttings: snip a zigzag segment, let it callus for a couple of days, then lay or insert it into a moist, well-draining mix. Roots form readily in warmth. 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

Selenicereus anthonyanus is pet-safe. ASPCA lists night-blooming cereus (Selenicereus) as non-toxic to cats and dogs. As with any houseplant, chewing the fleshy stems may cause mild stomach upset, so it is still best kept out of a determined pet's reach. 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.

Selenicereus anthonyanus deep-dive guides

Every aspect of selenicereus anthonyanus care, each with its own calibrated guide:

• Selenicereus anthonyanus watering schedule
• Selenicereus anthonyanus light requirements
• Best soil mix for selenicereus anthonyanus
• Selenicereus anthonyanus fertilizing guide
• When to repot selenicereus anthonyanus
• How to propagate selenicereus anthonyanus
• Selenicereus anthonyanus growth rate & size
• Selenicereus anthonyanus cold hardiness
• Selenicereus anthonyanus temperature & humidity
• Is selenicereus anthonyanus toxic to cats & dogs?
• Is selenicereus anthonyanus toxic to cats?
• Is selenicereus anthonyanus toxic to dogs?

Featured in these plant shortlists

Selenicereus anthonyanus qualifies for 13 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

• Best pet-safe houseplants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs — every one verified against the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant list.
• Best plants for a north-facing window — Houseplants for a north-facing window: bright, even, indirect light and no scorching direct sun. Each pick verified against its documented light needs.
• Best trailing & climbing houseplants — Vining and trailing houseplants for shelves, hanging pots, and moss poles — selected by growth habit.
• Best humidity-loving houseplants — Houseplants that thrive in a bathroom, kitchen, or by a humidifier — selected by documented humidity preference.
• Best pet-safe trailing & hanging plants — Trailing and climbing plants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs — safe for shelves and hanging pots in a pet home.
• Best pet-safe plants for bright light — Non-toxic to cats and dogs and happy in a bright, sunny spot — safe plants for your best-lit windowsill.
• Best pet-safe large indoor plants — Big, floor-standing houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs — a statement plant that is safe around pets.
• Best succulents for beginners — The easiest succulents and cacti to keep alive — selected by documented growth habit, each with the light and watering it actually wants.
• Best pet-safe succulents — Succulents the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs — low-water greenery that is also safe around a curious pet.
• Best fast-growing houseplants — Houseplants documented as fast or vigorous growers — quick to fill a pot, cover a pole or trail down a shelf.
• Best fragrant houseplants — Indoor plants with scented flowers or aromatic foliage — greenery you can smell, selected from our care library.
• Best cat-safe plants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats (and dogs) — safe greenery for a home with a curious cat.
• Best dog-safe plants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to dogs (and cats) — safe greenery for a home with a curious dog.
• Browse all 29 plant shortlists — pet-safe, low-light, drought-tolerant and more

Related guides

Selenicereus anthonyanus is also commonly called Rick Rack Cactus or Fishbone Orchid Cactus.

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