Not only is it much better than anything you’ll find at a big-box store, it also saves you money. Note: Commercially available cactus/succulent-specific potting mixes will work okay for a fishbone cactus, but this plant will really benefit from a DIY potting mix blend. Otherwise, you will have to use more advanced watering techniques than the methods we usually recommend (basing your frequency of watering on the weight of the pot, for example). If your pot doesn’t have a drainage hole, you can use the ‘pot in a pot’ method, or you can drill a drainage hole in your pot. If you don’t want to use a hanging planter, a regular pot or planter is also fine, as long as it has a nice-sized drainage hole. Since they have sprawling stems, which form a trailing habit, you can use a hanger plant. This plant is widely generally considered non-toxic, and in fact, the fruits of the plant are reportedly edible. Pet AccessĪlthough we have not found confirmation from our most trusted sources (such as ASPCA), the general consensus is that fishbone cactus is safer to eat than fishbones themselves. However, if you see signs that the plant is beginning to sunburn, make sure to move it out of direct sunlight. They may do okay in a limited-exposure west-or south-facing window if that’s your only option. They will also typically do fine in locations where they only get bright indirect light. This is an ideal plant for a north- or east-facing window. One of the reasons fishbone cacti are such popular houseplants is that unlike most plants, including most succulents and especially desert cacti, they do not need or want full, direct sunlight. Direct sunlight, especially in the afternoon, will cause sunburn (permanent brown leaf discoloration). Like other epiphytic plants that grow under the foliage of jungle trees, they prefer indirect or dappled sunlight. Even temperatures in the 40s Fahrenheit can cause them to die back, so anywhere colder than USDA zone 10, they need to be grown in pots and brought inside for winter.Īlthough these plants are intolerant to cold, they are also intolerant to direct sunlight. Loose, quickly-draining soil is essential.Īs you might expect of a jungle plant, fishbone cacti need consistently warm temperatures. Note: Since they evolved to grow on tree-limbs, they do not do well in the dense, poorly draining soil of most gardens. They are epiphytic plants, meaning that they tend to grow in trees with long slender leaves that hang down, forming a trailing habit. These cacti originated in the coastal and tropical regions of Mexico. Fishbone cactus can be grown outdoors under certain circumstances, but for the most part they work much better as houseplants.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |