How to Grow & Care for Fishbone Cactus

The fishbone cactus isn’t your average cactus. This tropical, epiphytic plant is perfect for those who don’t have the right conditions to help a desert cactus thrive. A fishbone cactus does well in less sunlight and flourishes in humid conditions. Grown mostly for its unique, angular-toothed stems (also called leaves), the plant is best displayed in a hanging pot or planter for its stunning foliage but its nocturnal blooms are also lovely to behold. Read on for our fishbone cactus care guide.

Fishbone Cactus Care

Here are the main care requirements for growing a low-maintenance fishbone cactus:

• Plant a fishbone cactus in bright, indirect light.
• Give your fishbone cactus plenty of moist, humid conditions.
• Use an airy, rich, and well-draining cactus potting mix.
• Fertilize fishbone cactus once a year.

Light

The fishbone cactus grows as an understory plant and receives dappled, indirect light in its natural environment. When grown indoors, a location that receives several hours of bright indirect light is perfect for this plant.

Soil

As an epiphyte, the fishbone cactus appreciates a potting mix that is well-drained, airy, and rich in organic matter. Combine one part commercial cactus/succulent soil, one part perlite, one part peat moss, and one part orchid bark mix to create the ideal mixture for the fishbone cactus.

Water

In contrast to desert cacti, the fishbone cactus appreciates regular watering. Water your cactus once the top 2 to 3 inches of soil has dried. It is important to avoid watering your fishbone cactus with cold water because it can shock the roots. Fishbone cacti are also sensitive to chemicals in regular tap water so if your water is hard, allow it to sit out for 24 hours before watering your cactus, or use distilled water.

Temperature and Humidity

Native to tropical environments, the fishbone cactus thrives in warm, humid conditions. Keep temperatures between 60°F to 78°F and humidity above 60%.

Fertilizer

Your fishbone cactus should be fertilized once in the early spring with a liquid cactus/succulent fertilizer. As long as its potting medium contains organic matter (peat moss and/or orchid bark mix) the fishbone cactus will not require any additional fertilizing throughout the year.

Pruning

Fishbone cacti do not require regular pruning to stay healthy but occasional trimming may be needed to neaten the plant. Propagate the cuttings taken during trimming to create new plants.

How to Propagate Fishbone Cactus

Fishbone cacti can be propagated using stem cuttings. Propagating your fishbone cactus is a great way to create new plants. Avoid propagating your fishbone cactus during the fall or winter months as it enters its dormant period. Instead, propagation should be done in the spring and summer months. Here’s how to propagate your fishbone cactus by stem cuttings:

1. Using a pair of sharp scissors or pruning shears, take cuttings from your plant, keeping the cuttings between 4 and 5 inches long.
2. Set the cuttings in a cool, dry location for at least 24 hours to allow the cut edge to form a callus.
3. Fill a small potting container with a well-draining, airy potting mixture and moisten the soil lightly.
4. Plant the cuttings in the pre-moistened potting mix. Set the planted cuttings in a location that receives bright, indirect light.
5. Lightly water the cuttings every few days to ensure the soil stays moist.
6. Once you see signs of new growth the cuttings are considered established and normal fishbone cactus care can resume. Transplant the cuttings into a new container at this point if you prefer.

Common Pests & Plant Diseases

The fishbone cactus enjoys humid conditions, making it susceptible to pests and diseases. Common pests include mealybugs, fungus gnats, and aphids. Typical diseases affecting fishbone cactus include root rot and fungal leaf spots.

How to Get a Fishbone Cactus to Bloom

Bloom Months

Fishbone cactus blooms in the late summer and fall. The plant flowers at night and each bloom lasts a day or two.

What Do Fishbone Cactus Flowers Look and Smell Like?

A fishbone cactus produces flowers that can be trumpet-shaped or have spikey petals, sometimes in multicolored layers of yellows, apricots, pinks, greens, and white. The plant's flowers have a heady sweet scent.

How to Encourage More Blooms

To promote blooming, the fishbone cactus should be exposed to cold temperatures in the winter to early spring—ideally between 52°F and 57°F. During the late spring, resume regular care. Fertilizing a fishbone cactus with a high-potassium tomato fertilizer in the summer might promote blooming later in the season.

Keep trying if these measures don’t result in any blooms. Fishbone cacti are notoriously difficult to get blooms from indoors and may need a couple of years of care before they are ready to flower.

Common Problems With the Fishbone Cactus

For the most part, fishbone cacti are low-maintenance and relatively problem-free. The most common problems with these cacti normally arise from improper watering or light conditions.

Leggy Growth

The stems and the leaves of a healthy fishbone cactus should be flat with wide zig-zagging edges. If you notice that all of the stems and leaves are thin and round, this may mean your plant needs more light. Try moving your fishbone cactus closer to the window.

Leaves With Brown Spots

Excessive humidity or water left sitting on fishbone cacti leaves can cause fungal leaf spots, which are slightly raised brown spots. This is more common in outdoor plants but it can also occur on indoor plants. While the leaf scarring is unsightly, it will not kill your plant. Cut off affected areas to prevent the fungus from spreading.

Wrinkled Leaves

Wrinkled leaves indicate that your fishbone cactus needs more water. If the leaves and stems aren’t completely dried out your cactus should bounce back as soon as you give it water.

From: thespruce