Kate

Fishbone cactus

• 
  Bright light
• 
  Easy care

• Kate likes...
  • 
    Bright light

    She loves a spot that gets lots of light, but not too much direct sun. A bright room, but away from a window, is ideal.

  • 
    Light watering

    She’s not very thirsty. You can let her soil fully dry between drinks. Water very lightly in autumn and winter.

  • 
    Feeding

    You’ll see those wiggly stems grow quicker if you give her a cactus feed once a month in spring and summer.

• Quick facts

  BOTANICAL NAME

  Epiphyllum anguliga

  NICKNAME

  Fishbone cactus; zig zag cactus; rik rak cactus

  PLANT TYPE

  Cactus; indoor

  AIR PURIFYING?

  Yes

  PLANT HEIGHT (INCLUDING POT)

  20-30cm

  PET/BABY SAFE?

  Toxic if consumed

  NURSERY POT SIZE

  12cm

• About fishbone cactus

  For more care advice about Kate, check out ourcomplete guide to cactus care.

  You can see exactly why this plant is known as fishbone cactus. It’s also called zig zag cactus or rik rak cactus for the same reason. Those wiggly stems are irresistible. It originally comes from Mexico, where it’s usually found dangling from the branches of large trees in hot, humid forests.

  It’s a quick grower in the right conditions and its tendrils will grow as long as you let them. If it’s very happy, it should flower in autumn, producing beautiful, heavily scented blossoms. Those flowers only come out after dark and live for just one night, which is quite fantastically romantic and dramatic of them. In the wild it grows edible fruit, which tastes a bit like kiwi fruit. The chances of one fruiting outside the jungle are very slim, but you never know.

  If you decide to grow it on a shelf rather than in ahanging pot, make sure it’s aheavy one. You need something strong enough to hold the weight of all those amazing stems.

  Did you know?

  The fishbone cactus was first introduced to the UK way back in 1846.