Experiments Grafting to Opuntia

All about grafting. How-to information, progress reports, show of your results.
george76904
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Re: Experiments Grafting to Opuntia cacanapa

Post by george76904 »

Very interesting method for the epi grafts. I have never thought about doing it like that; I always love seeing the progress of your grafts!
-Will
rgiesecke
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Re: Experiments Grafting to Opuntia cacanapa

Post by rgiesecke »

george76904 wrote:Very interesting method for the epi grafts. I have never thought about doing it like that
To give credit where credit is due, I got the method for epis from the YouTube video linked on the last page. They are showing hints of new growth; I will update with photos soon.

Couple updates:
C gigantea seedling
C gigantea seedling
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Opuntia seedling scion
Opuntia seedling scion
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Degrafted S rauschii
Degrafted S rauschii
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rgiesecke
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Re: Experiments Grafting to Opuntia cacanapa

Post by rgiesecke »

Tried grafting a handful of S rauschii scions to smaller cuts of a pad of Opuntia gomei yesterday. O gomei pads get big enough to generate a lot of rootstocks (10-12) if this proves viable. However, it still comes out to 4 scions per 4 inches of pot space, just like lining them on top of a pad, but with a smaller/weaker rootstock. I doubt I'll prefer this approach, but wanted to give it another shot since I've gotten more confident w grafting.

Grafts in aftercare
image.jpg
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Edges with and without humid aftercare.
Cut surfaces at 36hrs with and without aftercare chamber
Cut surfaces at 36hrs with and without aftercare chamber
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rgiesecke
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Re: Experiments Grafting to Opuntia

Post by rgiesecke »

Update on Epi 'Padre'
Epi padre
Epi padre
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Update on Quiabentia verticillata
Q verticillata
Q verticillata
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Opuntia galapageia seedling scions
O galapageia seedling
O galapageia seedling
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Tephrocactus articulatus
T articulatus
T articulatus
image.jpg (36.98 KiB) Viewed 4126 times
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rgiesecke
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Re: Experiments Grafting to Opuntia

Post by rgiesecke »

Update on Opuntia galapageia seedlings... good new growth on 4 of 4 scions from 2 seedlings (3 on this rootstock).
O galapageia seedlings
O galapageia seedlings
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Mammillaria gracilis 'Arizona Snowcap' showing new growth.
M Arizona snowcap
M Arizona snowcap
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Cumulopuntia boliviana showing new growth.
C boliviana
C boliviana
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Hamatocactus setispinus monstrose showing new growth.
Hamatocactus setispinus monstrose
Hamatocactus setispinus monstrose
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Update on a Sulcorebutia polymorpha grafted early this spring.
S polymorpha
S polymorpha
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snarfie
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Re: Experiments Grafting to Opuntia

Post by snarfie »

Nice grafts and growth
Young professional amateur in Schlumbergera and Rhipsalidopsis growing and hybridizing
rgiesecke
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Re: Experiments Grafting to Opuntia

Post by rgiesecke »

snarfie wrote:Nice grafts and growth
Many thanks snarfie.

Update on one of the Opuntia galapageia grafts.
O galapagiea seedling
O galapagiea seedling
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Recently grafted Maihuenia patagonica.
M patagonica
M patagonica
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Recently grafted variegated Sulcorebutia rauschii.
S rauschii variegate
S rauschii variegate
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Lophophytum
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Re: Experiments Grafting to Opuntia

Post by Lophophytum »

How long do you wait to see new growth ?
I have tried to graft seedlings on opuntia. First I grafted them to non rooted pads and it failed. (no growth in one month and flappy seedlings)
Then I tried to graft seedlings on new growth of rooted cuttings but it failed again the same way. The opuntia I was using is opuntia humifusa.
rgiesecke
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Re: Experiments Grafting to Opuntia

Post by rgiesecke »

Lophophytum wrote:How long do you wait to see new growth ?
I have tried to graft seedlings on opuntia. First I grafted them to non rooted pads and it failed. (no growth in one month and flappy seedlings)
Then I tried to graft seedlings on new growth of rooted cuttings but it failed again the same way. The opuntia I was using is opuntia humifusa.
I've only tried a handful of seedling grafts to Opuntia; I've had some success with grafting to new growth pads, and some grafting to Opuntia seedlings. For the most part my impression is that the size of graft connection surface is directly tied to the graft success. That's why I prefer horizontal grafts to vertical grafts for most species of scion. I recently tried some horizontal seedling grafts, going for a bit more connection surface. No growth on them yet at a couple weeks grafted.

I sometimes see new growth on successful graft attempts within a week or two in early spring, but I've also had scions grafted in late summer and fall wait a full six months to show new growth.

I'm using primarily Opuntia cacanapa ellisiana pads.

