Fishbone Cactus

The fishbone cactus is a popular houseplant for a good reason. This unique plant is attractive year-round, is easy to take care of, and requires very little maintenance. When it comes time to flower, a well-cared-for cactus will add to its intrigue by producing beautiful flowers from the tips of its leaves. Its fruits are even edible!

In this article, we’ll talk about where this intriguing plant grows in the wild and find out what makes it so unique from other cacti. We’ll also outline what it takes to care for one properly, as well as how to propagate one if you’d like to expand your collection.

What Is a Fishbone Cactus?

The fishbone cactus (Disocactus anguliger), also known as the ricrac cactus or zigzag cactus, is a forest-dwelling cactus that is endemic to Mexico. It is an epiphytic cactus rather than a geophyte, meaning that it grows above the ground, outside of the soil. Perhaps more surprisingly, this cactus grows at high elevations in rainforest environments. There, in its natural habitat, it anchors itself to rocks and trees well above the soil surface and enjoys plenty of shade and frequent water.

This species relies entirely on rain events, atmospheric moisture, and moisture contained in its substrate to provide it with water. Because it does not grow in soil, it must also obtain its nutrients from other sources. Decaying organic matter, such as animal droppings, plant debris, dead insects, and the like, leach nutrients into passing water. The cactus gathers them from there as the water passes over its roots.

Fishbone cacti produce long, flat, photosynthesizing stems that are free of defensive spines. These flat stems can grow quite long, producing lobes in the characteristic oscillating fashion from which the plant derives its common names. The undersides of each stem often produce adventitious roots that help them hold onto their chosen host. In the spring and fall, once mature, these cacti will produce incredibly fragrant, white flowers from the tips of their stems. The buds may begin to appear during the daytime hours, but they will open only at night. The scent, made to attract nocturnal pollinators, fades during the daylight hours, whether the flower remains open or not.

After a day or two, the flowers fade completely. If they’ve managed to be pollinated during their short existence, they will give way to small, green, elongated fruits that ripen over several months. The flesh of the fruit is deliciously edible once ripe, resembling the familiar dragonfruit in both appearance and flavor.

How to Care for a Fishbone Cactus

Your new fishbone cactus will be very easy to care for as long as you are mindful of where it is placed, the potting medium it is growing in, and how frequently you need to water based on your local climate.

Below, we’ll outline the basic conditions that your fishbone cactus will need to thrive and hopefully produce beautiful blooms once it matures!

Sunlight

As it is a forest-dwelling species, the fishbone cactus requires partial shade. Placing this plant in direct sun can quickly dry out aerial roots and scorch stems. If you’re growing your fishbone cactus indoors, place it near a south-facing window where it will receive bright but indirect sunlight over the day.

If you were previously growing your cactus indoors but are planning on relocating it outside, reintroduce it to the outdoors gradually. Like any plant that needs to be hardened off, place your cactus in full shade at first, increasing the length of time it is outdoors for an hour or so each time you bring it out. Once it has been acclimated to a partial-shade environment, you can keep it outside all summer long. Be certain that your cactus is shaded during the hot, afternoon hours of the day when the sun is most intense.

Water

Unlike desert cacti, rainforest epiphytes like the fishbone cactus need quite a bit of water to stay healthy. Regular watering is important, especially if your cactus is outdoors during the summer months. However, you must be careful to avoid overwatering, as members of this species are very susceptible to root rot.

In their natural environment, where they are free of soil mixes and grow on the surfaces of their host plants, standing water is not an issue. In a pot, however, moisture remains in contact with the roots for much longer. Before watering your cactus, you should first make sure that the potting mix has dried out most of the way. Once it has dried out, give your plant’s substrate a good soak.

Soil Conditions

Remember that, in nature, the fishbone cactus derives all of its nutrients from trapped, decaying debris and passing water. If it seems like nutrients would be scarce in this scenario, that’s because they are. The fishbone cactus does very well in low-nutrient environments and is therefore easy to cultivate at home with little fertilizing. As long as you plant your cactus in a very airy, well-draining substrate mix to keep things oxygenated and avoid root rot, you’re well on your way. Pre-mixed substrates formulated for cacti or orchids work well for this purpose. You can also use a standard soil-less potting mix, further improving the drainage by adding extra perlite or other horticultural grit.

How to Propagate a Fishbone Cactus

There are a couple of methods for propagating your fishbone cactus at home. Although you can plant the seeds found inside the fruit of your cactus, this route is the most time-consuming. Propagating your cactus by division, however, is a much simpler and less involved task.

To divide your cactus, choose a healthy, succulent stem without any damage. Using a pair of clean, sharp shears, cut part of the stem away from the parent plant at an angle, connecting the space between two of the lobes. Your cutting only needs to be a few inches long and can be taken from anywhere along one of the plant’s stems.

Some gardeners will allow the cuttings to scab over at the wound site before planting, but this isn’t strictly necessary. Once you have taken your cutting, you can place it directly into a new pot of well-draining soil. Water the soil well and place your cuttings in an area that receives bright, indirect light. Over the next week or two, your cactus will begin to grow its roots and establish itself in its new pot.