Fishbone Cactus Care

Fishbone Cacti adapt well to a mix of light levels and can easily thrive in bright, indirect sunshine as well as medium light too. Their flat leaves mean they have adapted to soak in as much sunlight as possible so are a great choice for most plant parents. They can deal with some direct sunshine but burn easily so be cautious. 

If they get the right level of sunlight over the year, your Fishbone Cactus will reward you by flowering so it is definitely worth keeping an eye on those light levels.

Fishbone Cacti are native to more tropical climates, rather than the desert so it is best to water it slightly more than your other cacti types. Make sure their soil is able to dry out between waterings as Fishbone Cactus plants don’t like to be sat in water too much. Adjust your watering schedule throughout the year so that the potting mix isn’t too soggy during autumn and winter. 

Although your Fishbone Cactus will prefer slightly warmer temperatures, they won’t die on you immediately if the temperatures drops a little so don’t worry about it too much. Avoid placing too close to cold drafts as this will over time damage the health of your Fishbone Cactus. 

Fishbone Cacti thrive in humid environments so are best placed in the bathroom or kitchen where humidity levels are natural higher due to showering and cooking. Misting, using pebble trays or buying a humidifier are the easiest ways for you to increase the humidity for your Fishbone Cactus. You can find out more in our humidity guide.

We wouldn’t worry too much about fertilising your Fishbone Cactus but if you do want to, we recommend using a water-soluble fertiliser at half strength so that it doesn’t cause too much harm to the roots. Fertilising too much can cause stunted growth, yellow leaves and a whole load of other problems. 

Every year or so, it may be time to repot your Fishbone Cactus as it can become unstable and stressed if root bound for too long. Make sure to handle the plant carefully when repotting to avoid any damage to the root system or leaves. Check to see if the roots are popping out from the top of bottom of the pot as this is a telltale sign that you need to repot your Fishbone Cactus. 

If you want to propagate your Fishbone Cactus, you can do this by taking a leaf cutting. Try to take a cutting of about 10cm to give it the best chance at producing roots. Leave the cutting in a dry place for a few weeks for it to harden at the base before potting directly into soil. You might choose to use rooting powder to encourage new roots to grow but it’s up to you! 

Another great thing about Fishbone Cacti is that they are completely non-toxic for dogs and cats so you don’t need to worry about it being near your beloved furry friends. Although they don’t have super sharp spikes like a lot of other cacti, Fishbone Cacti do have small spines that can cause irritation so wear gloves when handling. 

It can happen that your Fishbone Cactus grows a few flowers during spring and summer if the conditions are right. They need a little extra sun during summer and a touch of fertiliser to help them grow their incredible pink and purple flowers. 

When it comes to flowering though, be aware that they don’t last long and will wilt after only a day or two.

If your Fishbone Cactus isn’t producing flowers then don’t be alarmed. This only happens in mature plants and as long as your plant isn’t showing any other signs of unhappiness, a lack of flowers doesn’t suggest anything is wrong. Just make sure your plant gets ample sunlight during spring and summer to encourage flowers but otherwise, there is nothing you can do, they are a little unpredictable.

To help your Fishbone Cactus thrive, you need to make sure you are using a well-draining potting mix. This will help avoid problems caused by overwatering and waterlogged soil. Perlite is the main component that is needed for Fishbone Cacti.