Ric Rac Cactus: How to Grow And Care for Fishbone Cactus

Hey Folks! Welcome back!

I hope you are doing great in your gardening field. Have you ever heard of the Ric Rac Cactus before? Ric Rac Cactus is one of the famous varieties that is every farmer’s adorable choice. It will fill your garden area with its eccentric and aesthetic look. They are also called the fishbone plant and also the zigzag cactus.

Are you ready to enjoy the benefits of its amazing blooms, especially in the time of fall season? It tends to produce fragment flowers in the plant that cherish your mind. Maintain the growth of the plant by providing it will a good amount of water, light, humidity, temperature, etc. 

This plant will grow on other plants wildly. They are amazing houseplants that can be maintained by following this guide. So let’s get started to throw some light on all the segments so that you come to know how to grow and care for Ric Rac Cactus in your home garden.  

Quick Care Overview

Common Name	Ric Rac Cactus, Fishbone Cactus, Zig Zag Cactus
Scientific Name	Selenicereus Anthonynaus
Family	Cactaceae
Origin	Southern Mexico
Growth Rate	Medium
Identification	Green waved stems that resemble fishbones
Height	Up to 2 feet tall
Soil	Cacti suited soil
Water	Water when the top inch of soil is dry
Temperature	65-85F
Sunlight	Bright indirect sunlight
Toxic to Cats & Dogs	No
Toxic to Humans	No
Pests	Mealybugs, scale, aphids
Diseases	Root rot

What is a Ric Rac cactus?

Ric Rac Cactus is one of the plants that originate from the Rainforest of Mexico. It will grow well in the warm and humid climatic conditions. It is also famous for its other names that is fishbone cactus, Orchid cactus, and the Zig zag Cactus. 

All you will observe is a stem on the plant as this plant will not produce leaves in the plant. It tends to produce cool stems that look unique. You can try to display this variety in a hanging basket so that the stems dangle and look amazing. 

It produces green, vibrant-colored stems that almost look like skin it is known as a zig-zag cactus as it produces that type of pattern in the plant. So you should grow this easy-to-maintain plant in your home garden which is also safe for the pet. It will also help in purifying the indoor air in your area. 

How to Grow Ric Rac Cactus in Your Backyard? 

As I already explained, cuttings are the best way to propagate a plant and the same is the case with Ric Rac Cactus which can be easily grown with the help of stem cuttings that you will pinch off from the mother plant. So let’s get started to know the steps on how to grow Ric Rac Cactus: 

• First, make use of clean and sharp sterilized scissors to take the stem cuttings from the mother plant.
• Then cut stem cuttings from the mother plant that should contain 2 to 3 nodes in every cutting.
• Remove the leaves from the base of the nodes and, the remaining leaf in the cuttings. 
• Then, put the cuttings in the container that is filled with water at the bottom and leave the leaves above the water.
• Place your cuttings at a location where they can receive plenty of bright, indirect sunlight.
• Water your pothos one time a week so that they grow well.
• After 15 to 20 days you will observe tiny roots coming from the nodes. 
• Then when it becomes 1 inch long, you can move it in the soil by making use of a well-drained potting mix for your plant.
• By planting the cutting in the soil, keep in mind to water the plant till the excess water flows out from the drainage holes.
• Place the plant in bright indirect sunlight so that it grows well and you can resume watering after 10 to 15 days. 

How to Care for Ric Rac Cactus? 

Below are the caring tips for your plant to follow for maintaining a healthy plant in your garden area. They are as follows: 

• Sunlight needs
• Watering needs
• Repotting needs
• Fertilizer needs
• Humidity needs
• Pruning needs

Let’s begin to know about the Caring Tips for Ric Rac cactus in detail: 

Sunlight needs

• This plant will grow best if you provide it with a good amount of Bright Indirect Sunlight. (Note: Direct sunlight will burn the leaves of the plant)
• Usually, this plant grows under the canopy, so direct sunlight will not harm it.
• Excess sunlight will lead to a red tint in the leaves.
• To grow this plant well, place it near the south-facing window.

Watering needs 

• The Ric Rac cactus requires moderate watering for its growth. Let the soil dry and then water the plant. 
• When the topsoil of the plant becomes dry, then water the plant. 
• So, check the moisture of the soil by inserting a finger inside the soil and if it feels dry, then water the plant. 
• Water the plant only so that it reaches all segments of the plant.
• Keep watering until the water flows out from the drainage holes.

Repotting needs

• This plant requires to be repotted every 2 to 3 years. Repotting is done when the plant grows vigorously in its current pot.
• Choose a pot that should be 1 to 3 inches larger in diameter as compared to the older pot. 
• While repotting, be cautious as the roots are very delicate, so when you separate the roots from the pot we have to remove the access file from the roots.
• Also, you have to make use of fresh poting mix for your plant. 

Tips 

• Choose a location that is bright and warm for your plant.
• Do not feed direct sunlight to your plant as it will burn the leaves.
• Use porous soil which will help grow it.
• During winters, fertilize the soil once a month to avoid dryness.
• Make use of liquid fertilizer in spring and summer. 
• Feed them with fertilizer once a week.
• Repot the plant in the spring or summer season.
• This plant requires a high level of humidity for its growth.
• Also, it is a drought-tolerant plant, but it will work best if you provide the plant with water.
• Last, but not least, trim off the plant with time as occasional trimming will help in encouraging new growth in the plant. 

Fertilizer needs 

• This plant is highly in need of fertilizer so that it remains healthy and flourishes in your garden area. 
• Fertilization will help increase the potential of a plant to flower in your home garden. 
• Make use of water-soluble fertilizer as it will help in growing Lush foliage in the plant. 
• Fertilize this plant after every three months from the time of spring till summer. 
• Dilute the strength of the fertilizer to half so that there is no excess fertilization in the plant as it can harm the growth of the plant. 

Humidity needs

• The Ric Rac cactus is one of the plants that is native to the forests of Mexico and requires an ideal level of humidity for its growth.
• There is no need to buy a humidifier for this plant as they can work well in the average humidity level.
• Also, as you know this plant is a low-maintenance plant, it will thrive even without the high humidity. 

Pruning needs

• Pruning is done to remove the excessive growth from the plant to maintain a healthy shape and size in the plant.
• You do not have to repot this plant regularly. Remove the dead and decayed leaves from the plant.
• Prune the plant from the bottom at the baseline as it will stimulate new growth in the plant. 

Wrapping up the context 

In this guide, you come to knwo that Ric Rac Cactus is one of the famous varieties that is every farmer’s adorable choice. It will feel your garden area with its eccentric and aesthetic look. They are also called the fishbone plant and also the zigzag cactus.

It tends to produce fragrant flowers in the plant that cherish your mind. You have to maintain the growth of the plant by providing it will a good amount of water, light, humidity, temperature, etc. This plant will grow on other plants wildly. I hope you’re clear with the guide. 

Thanks for reading! Happy Gardening! 

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