The best time for grafting cacti. Grafting cacti: how do I do it? Cuttings of cacti: how to plant shoots
Whole cactus pieces
If you can't get cactus seeds, don't be discouraged. You can propagate cacti in another way.
Some types of cacti form shoots. They break off easily, but it's best to cut them off. sharp blade safety razor.
In cacti that do not give lateral processes, the top is cut off, and in the spherical echinocactus, the upper half. Mammillaria break out papillae.
The segments of the epiphyllum and the shoots of Peyresky are well cut.
Top pieces (they are called cuttings) can be cut from cacti only during growth, that is, from June to September.
You can separate the shoots in the spring.
The cut cuttings are dried with blotting paper and placed on their side in a warm place; a shaded, ventilated (not damp) place where they lie, drying out, for two or three days.
The plants from which the cuttings were cut are exposed to the sun as cuts. If there is no sun, then it is necessary to sprinkle the cut with crushed charcoal.
Coal acts on the plant as a disinfectant, protecting the plant from decay. Charcoal is to plants what iodine is to humans.
On the fourth day, the cuttings are placed in slices in a bowl with clean sand mixed with crushed coal.
The sand is slightly moistened.
So that high cuttings do not fall, they are supported with sticks stuck in the sand.
The bowl needs to be covered glass jar. Every day the jar is temporarily removed. After twelve days, roots appear, and then the jar is completely removed and the sand is moistened more.
The cuttings are kept in a warm and bright place, shading from too bright rays of the sun.
After some time, a whole cactus will grow from a piece. If the cutting was taken from a cactus already in bloom, then small plant it will bloom soon too.
Pay special attention to the different quality of the cuttings.
If the cactus room conditions does not bloom, such as Peyrescia, then you can get vaccinated, that is, plant a cutting blooming cactus on a cut of another, non-flowering cactus. So, a profusely blooming epiphyllum is usually grafted to the stem of Peyresky.
It is done like this.
A segment - a five-centimeter stalk of the epiphyllum with three segments - is sharpened with beveled cuts in the shape of a shoulder blade from two (flat) sides. Cut the top off the stem of the Peyrescia. The stem is cut in half with a depth of one and a half centimeters and a little more than the surface of the pointed cut of the epiphyllum cutting.
An epiphyllum (scion) cutting is inserted into the incision of the Peyrescia stem (rootstock) so that the cut surfaces coincide.
The graft with a stock is fastened with a rosehip thorn or a cactus thorn and tied with a thick (preferably woolen) thread. The stock before grafting and after grafting is not watered until it completely grows together with the scion. The grafted cactus is placed on its side in a warm, shaded place. At the same time, it is good to cover the cactus with a glass cap or jar.
Vaccinations usually grow together in one to two weeks, but the bandage is not removed for several more days.
Epiphyllum can be grafted to Peiresia in January - February.
Epiphyllum sprigs are also grafted to the incised flat-shaped stems of prickly pear.
To grow cacti of a more bizarre shape, a spherical echinopsis is grafted onto Peiresia.
To do this, the stem of the Peyrescia is sharpened with a cone and an echinopsis ball is placed on it, making a recess corresponding to the cone in the middle with a sharp knife.
They do it even easier by grafting mammillaria or echinocactus on the cereus. The top of the cereus column is cut off and planted like a cutting. A cut half or two-thirds of a spherical cactus is placed on the stalk of the cereus. Both cuts must be equal and exactly matched.
Cuts should be made evenly and quickly (with a sharp blade of a safety razor) and not allowed to dry out, but immediately grafted onto the rootstock.
At the same time, a piece of fleece is placed on top of the scion and the scion is tied together with a pot of stock crosswise with a thick thread.
After a day or two, so that when the scion dries up, the grafted sections do not lag behind each other, an iron ring or transverse strapping is applied to the stretched threads.
The most successful vaccinations are obtained with young cacti grown from seedlings or shoots.
Grafted cacti should be closely observed, comparing them with ungrafted cacti. In grafted cacti, one can notice the effect of the rootstock on the scion. The round cactus on my window, grafted on the cereus, began to stretch in length. On the mutual influence of rootstock and scion fruit trees I. V. Michurin also pointed out.
This remarkable phenomenon can be observed on indoor plants.
For careful care, cacti - these prickly freaks - reward us by blooming with the most beautiful and delicate flowers.
There is a pot on my window - no higher matchbox, in which lives a small dark green ball of a dwarf cactus (Rebutia minuscula) from Chile.
Imagine: this ball has blossomed. A graceful dark red flower appeared on it, resembling a thin lily.
It was a two day joy.
Text by A.A. Burenkov
Photo and plants by Elena Ivanova
The need for grafting cacti has many reasons at different stages of their cultivation. Behind a long period Collectors have learned to “communicate” with their pets both week-old seedlings and adults flowering plants or their cuttings.
Recall that grafting is an artificial splicing of plants of one family, when the freshly cut part of one cactus (graft) is combined and mechanically pressed against the cut of another (rootstock).
Ideally, the rootstock should be self-rooted, stable and in a state of growth at the time of surgery. Florists widely use grafting to grow and obtain in a shorter time ready for sale seedlings of cacti that develop slowly or difficultly on their roots. Growth is one of the reasons for the use of cactus grafting in culture. Grafting also serves to rejuvenate plants, save rotten specimens, to grow chlorophyll-free and cristate forms, to preserve species rare in nature and difficult to cultivate on their own roots in collections, as well as to give ampelous cacti a more effective decorative look. Each of these main reasons for the use of vaccinations differs in their technological methods and rules for the further maintenance of plants. Without going into the intricacies of the physiological compatibility of the "rootstock-graft" pair, we briefly characterize the main processes various options preparation and grafting of cacti.
- Growing.
It's no secret that every collector is eager to get adult specimens ready for flowering as soon as possible from the seeds acquired, sometimes with great difficulty. Even an experienced cactus grower is not immune from unexpected failures during crops. This may be a natural ignorance of the “biography” of seeds or the conditions for their storage after harvest, insufficient processing or keeping them before sowing, the natural resistance of seeds to germination or untimely sowing, and, which is not excluded, an unplanned attack by fungal infectious diseases. In any case, as in abundance healthy seedlings and a small number of unhealthy-looking seedlings of difficult-to-cultivate species, cacti growers very often use their grafting to reduce the risk of losing one or another species and, naturally, to accelerate its growth.
Experienced specialists begin to graft seedlings on the 7-10th day after germination, when the cotyledons "wither", and spines appear on the first areoles. The grafting of seedlings at this stage of their development requires experience, knowledge and the firm hand of a “surgeon”, because any grafting is nothing but surgery for both rootstock and scion. Recall that the success of grafting depends on the complete or partial alignment of the conductive bundles of the material to be operated on.
In week-old seedlings, the conducting channels (cambial ring) have not yet formed, therefore, young specimens of rootstocks are selected for their grafting. The most suitable for these purposes are one-year-old seedlings of echinopsis, myrtilocactus, or recently rooted young branches of pereskiopsis. When preparing rootstocks, their apical part is cut off, where the cambial ring has minimum diameter. After growing, the scion is cut off “at the root” from the rootstock and takes root. The grown seedlings of difficult-to-root species are cut off with a small (10-15 mm) part of the stock, which, after drying, renews the roots. In some cases, grafted seedlings remain on rootstocks for a long time, losing some of their natural characteristics.
- Rejuvenation.
With age, many species lose their decorative qualities: the basal part of the stem can be covered with a rusty crust, experienced diseases and improper maintenance lead to deformation or “ligation” of the stems, the spines change their color, as if turning gray with age, and only the apical part of the plants continues to please the eye with its fresh growth. It is she who is cut off for grafting, without the risk of losing the entire plant for the collection when trying to root. The remaining "stump" can give over time side shoots, which, when reaching sizes walnut on the mother plant, cut off and already, with less risk of losing their appearance, root or continue to graft. With the "children" of adult plants of many species, they do the same. It all depends on the natural behavior of the plant itself and the "commercial" inclinations of the collector. Often, abundantly growing species hide the stem of the “frail century” so much that no rejuvenation is required.
- Forced vaccination.
Even in the most well-groomed collection, cases of plant decay are not ruled out. The reason may be excessive moisture substrate for a long time, accidental damage to the stem, "dry rot" of its root part, from where the disease quickly spreads to the top. An experienced collector notices something wrong with the change in color of the plant, with the cessation of its growth during the growing season, and even with the smell. The rotting of a plant detected in time does not yet mean its death, and here the grafting of the remaining healthy part of its stem can be a radical method of salvation. In this case, it is necessary to ensure that during the cut, none of the conductive channels of the cambial ring is affected by rot, which is determined by the brownish color of the channel. Even if, when saving the plant, the very top of the stem remains and there is nowhere to cut further, then the “sick” channel can be carefully picked out sharp object(steel wire, needle), lubricate the wound with alcohol, and then proceed to inoculation. rotten mature plant, as well as chosen for rejuvenation, has a cut large diameter, therefore, Echinopsis, even in size, are chosen for vaccination (including Trichocereus).
- Vaccination is a way of life.
- "Ampelous" vaccination.
A special section of phytodesign is the grafting of "lodging or climbing" species of cacti. Grafting such plants onto tall rootstocks allows you to create decorative creations, the hanging branches of which, if properly formed, can serve as an adornment for any succulent collection of large flower farms and botanical gardens.
Material from the site www.vashsad.ua
The need for grafting cacti is undeniable. Of the whole variety of cacti, and more than 3000 species of them are known today, in a temperate climate in a room culture they graftabout a hundred. True, any of them can grow on its roots, another thing is how quickly it reaches the size corresponding to the type.
In culture, on their roots, they quickly die from a lack of substances formed during photosynthesis. The rootstock for them should be high, since its green epidermis provides nutrition for the entire "complex".
Cristate forms, which, like chlorophyll-free ones, are “genetic freaks”, are also desirable to grow on high rootstocks. This works for some monstrous cacti as well. They look better on rootstocks than on their own roots.
An important function of grafting is to stimulate the growth of the grafted cactus.
To do this, it is necessary to find a rootstock with a well-developed root system and a sufficient photosynthetic surface area. Vaccination is used on such rootstocks and for stimulation vegetative propagation the types that are normal conditions children are poorly educated.
In the grafted state, cacti are cultivated with a vulnerable, underdeveloped, capricious root system, and almost without change.reference habit of the grafted specimen.
In addition, at the latitude of Moscow and to the north, cacti brought from nature feel much better on strong rootstocks.
In the case when you need to replace weak roots with more reliable ones, give an additional, but not too plentiful (so as not to "fat"shaft") nutrition to the grafted plant, not to disturb the original appearance of the collection specimen, the stock should be low, with a well-developed root system. Root activity is needed here, not green epidermis.
And, finally, diseased specimens affected by root or side rot need to be vaccinated. The rootstock must providethe supply of a significant amount of nutrients, hormones, vitamins, enzymes, etc. to a weakened plant.when the scion reaches a normal state, it should be re-grafted or rooted.
Cactus grafting technology
The technology of grafting cacti is much simpler than that of fruit trees. Except in some cases where the split or bevel cut method is used, cacti are faster, better, and more reliable to graft using the straight cut method.
First of all, for successful fusion it is necessary that the rootstock be in a state of vegetation. For a scion, this is also desirable, althoughnot necessary. It must be remembered that what softer than fabric at the cut point, the longer they do not grow together.
A little about cactus rootstock
The rootstock (we are talking about columnar cacti) is best prepared in advance.The selected plant is cut upper part 0.5-1 cm above the site of the future vaccination. Along the edge of the "hemp" chamfer is removed, and the wound surface is dried. After two or three weeks hormonal stress passes at the rootstock, the cut takes on a convex shape, the stem becomes denser, sometimes buds awaken in the lateral areoles.
Spherical rootstocks, in order to avoid excessive drying, should be “pulled out” somewhat, cultivating them in low light.
The prepared (or unprepared) stock is cut at the desired height, removing, if any, all side shoots. From the unpreparedthe leg is chamfered. To keep the working cut fresh, unwinded, another thin cut (1 mm) is made, and this “film” is leftyut in place.
A cactus intended for grafting is processed in the same way. Then, having removed the protective films, it is applied to the rootstock.
Dear reader, be sure to watch the video on how to vaccinate cacti.
This is where the problem often arises. At various kinds with one stem thickness, cambial rings may be different diameter. ATIn connection with this, I will give averaged data on the ratio of the size of the cambial ring (stele) and the outer (by areoles) diameter of the stem:
Peireskiopsis sp. sp. 1:2
Austrocylindropuntia subulata 1:3
Hylocereus trigonus 1:9
Selenicereus lybr. sp. 1:5
Trichocereus pachanoi, T. spachianus 1:7
Eriocereus pomonensis 1:3
E. jusbertii 1:5
Myrtillocactus geometrizanus 1:7
Echinopsis lyubr. sp. 1:7
If there are no other rootstocks at hand, and the diameters of the cambial rings vary greatly, then the scion should be shifted onto the rootstock in such a way that at least parts of their steles converge. Otherwise, the fusion process will be delayed.
After imposing, the scion is fixed on the rootstock, providing the necessary pressure on each other. Pressing force and duration fixedSations are determined on a case-by-case basis. Usually fixing rings are removed on the 7-10th day.
Through the cut, almost all moisture evaporates. Of course, the higher the temperature environment, the more the injured parts of the stem are dehydrated and dry up. If the chamfer is not sufficiently or not removed at all, the storage tissue, drying up and retracting, will wrap the edge of the coarsened epidermis, which in turn will lead to rupture of already formed cells at the site of fusion. The challenge for the cactus grower is to reduce excessive moisture loss in the wound area.The easiest way to do this is to cover the cactus inoculation with a transparent cap.In case of severe dehydration of the wound zone, the fixation period is long.
In conditions with several high humidity air increases the likelihood of seeding the cut with spores of pathogenic fungi, andIt is essential that all equipment and tools be kept clean.
After removing the fixing rings, the grafted plant is allowed to "rest". Lowering the temperature at this time promotes the decomposition of starch polymers into easily digestible sugars, which increases the energy level of the plant. Next, the grafted specimen is cultivated in accordance with the specific needs of the cactus.
Cactus Grafting Photos and Videos
Video clip on this topic. For all flower lovers
The material was prepared by Ivanova E.
Vaccination is a surgical operation, i.e. difficult process splicing of the grafted part (scion) with the stock. Sometimes the vaccine fails. As they say, the graft "did not sit" on the rootstock. And it's not just that a technical error was made due to lack of experience. Success also depends to a large extent on the correct selection of the rootstock.
The fact is that plants, like animals, have an immune reaction of tissue incompatibility, that is, they reject tissues that are alien in protein composition, although to a much lesser extent than is observed in animals. Only when correct selection rootstock, a good and complete fusion of their tissues and conductive vessels occurs. After the grafted part grows together with the rootstock, the plant is a physiologically single organism and is called the dominant, grafted part of the plant. Thanks to the rich sources of rootstock vitality, the grafted part develops rapidly. It has been observed that some grafted seedlings develop about ten times faster than on their own roots. At the beginning, all vital functions are performed by the stock, but soon the scion, with the exception of chlorophyll-free forms, acquires the ability of assimilation and photosynthesis. The only thing left behind the rootstock is the function of supplying water with nutrients from the soil, performed by the powerful root system of the rootstock.
When caring for a vaccination, you need to focus on the requirements of the stock.
A cactus grower who wants to have a good collection must first of all make sure that he has sufficient and in good condition the appropriate rootstocks. The most commonly used cacti as rootstock are those that grow well from seed, or that are easily rooted from cuttings and grow quickly. A good rootstock should be unpretentious, fast-growing, absolutely healthy, juicy, soft (so that when cut a knife or razor can easily pass through the entire thickness of the rootstock stem), rooted, in the growth stage and ideally have a well-developed root system.
Grafting on a low rootstock looks better aesthetically than on a high one. The advantage of a high rootstock is that it gives accelerated growth(because the entire surface of the rootstock "works" for the scion) and is more durable.
The problem of rootstocks in the literature is not covered enough. There are very conflicting information about their properties and effects on scions. Selection of a rootstock in terms of physiological compliance with the scion, the effect of the rootstock on the scion in various conditions, the influence of the rootstock on pubescence, the length of the spines, on the flowering of the scion, the stability of the rootstock and other issues are still not properly resolved problems.
For grafting cacti, only cacti, that is, plants of the same family, can be used. Intergeneric vaccinations within the Cactus family tend to give good result, but there are cases of greater or lesser incompatibility of the rootstock with the scion, because not every cactus can be a good rootstock. This is expressed either in the fact that fusion does not occur at all, or in the fact that the graft does not develop normally, but gives roots that often go into the stock.
It is known that more than 70 species of cacti are currently used as rootstocks. Of this relatively large number, it is enough to know and have in your household only a few universal, most commonly used ones. Therefore, first of all, those rootstocks that are suitable for grafting almost all types of cacti are considered here.
In nature, there are no ideal rootstocks that would satisfy all the requirements for them. Each of them has both positive and negative sides. There are rootstocks for short-term vaccination (1) and rootstocks are resistant, hardy for long lasting, permanent vaccination (2).
1. To the first type of rootstocks for temporary vaccination should include Echinopsis, Selenicereus and Pereskiopsis. These rootstocks are mainly recommended for grafting seedlings and small shoots of cacti, followed by regrafting into large, stable rootstocks.
Let's consider each of these rootstocks separately.
From echinopsis Echinopsis eyriesii and its hybrids with minimally long spines are most commonly used as rootstocks. They are very easily propagated by seeds or shoots, which are formed in this species in large quantities on the mother plant, often with ready-made roots. However, for grafting it is better to use Echinopsis grown from seeds. Echinopsis are universal rootstocks that easily accept all types of scions. It has been observed that scions taken from Echinopsis take root much easier than those taken from other rootstocks. As a rootstock Echinopsis gives different results. Sometimes it can also be successfully used for permanent vaccination. But for most species, it is not sustainable, so it is recommended to remove the scion from this stock until the age of two or three. At the grafting site and below, partial removal of the areoles is recommended from these rootstocks, otherwise they give a lot of shoots.
Echinopsis require a sufficiently moist environment, otherwise they wither under the scion. When grafting on echinopsis, the latter must be cut so that the cambial ring, consisting of vascular fibrous tissues that supply water with nutrients from the root system, is clearly visible. Otherwise, it may shed the scion, since the growth point hidden under the cut made in the upper part of the plant forms a new plant head, which either sheds the scion or grows into it. This is the only rootstock known to us that has this property. For the remaining rootstocks, the cut is made in the upper, most juicy part of the stem.
From selenicereus the most commonly used rootstocks are Selenicereus grandiflorus, known as the "Queen of the Night", S. hamatus and S. pteranthus. The cacti grafted onto them grow very quickly, form strong spines and pubescence. These are heat-loving plants that require moderate watering. In winter, the temperature for them should not be below 10 ° C. Due to their small diameter, selenicereuses are used for short-term grafting of seedlings and small shoots, because. able to serve their grafts as long as they can bear their weight. However, rooted not at the beginning of the growing season, but closer to autumn, these rootstocks often do not tolerate wintering and die.
Vaccination deserves special attention pereskiopsis, belonging to the subfamily Opuntia, and not Pereskiev, as one would expect, judging by the name and the presence of leaves in this plant. This is explained by the presence of glochidia in pereskiopsis - the smallest villi in the areoles, inherent in prickly pear and causing a lot of inconvenience to everyone who comes into contact with them. It is necessary to pay attention to this when working with pereskiopsis.
Using this leafy cactus as a rootstock for young plants, very small seedlings, 1-2 days old, or even individual areoles, gives amazing results. In about three to four months, on this rootstock, it is possible to grow a relatively large plant from a tiny seedling.
Pereskiopsis devoid of leaves does not give such an effect. This is due to the following reasons:
Firstly, due to the large assimilating surface of its green leaves, an intensive process of photosynthesis occurs, supplying ready-made organic substances to the scion;
Secondly, a lot of moisture evaporates through the large surface of the leaves, which leads to increased transpiration of cell sap with minerals and plant hormones (auxins) up the vessels of the rootstock to the scion. The latter circumstance affects the formation of magnificent spines and good pubescence of the grafted part of the plant, and also contributes to the early flowering of the grafted plant.
In addition, pereskiopsis has a powerful root system. All these factors contribute to the rapid development of the scion on it. If pereskiopsis sheds leaves in the second season after grafting, this no longer affects the further growth of the scion.
Two species are commonly used for rootstocks: Pereskiopsis spathulata and P. velutina. This rootstock is very easy to propagate by rooting cuttings and grows rapidly. For vegetative propagation, fresh shoots 8-15 cm high, grown in a humid environment under diffused lighting, are used. Cuttings are cut where the leaves grow. In this place there is the greatest concentration of substances that induce the formation of roots. It is enough to stick freshly cut cuttings into relatively moist soil even without drying, and they form roots within seven to ten days. Pereskiopsis mother liquor quickly forms new shoots. Thus, for a relatively a short time you can get a large number of good rootstocks.
Grafting on pereskiopsis is done closer to the apical part in the usual way. The best time vaccinations - May-June. Vaccinations must be kept in a greenhouse with a temperature of 30-40 ° and high humidity air.
Seedlings are grafted at the age of five to ten days, but not older than two months. It is not recommended to graft older seedlings on this stock, as in this case the grafting is often unsuccessful. On pereskiopsis, seedlings of almost all types of rare cacti can be grafted. However, some cacti growers do not recommend grafting Mammillaria, Peleciphora, Solizia, etc. on this stock.
Vaccinations for pereskiopsis are almost 100% successful, since in this case there is a weak manifestation of the tissue incompatibility reaction, which is characteristic of evolutionarily primitive and young organisms, and pereskiopsis is just one of the primitive cacti
The disadvantages of pereskiopsis as a rootstock include, firstly, the fact that it requires sufficient heat and a humid environment in winter conditions. Only a well-equipped greenhouse with good lighting can satisfy such conditions.
Secondly, the disadvantage of pereskiopsis is its insignificant thickness; as a result, scions, especially spherical cacti, seem to envelop the rootstocks, as they say, a plant is obtained on a “chicken leg”.
Therefore, pereskiopsis is used only for temporary vaccination. As a rule, after six months, the upper part of the scion is cut off and grafted onto a permanent stock or rooted. The mother liquor remaining on pereskiopsis will soon be abundantly overgrown with shoots that can be re-grafted. Thus, it is possible to quickly multiply rare species cacti, which usually do not shoot. The rootstock acts productively for three to five years.
2. Most of the grafted plants need a particularly cold wintering. Therefore, as permanent rootstock suitable species capable of tolerating low temperatures. The second type of rootstocks - for permanent vaccination, in the first place should include trichocereus, eriocereus, cereus, prickly pear and hylocereus. The best of them are trichocereus, of which the most famous are Trichocereus spachianus, T. pachanoi, T. macrogonus, T. candicans, T. schickendantzii, T. lamprochlorus.
These are columnar, reaching 3-6 cm in diameter, juicy, hardy and well-growing cacti. We can briefly say the following about the properties of each of them as rootstocks:
T. spachianus - well accepts all types of grafts. Especially good as rootstock for Espostoa, Oreocereus, Haageocereus and most globular cacti. Rebutia, lobivia and similar genera on T. spachianus are not recommended to be grafted. Due to the deterioration of their flowering. Rootstocks grown from seeds work better than plants propagated vegetatively for decades. This stock should be watered sometimes in winter, otherwise it shrinks a lot, shrinks and then does not recover.
T. pachanoi - excellent rootstock. Especially good for neoporteria, copiapoa. horridocactus, etc. Under the scion it gets very fat, it does not become woody inside. It tolerates cold and dryness well. It accepts grafts well even during the period of vegetative dormancy, therefore it is suitable for grafting plants that need to be saved in winter. Not suitable for miniature species.
T. macrogonus - in principle a good permanent stock for many cacti. But different katusovody evaluate it differently. Previously, it was considered the best stock, but now it is used less frequently, since, firstly, many species grow well on it to the detriment of appearance, i.e. fatten and lose their natural dimensions. Secondly, the processes or children that form on this trichocereus tear its tissues. When the children are removed, a large wound remains, which can serve as a place for the penetration of all kinds of infections. This stock is good for Cephalocereus senilis; some cacti growers prefer it for white mammillaria.
T. candikans - the thickest of all Trichocereus. Reaches 12 cm across, recommended for grafting big plants. well received and long years holds a scion; used for grafting valuable plants, as it is rare enough to be used for regular grafting. It tolerates cold and drought well.
T. schickendantzit - very juicy rootstock, used for those species that shrivel heavily in winter. It has a drawback - it intensively forms shoots. Very good for Echinocereus, especially pectinate and Mammillopsis senilis. Tolerates very cold winters.
T. laraprochlorus - a wonderful, juicy, non-woody rootstock, growing along with the scion in breadth; accepts all types of grafts and even dried cacti. However, it is very rare. Therefore, it is mainly used to save plants that cannot be rooted and which would hardly have taken root on another rootstock.
Of all eriocereus the most versatile and reliable rootstocks are Eriocereus pomanensis and E. jusbertii. The best Eriocereus rootstocks are young plants grown from seeds. Old plants that have been pruned for decades degenerate and often become impotent as rootstocks. Disadvantage - in the winter you do not wear dryness, otherwise in the spring they begin their growth late and with great difficulty. But the death or depletion of these rootstocks is very rare.
E.pomanensis can be used all year round. To do this, it must be constantly kept growing. Accepts grafts of all kinds, which look very beautiful and natural on it. Promotes lush bloom. By cutting off part of such a stock under a scion, it can be re-rooted without problems, deepening over time and thus obtaining the appearance of a rooted plant, but with a safety net in the form of a strong helper with a developed root system.
E. jusbertii - in diameter reaches 4 cm. It is quite deservedly put in one of the first places. But in addition to the advantages already listed, it has one salient feature. The best time for grafting on it is early spring, that is, before the start of the growing season. In summer, during the period of full growth, vaccinations against it usually fail due to the abundant and rapidly oxidizing cell sap. However, experienced cactus growers recommend grafting, if necessary, in summer, but in cool weather, or putting a freshly grafted plant in the refrigerator. This species is indispensable for cacti that tend to fatten on other rootstocks.
E. bonplandii - grows very quickly, and if the growth point is violated, strong succulent shoots form on it. Rooted, they are also used as a stock. Experiments with grafting on unrooted cuttings of this species have shown that such grafting is possible only in summer hot weather, during the period strong growth rootstock and scion.
From cereus we received the most widespread as a stock Cereus peruvianus. Less common: C. jamacaru, C. dayamii, C. stenogonus. These rootstocks have almost the same properties as C. peruvianus. As a rule, young plants are used for rootstocks. The Peruvian caerus is a good rootstock for espostoa, oreocereus, and other columnar cacti. Gymnocalyciums, astrophytums and other globular cacti from Mexico cannot stand this stock. Usually a year later, between the scion and the rootstock, a layer of dead cells forms and the scion dies. In the first year after grafting, during a cool winter, dark spots appear on the rootstock, and the rootstock often dies. The reasons for this phenomenon have not yet been established. It is believed that this is some kind of physiological disease. In the second year and beyond, this spotting no longer appears. The stock often becomes woody and the graft becomes long-term.
From prickly pear O. ficus-indica, O. tomentosa, etc. are usually used as rootstocks. These rootstocks are resistant to lobivia, rebutia, copiapoa, hymnocalyciums, vilkoxia, tephrocactus, etc. Beautiful specimens are formed on these rootstocks in a relatively short time. If the grafting on prickly pear is a good success, then this rootstock is in the full sense of the word eternal.
Light blue as if covered with frost, beautiful in appearance and succulent myrtilocactus less suitable as rootstocks, as they are more sensitive to cold.
Particular attention should be paid to hylocereus used as rootstocks. Three equivalent, almost indistinguishable appearances are usually used for grafting. These are Hylocereus triangularis, H. guatemalensis and H. undatus.
N. triangularis successfully used by many as a universal rootstock, resistant to many species. It is very accessible, as it gives many shoots that take root easily with almost no drying of the cut. It has a highly developed root system. The soil is not picky, needs moderate watering. Under the scion, it does not deplete, but on the contrary, it swells, as it were, and grows in breadth. Accepts all types of grafts. It is used for grafting only seedlings and small shoots that grow very quickly on it. Especially good for spherical cacti. Cacti grafted on hylocereus form beautiful spines and good pubescence. The most suitable as rootstocks are succulent shoots 5-10 cm high, grown in diffused light. The disadvantage of this rootstock is its sensitivity to cold and bright light. solar lighting. However, its stability in this respect can be somewhat improved. To do this, hylocereus, before grafting on it, must be kept for one season in winter conditions, at a temperature of 5-10 ° C. Once the grafted plants on this rootstock have reached sufficient size, they can be removed and rooted. If the plant is difficult to root, you can cut the stock about 15 cm below the grafting site and root when the cut dries out a little. A rootstock of this length forms roots relatively quickly and a plant grafted onto it will give the impression of growing on its own roots.
Pereskiopsis and Hylocereus reproduce in most cases vegetatively. And although they have recently gained wide popularity as good rootstocks, these plants have not yet been observed to degenerate, as is quite often the case with other types of cacti, including rootstocks that undergo multiple propagation only by vegetative means. This is another one of positive qualities these wonderful rootstocks.
A few words about rootstocks for special purposes.
For ampelous, hanging forms of cacti of epiphytic cacti (aporocactus, zygocactus, Schlumberger, etc.), rootstocks are used pereskii: Pereskia aculeata and P. sacharosa.
For non-chlorophyll forms: Myrtillocattus geometrizans, as well as Hylocereus triangularis.
For tephrocacti, rare prickly pear, such as Austrocylindropuntia clavarioides, known as the "Negro's hand", as well as cristate forms of prickly pear and tephro cactus, the best rootstock is Austrocylindropuntia subulata.
For epitelants, a very good stock is Echinocereus salm-dyckianus and E. pentalophus.
Echinocereus blanckii, E. cinerascens can be good rootstocks for small Mammillaria, Blossfeldia, Epithelantha.
Finishing the topic of rootstocks and their properties, I would like to note that all these plants have a powerful root system and require nutritious soil. Therefore, the pots for them should be spacious so that the roots of the rootstocks can develop freely and provide sufficient nutrition for the plants grafted onto them.
Being engaged in the association "Decorative Floriculture", we saw a grafted cactus in the magazine. Grafting is the connection and subsequent fusion of two different cacti. There is nothing complicated in this, we thought and decided to splice two different types cacti in decorative purposes: from two fairly common types of succulents, get a plant that our friends do not have. And they even came up with a name for the new plant, “cactus palm”.
The first prototypes of our work were 10 cacti of the Echinopsis species, which we spliced with the zygocactus common in our homes, often erroneously called "Decembrist". armed sharp knives, we connected the cacti as it was done in the illustration. To our great chagrin, nine out of ten vaccinations died. And only one of the prototypes successfully completed the splicing process, and it bloomed in five weeks. Watching the development of his flower, we asked ourselves the question: why did the grafting of other prototypes fail? This is how we formulated our problem. research work.
During the discussion of the reasons for the unsuccessful vaccination, several hypotheses were put forward:
Sasha has a “light hand”. After all, it was her copy that took root and bloomed;
Noting the decay of five cacti, it was suggested that the inoculation was not sterile, that is, pathogenic bacteria penetrated into the open section of the cactus tissues, which prevented the engraftment of the zygocactus;
We know too little about the rules of vaccination and do not take into account factors unknown to us.
Each hypothesis had to be tested.
The purpose of the research work: to determine the conditions for successful grafting of cacti.
We recognized the “light hand” hypothesis as not scientific, because in the literature we studied, this hypothesis did not find its confirmation. The next stage of the experiments showed the incorrectness of this assumption: the vaccinations made by Sasha " light hand” did not want to grow together.
Sterilization of instruments during vaccination brought positive result, no rot was observed on the grafted cacti, but the splicing of cacti did not become higher: out of five-10 control specimens, only one took root, but did not bloom.
We have drawn up a plan for testing the third hypothesis.
1. Study the structure of the cactus.
2. Find out the features of caring for cacti in general and for a grafted plant in particular.
3. Vaccinate taking into account the acquired knowledge.
Together with the leader, we got acquainted with the structure of cactus tissues, we wrote down new concepts in the diary of observations:
The cactus you are about to graft is called a scion, and the one you are grafting onto is called a rootstock.
Phloem - complex fabric, conductive nutrients to various organs.
Xylem - (from the Greek "tree") - the main tissue, consisting of living and dead cells. At perennials it's called wood.
Between these two tissues is the cambium - consisting of dividing cells, it is this tissue that allows the cactus to grow. From the literature we studied, we learned that the intersection of the cambial rings of grafted cacti is one of the main conditions for successful grafting. This statement became another hypothesis to be tested.
We have made a layout internal device cactus tissue.
The success of vaccination depends in part on proper cooking scion and rootstock for vaccination.
Rootstock requirements.
Not all cacti can be used as rootstock.
The stock should have a well-developed root system.
A cactus with weak roots cannot be grafted with a species that needs abundant nutrition.
Do not water the stock for three days before grafting.
Echinipsis eyrisii is a versatile but not very durable rootstock. This cactus gives numerous lateral shoots - "babies", sometimes already with ready-made roots. They are easy to root, grow - and here is the finished stock. It is good to plant seedlings or small cuttings on it for growing for 1 or 2 years and then transferring them to their roots
Graft requirements:
Watered the day before vaccination.
"Forest" cacti with a weak root system are well suited for scioning.
Vaccination time: Vaccination made in the second half of spring - early summer is considered favorable. But our observations have shown that vaccination is possible at any time of the year, only the percentage of its success decreases.
Vaccination progress:
Before grafting, first of all, disinfect the knife. To do this, you can wipe it with alcohol tincture or hold the tool in boiling water for 1-2 minutes. At the height at which you intend to graft, cut off the stock of your choice. Then cut the chamfer in a circle, in other words, sharpen the stock like a pencil, the center of which is the ring of conductive bundles, but not reaching it a little. Make another cut on the rootstock with one movement of the knife, but do not remove it, but leave it lying in place. Now make a cut on the scion and, quickly removing a thin circle on the rootstock, combine both cuts. It is important that the rings of the vascular bundles of the scion and rootstock match. If their diameters are different, then it is necessary to shift the scion so that part of its ring of vascular bundles coincides with part of the ring of vascular bundles of the rootstock. When grafting a seedling, it is necessary that its ring of vascular bundles, expressed as a point, coincide with any place on the ring of vascular bundles of the rootstock.
After grafting, you need to lightly press both parts to each other. To do this, you can use soft elastic bands or woolen thread or weights suspended on threads.
Treat sections of cuts that are not in contact with yourself immediately with sulfur or crushed coal. Place the grafted plant in a dry, warm, but not sunny place.
Proper grafting of cacti:
1 - the diameters of the rings of the conducting bundles are the same; 2 - displacement of the scion when the rings do not match
Pressing method after vaccination
Rules for caring for a grafted plant:
We cover the cactus for a week plastic bag to avoid drying out;
A grafted cactus cannot be kept under straight lines. sunbeams, we put in the sun only for 2-3 weeks after vaccination;
The material pressing the stock to the scion is removed for 10 days;
We water the grafted cactus no earlier than a week later, preventing water from entering the open cut, do not spray.
After three weeks, you can judge the success of the vaccination.
Signs of a failed vaccination
1. The graft has taken root.
2. Rotting of the cut.
3. Wrinkled, reduced in volume or withered scion.
A failed graft can be updated with a new cut below the dried tissue, this will reduce the number of experimental cacti specimens.
Vaccinations made using the acquired knowledge gave a positive result: 9 out of 10 control specimens took root, 4 - peduncles.
We have compiled a table of experiments.
No. of prototype No. 1 No. 2 No. 3 No. 4 No. 5 No. 6 No. 7 No. 8 No. 9 No. 10 Experiment 1
- - +* - - - - - - - Experience 2
Experience 3
Experience 4
+* + +* +* - + + + +* +
Experience No. 1 - the first vaccination.
Experiment No. 2 - testing the “easy hand” hypothesis.
Experiment No. 3 - testing the hypothesis of the effect of sterility on the success of vaccination.
Experiment No. 4 - testing the hypothesis of the influence of the coincidence of cambial rings on the success of vaccination.
Conventional designations.
Vaccination failed.
Successful splicing of cacti.
* after 5-7 weeks, the inoculation gained a peduncle.
Conclusion: the success of vaccination depends on:
From the coincidence of the cambial rings of the rootstock and scion;
From the correct selection and preparation of the scion and stock;
From the sterility of the vaccination;
From proper care for the grafted plant.
1. Cacti that do not grow on their roots at all, for example, the red form of Mikhanovich's hymnocalycium.
2. Salvation of the rotten winter period cactus.
3. Growing seedlings of slow-growing cacti with their subsequent transfer to their own roots.
4. For reproduction of cacti.
4. Cacti that have a weak root system and do not grow well in our conditions on their roots.