How To Care For Ric Rac Cactus (Epiphyllum anguliger)

26.12.2023 - 21:06 / getbusygardening.com / Amy Andrychowicz

Ric rac cactus is a fast-growing and easy to care for plant, making it ideal for beginners. It’s durable and can survive a good amount of neglect too.

But before you add the zig-zag foliage to your houseplant collection, you should learn about what it needs to thrive.

This detailed ric rac cactus care guide will show you exactly what you need to know. You’ll discover what the water, light, soil, and humidity needs are, how to troubleshoot the most common problems, and more.

Table of Contents

The ric rac cactus (Epiphyllum anguliger) is a tropical epiphyte native to Mexican rainforests, where you’d find it anchored in the nooks of trees. It can absorb nutrients and moisture from the air and rainfall through its branches and roots.

The draping, leaf-like branches have rounded lobes that protrude from either side in an alternating pattern.

They can range between 2-9’ in length, with each averaging 6” wide with 1-2” lobes. The flat branches look like a dull saw edge, which is how this plant got the nicknames zig zag and ric rac cactus.

There is only one type of Epiphyllum anguliger. But it has a similar appearance and growth habit to Selenicereus anthonyanus, aka the fishbone cactus. They are even often referred to by that same common name.

But the ric rac cactus is technically a different plant that has white flowers, and the lobes are closer together and more rounded. You can learn all about the fishbone cactus (Selenicereus anthonyanus) here.

If your ric rac cactus is mature and gets 6 or more hours of bright light a day in early spring, it can produce nocturnal flowers that bloom for just one night. Its other nicknames, moon cactus and queen of the night, come from this nighttime flowering habit.

The orchid style blooms form at