Ornamental plants are a beautiful way to enhance the aesthetics of any kind of space whether personal or professional. One can add ornamental plants to both their offices or houses. The scientific Name of the Fishbone Cactus is Epiphyllum Anguliger.
If one is looking for low-maintenance and easy-to-grow ornamental plants then Fishbone Cactus is a top choice. Fishbone cactus which is also called the Ric Ric Cactus or the Zig Zag cactus is a beautiful decorative plant.
With its beautiful zigs and zags, Fishbone Cactus resembles the backbone of a fish. Its skin is smooth and green and it is considerably branched. With primary stems being woody, the secondary stems are succulent, giving the plant a beautiful look. The rickrack patterned leaves also give the plant other names and the most common ones are Ric Rac Cactus or Ric Rac Orchid Cactus.
Read on to know some basic yet important things to care for and grow the Fishbone Cactus.
Where To Place The Fishbone Cactus
- This ornate plant looks the best when it is in hanging. The reason for that is the way it grows. It begins to grow upright, but with length, the stem leaves begin to go downwards. The leaves resemble the backbone of a fish and the foliage is succulent.
- One can also hang these plants on a bigger tree or inside the house they can be kept at a height, from where they can easily grow downwards.
One often stops from introducing plants to their spaces due to the lack of space, time or money.
But Fishbone Cactus is quite easy to grow. It does not require a lot of care and is neither a high-maintenance plant making it a win-win situation. When the conditions are right, one can even see flowers on this zig-zag-leaved plant.
Also read: Flowering Succulents Plants that will Purify your Surrounding
Light Requirements for Fishbone Cactus
- The best part about this plant is that one can easily keep it in their offices as the plant does not require direct sunlight. A spot with indirect light works well for this ornate cactus.
- It can also face direct sunlight but not for long and it is advised that direct exposure is limited when growing a Fishbone Cactus.
- One can choose to keep it outdoors in a shady place during the summer season.
Fishbone Cactus Blooming Period
The flowers mostly bloom during the night and last only for a day. So, there are chances that one might miss them. If one wants it to flower and is thinking how to get Fishbone Cactus to bloom, then they can expose the plant to the sun from late summers to the fall season.
The nocturnal flowers can be pale yellow, pink or green in color. After the flowering, season the plant also produces fruit. Fishbone Cactus fruit is oval-shaped and has a greenish and brown exterior.
Fishbone Cactus Water And Soil Requirements
- A native of Mexico, the Fishbone Cactus stemmed or originated in a humid moist rainforest and does not belong to the arid deserts like other cactus plants.
- It needs a bit more water than an average cactus but not a lot. One needs to water the plant, especially during the warmer months of spring and summer.
- The best way for Fishbone Cactus (Zig Zag Houseplant) soil is to keep the topsoil layer moist and fertilized especially when the plant is growing. The best way is to let the top layer of soil dry before it is watered again.
- Also, one needs to be careful to not overwater it, especially during the winter.
Fishbone Cactus Aerial Roots
- Another feature of this plant is its aerial roots and if you happen to see the plant growing them, then it isn’t a matter of concern as Fishbone Cactus aerial roots are common, like in other epiphytic plants.
- They are seen to grow roots above the ground to be able to absorb moisture and nutrients from the atmosphere.
Follow us on Instagram: @Greenkoshh
Fishbone Cactus Propagation Technique
- The Fishbone Cactus is generally known for its wild and untamed look. But one can always trim it if one think that the stems are growing super long.
- New stems grow often from where the plant is cut, making the plant regain its look and growing back fuller once again. Propagating Fishbone Cactus is easy too, as the cut-off stem piece can easily be made into a new plant.
- One can plant more Fishbone Cactus (Zig Zag Houseplant) anytime from spring to late summer with the help of stem cuttings.
- Once the cactus is planted into the new soil, one should refrain from adding water unless there are signs of growth.
- If the plant is watered before it begins to grow roots, there is a tendency that it might rot.
With no other major Fishbone Cactus problems, and easy to maintain, one might still wonder if Fishbone Cactus is harmful to animals. But one can rest assured that it is quite a safe plant and if one has pets, one need not worry.
This cactus isn’t toxic and therefore one can keep it in their house without being concerned about the plant is harmful to their cats or dogs in the house.
Fishbone Cactus or Zig Zag Houseplant blooms in between the late summers and fall. The flowers are nocturnal and only last a day.
Q2: Is Fishbone Cactus toxic to cats?
No, Fishbone Cactus isn’t toxic to either cats or dogs and one can keep this plant at their homes without the fear of it harming their pets.
Q3: How often do you water Fishbone Cactus?
Fishbone Cactus originated in the moist rainforest of Mexico and requires water a little more than an average cactus. One should only water it after the topsoil layer dries.
