The scientific name for this plant, Pedilanthus tithymaloides, means foot-shaped flower.

Devil’s backbone houseplant likes bright indirect sunlight. Plant in direct sun in fall and winter, but give it a little protection from stinging hot rays in spring and summer. Just turning the slats on your blinds can be enough to keep the tips of the leaves from sizzling.

Water the plants when the top few inches (8 cm.) of soil feels dry. Keep it only moderately moist, yet not soggy. The plant produces the best growth with a once per month fertilizer solution diluted by half. Devil’s backbone houseplant does not need to be fed in the dormant seasons of fall and winter. Choose a draft free location in the home when growing Pedilanthus indoors. It doesn’t tolerate cold breezes, which can kill off the tips of the growth.

Repot your plant every three to five years or as needed in a rich houseplant mix with plenty of sand mixed in to increase drainage. Use unglazed pots, which allow excess moisture to freely evaporate and prevent wet root damage.

The zig zag plant is drought-tolerant but does best in moist soil with regular watering throughout the summer and hardly at all during the winter. In the spring and fall, water moderately.
Provide this succulent plant with plenty of sunlight. It grows best in an area receiving sun throughout the day without direct sunlight. Look for partial shade to partial sun.