Watering schedule

How often to water Selenicereus anthonyanus (Selenicereus anthonyanus) — the schedule

Also called Rick Rack Cactus, Fishbone Orchid Cactus.

More about selenicereus anthonyanus

Watering at a glance

Base rhythm	When the top 2-3 cm of soil is dry, about every 7-10 days in summer
Spring / summer	Spring and summer: soak or dunk the roots/mount thoroughly about once a week, then let them dry almost completely before the next soak.
Autumn	Autumn: lengthen the gap between soaks as light and growth taper off.
Winter	Winter: soak far less often — roughly every 2-3 weeks — and always let the roots dry fully in between.
Light	Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)

About Selenicereus anthonyanus

Selenicereus anthonyanus · also called Rick Rack Cactus, Fishbone Orchid Cactus · houseplant

An easy, fast-growing epiphytic cactus from southern Mexico, instantly recognised by flat, deeply zigzagged stems that resemble a fishbone or rickrack ribbon. Grown mainly as a trailing foliage plant, it occasionally rewards mature, well-rested specimens with large, fragrant nocturnal flowers that last a single night. It is happiest cascading from a hanging basket.

Ideal humidity: 50-60%

Watch for — 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.

The watering schedule, season by season

Selenicereus anthonyanus grows on bark, not in soil — it wants its roots soaked then fully dried and exposed to air, never kept damp like a potted plant. The base rhythm for selenicereus anthonyanus is when the top 2-3 cm of soil is dry, about every 7-10 days in summer, but the real interval moves with the season, the light and the pot — so treat the figures below as a starting point and always confirm with the plant itself.

Spring & summer (active growth): Spring and summer: soak or dunk the roots/mount thoroughly about once a week, then let them dry almost completely before the next soak.
Autumn (slowing down): Autumn: lengthen the gap between soaks as light and growth taper off.
Winter (rest / dormancy): Winter: soak far less often — roughly every 2-3 weeks — and always let the roots dry fully in between.

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.

Want this turned into a live reminder that adjusts to your home and the weather? The Growli watering calculator takes your pot size, light and season and returns a starting interval for selenicereus anthonyanus in seconds.

How to tell selenicereus anthonyanus needs water

A calendar is the worst way to water selenicereus anthonyanus. Check the plant and the soil instead — for this species, look for these signals in order:

Roots turn silvery-grey or chalky instead of green/plump.
The mount or bark medium is bone dry and light.
Leaves or pseudobulbs look slightly wrinkled or less rigid.

The most reliable single check is the first one on that list. When two signals agree, water; when they disagree, wait a day and look again — under-watering selenicereus anthonyanus for a day is almost always safer than over-watering it.

Overwatering vs underwatering selenicereus anthonyanus

The two failure modes can look alike at a glance, so check the soil weight and wetness before you decide. For selenicereus anthonyanus specifically:

Signs you are overwatering

Mushy, brown, hollow roots that have stayed wet too long.
Yellowing, soft leaves at the base.
A persistently wet, never-drying medium.

Signs you are underwatering

Leaves go limp, leathery or accordion-pleated; roots stay grey for long stretches.
Shrivelling pseudobulbs or curling leaves.

Treating selenicereus anthonyanus like a normal houseplant — watering little and often into bark or moss that never dries — suffocates and rots the roots. Soak hard, then let it dry out.

Water quality notes

Rainwater or filtered water is best for selenicereus anthonyanus; many epiphytes are sensitive to softened water and tap-water minerals.

Seasonal and environmental adjusters

Every figure above shifts with the conditions in your home. For selenicereus anthonyanus, the levers that matter most are:

Air movement matters as much as water — roots must dry between soaks to avoid rot.
A bark or mounted medium dries far faster than moss, so the wetter the medium, the longer you wait.
In high humidity you can soak less often; in dry heated rooms, more often but still let it dry.

Pot choice is part of this too — work out the right size with the pot size calculator, since a pot that is too big stays wet long enough to rot the roots of selenicereus anthonyanus.

Selenicereus anthonyanus watering — frequently asked questions

How often should I water selenicereus anthonyanus?

Water selenicereus anthonyanus when the top 2-3 cm of soil is dry, about every 7-10 days in summer. Spring and summer: soak or dunk the roots/mount thoroughly about once a week, then let them dry almost completely before the next soak. Winter: soak far less often — roughly every 2-3 weeks — and always let the roots dry fully in between.

How do I know when selenicereus anthonyanus needs water?

Roots turn silvery-grey or chalky instead of green/plump. The mount or bark medium is bone dry and light. Leaves or pseudobulbs look slightly wrinkled or less rigid. The single most reliable test for selenicereus anthonyanus is the first signal on that list — checking the soil or the plant directly always beats watering by the calendar.

What does an overwatered selenicereus anthonyanus look like?

Mushy, brown, hollow roots that have stayed wet too long. Yellowing, soft leaves at the base. A persistently wet, never-drying medium. Treating selenicereus anthonyanus like a normal houseplant — watering little and often into bark or moss that never dries — suffocates and rots the roots. Soak hard, then let it dry out.

What are the signs of an underwatered selenicereus anthonyanus?

Leaves go limp, leathery or accordion-pleated; roots stay grey for long stretches. Shrivelling pseudobulbs or curling leaves.

Can I use tap water on selenicereus anthonyanus?