Ric Rac (or zig zag or fishbone I’ve heard and referred to them as ass, and the government name is Epiphyllum anguliger) cactus plants are one that I IMMEDIATELY fell in love with. It’s so quirky and fun!! And thankfully these cool plants are not challenging either making them a must-grow in any plant lovers home. Or just anyone who wants a cool piece of basically live art!
We’re going to chat about their light needs, soil, pest issues, propagating and so much more. So after reading this guide you are going to be ready to get your hands on your first Ric Rac cactus and start enjoying its funky look and fun energy. Let’s get into it my friends-
Ric Rac cactus care guide: everything you need to know!
Light needs-
Sometimes I feel like a bit of a broken record but like the solid majority of house plants they want bright but indirect light.
What does that mean? It means they enjoy light but toooo much bright light shining on them for 10+ hours a day is gonna lead to them getting torched. So move the cactus further from a window or use shear curtains to filter the light! If you start to see crisping edges that means they are getting too much light and no growth means they aren’t getting enough.
But overall as long as they are in a room with windows and not too close to the window they are going to be fine on the lighting front. They aren’t too dramatic!
Watering your ricrac cactus!
They are tropical which really means that they enjoy water but they draw the line at soggy, moist roots that are just sitting in water.
When the top 2-ish inches of soil are dry then it’s time to water but let those 2 inches fully dry out before dousing them in another healthy dose of water. A good rule of thumb (but check the soil to ensure!) is once a week during growing seasons (spring and summer) and once every other week in slower seasons (fall and winter).
Soil preferences?
No need to overcomplicate- head to your local nursery or box store (Lowes, Menards, Home Depot etc) and get a cactus soil mix. That’s all it takes! But be cautious using “standard” soil mix as it might hold too much water and can lead to the DREADED root rot.
Temp and humidity for this tropical plant-
As I have mentioned they ARE tropical plants which means exactly what you might be assuming- they like warmer temps and moisture in the air.
Leaving for vacation during chillier months? Your cactus probably won’t be in good shape when you get home if you don’t leave the house between 65ish degrees and 85!
And a little humidity doesn’t hurt them! Misting occasionally with a spray bottle or using a pebble tray will help your gorgeous zigzag cactus thrive.
Pet safety?
If chewed and ingested by pets (dogs or cats specifically) their tummies are going to hurt and they mat have some digestive issues. So in general keep out of reach especially if your pet is curious. But not overly toxic and generally one I consider “trained dog” safe aka not for puppies lol!
Fertilizing-
I recommend fertilizing every 6 weeks during those growing seasons (spring + summer) and skipping fertilizing during the remaining months because they will get too many nutrients that can actually overwhelm and kill them during those months.
Wait do they bloom?
Sooooo technically yes. They can have STUNNING blooms but the reality is unless you are not only the perfect plant parent and live in the ideal climate you probably won’t ever see blooms on them indoors. Sad I know but honestly they are so cool without the blooms that they are worth it anyway š
Propagation 101-
They are so easy to propagate but I recommend not skipping an important and unique step-
1: just take a clean pair of shears and cut off one stem.
2: let the stem sit in dry air for 2 days to harden up a bit (this is the unique step not to skip for higher success rates!)
3: put the stem in moist soil or water and wait 2-3 weeks for roots to show.
4: after you see signs of roots then treat like normal (plant in soil if you propagated in water) and enjoy having another stunning Ric Rac cactus.
Repotting your zigzag cactus plant-
Watching for a root bound situation is going to be key! Keep an eye out for lack of growth and roots popping out of the soil to let you know that it’s time for a bigger pot. Usually that is every 2 to 4 years depending on factors in your home that help or inhibit growth.
And ALWAYS make sure that any cactus plant pot has drainage holes to avoid water sitting around the roots and causing the roots to rot (which yes, is the death of most plants!).
Common problems 101:
- Mealybugs or spider mitesĀ ā Treat with insecticidal soap or neem oil
- Yellowing leavesĀ ā Usually from overwatering
- Limp or wrinkly stemsĀ ā Could be too dry, or roots might be in trouble
And that is all for now my friends! I hope this was helpful and leads to you growing a GORGEOUS Ric Rac cactus in your home too. If you have any questions please leave them in the comments and we can work through any problems together!!
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