I noticed your question in another thread about scions on Opuntia stalling out in growth. This does happen. I somewhat circumvent it by putting multiple scions per rootstock. Usually when one stalls another starts. And sometimes they all grow evenly. I've seen one scion stay initially stalled upwards of a year before starting new growth. Sometimes a scion shaded by other scions will stall out completely. I think the Opuntia is just willing to pause or abandon active undamaged growth points in a way that other rootstocks for the most part are not. I try to put 3-4 scions per pad, and though I get very good initial success rates, I have to expect to see some scions outcompete others (on the same rootstock) within a few months. As long as it's putting the growth energy into a scion I don't much care which one.

What I can say about grow rate and stall likelihood, overall success, etc. The light exposure of the scion makes a big difference in continued graft success, which may mean that heavily variegated scions are less likely to maintain good growth. In a couple experiments on this I grafted solitary pink Gymno scions on pads alongside other unvariegated scions. None of the pink scions survived in this scenario, even though they have taken and grown when they are the only scion the rootstock is presented with. Nothing conclusive, but I thought I'd share.

Some Rebutia miniscula scions staying even.
Rebutia miniscula
Rebutia miniscula
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The Echinocereus davisii scion second from the left was growing well until the one on the end began to partially shade it.
E davisii
E davisii
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Maihueniopsis subterranea update.
M subterranea
M subterranea
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Mammillaria gracilis monstrose update.
M gracilis monstrose
M gracilis monstrose
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HP22B
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Re: Experiments Grafting to Opuntia

Post by HP22B »

Apologies if you've already discussed it in this thread but do you put any sort of pressure on the scions after grafting or keep the grafts temporarily in higher humidity to increase your success?
rgiesecke
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Re: Experiments Grafting to Opuntia

Post by rgiesecke »

HP22B wrote:Apologies if you've already discussed it in this thread but do you put any sort of pressure on the scions after grafting or keep the grafts temporarily in higher humidity to increase your success?
Sorry for the slow response, I didn't get the usual notification email on your post for some reason.

I addressed those topics slightly on page 2, but I'm happy to discuss them in more detail.

I think it's Hanazono's grafting thread that discusses the difference between grafting "hard" and "soft" species scions. I recommend strapping down hard species scions; I also sometimes strap down soft species if they are not "plump" when grafted (rescue grafts), but usually softer scions will stick with Opuntia juice. To strap scions down I usually use cut rubber bands and packing tape. Of the photos posted below in this post, only the Strombocactus was strapped down.

I put fresh grafts indoors (70-75F) enclosed into styrofoam boxes with an open bottle of water, leave them for 2-4 days after grafting (opening momentarily once daily), then back to a shady spot in the greenhouse before they are gradually moved back to normal sun. This same approach is used for both rooted and unrooted rootstocks.
Attachments
Strombocactus disciformis
Strombocactus disciformis
image.jpg (38.85 KiB) Viewed 3903 times
Sulecorebutia rauschii variegated
Sulecorebutia rauschii variegated
image.jpg (42.79 KiB) Viewed 3903 times
Maihuenia patagonica
Maihuenia patagonica
image.jpg (27.57 KiB) Viewed 3903 times
Consolea moniliformis seedling
Consolea moniliformis seedling
image.jpg (41.31 KiB) Viewed 3903 times
Opuntia galapageia seedling
Opuntia galapageia seedling
image.jpg (39.67 KiB) Viewed 3903 times
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rgiesecke
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Re: Experiments Grafting to Opuntia

Post by rgiesecke »

Oh, meant to post an update on those 17 small rootstocks that I cut out of a single Opuntia gomei pad (2nd post on this page). I've seen the scion die off on 5 of them; the other 12 are showing signs of new scion growth.
Attachments
S rauschii on O gomei cut to fit 2" pot
S rauschii on O gomei cut to fit 2" pot
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rgiesecke
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Re: Experiments Grafting to Opuntia

Post by rgiesecke »

Some new grafts and some updates.
Attachments
Cintia knizei still taped
Cintia knizei still taped
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Tephrocactus malyana
Tephrocactus malyana
image.jpg (46 KiB) Viewed 3843 times
Tephrocactus pulcherimus incahuasi
Tephrocactus pulcherimus incahuasi
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Epiphyllum "Padre" update
Epiphyllum "Padre" update
image.jpg (58.67 KiB) Viewed 3843 times
Sulcorebutia polymorpha update
Sulcorebutia polymorpha update
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Tephrocactus articulatus variegated
Tephrocactus articulatus variegated
image.jpg (27.26 KiB) Viewed 3843 times
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ausrpned
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Re: Experiments Grafting to Opuntia- Q verticillata

Post by ausrpned »

Hi
Re: Q verticillata - image.jpg (69.03 KiB).

Looking at http://cactiguide.com/cactus/?genus=Quiabentia" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and following the links, makes me a bit concerned it is really Quiabentia zehntneri.

If that is the case, will you have any seed for Quiabentia zehntneri now or in the future?
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