Cacti Grafting

eekawill · Post by **eekawill** » Mon Mar 29, 2010 4:06 pm

then why does it seems that those red gymnos are the most common cacti people buy(at least people who arent enthusiasts)

Peterthecactusguy · Post by **Peterthecactusguy** » Mon Mar 29, 2010 11:07 pm

probably cause they are eye catching?
I am not into the grafted type cactus myself, however they look interesting. I grow most of mine outdoors so I have mostly normal looking cactus, however I just did plant a cristate form of the jumping cholla... Cylindropuntia fulgida var. mammillata fa. cristata

Post by **daiv** » Mon Mar 29, 2010 11:14 pm

Apparently people really like them. I don't have any interest in them myself, but I've always figured I was the weird one. Maybe I'm normal and everyone else is weird?

king_hedes · Post by **king_hedes** » Mon Mar 29, 2010 11:44 pm

ya i'm not to much into variegated grafted cactus either but i have seen some variegated astrophytums that looked really wild i like graft mainly for speedy growth and rapid pup production

Peterthecactusguy · Post by **Peterthecactusguy** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 1:01 am

some of the variegated ones that are mostly green with the white are pretty neat too. I just am not into the whole graft a weird red thing that cant grow by itself onto the top of another cactus, that just isnt me. Maybe I am the weird one, however since a few other people like spines, I think I am safe in that regard!

eekawill · Post by **eekawill** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 1:36 am

I am eager to try to graft some cactus i just need more stocks to graft on

gtstcactus · Post by **gtstcactus** » Sun Apr 04, 2010 11:59 pm

The ruby red gymnos are not grown that way.... They are gamma radiated to get that colour. So presumeably they were seed grown as a normal cactus that could survive on its own roots producing chlorophyll. It then gets this gamma radiation treatment (whatever that is exactly I'm not sure) and they change colour....

Peterthecactusguy · Post by **Peterthecactusguy** » Mon Apr 05, 2010 12:50 am

gtstcactus I am not sure where you have gotten your information, but from what I understand those cactus were first grown in Japan by grafting several pinker colored cactus together until they became red after many grafts. What makes you think radiation is used?

Please give me a source that says other wise...

gtstcactus · Post by **gtstcactus** » Mon Apr 05, 2010 2:04 am

I think it's in one of my books.... I'm at a friends place right now but I will check and post the source of my info as soon as I get a chance....

Peterthecactusguy · Post by **Peterthecactusguy** » Mon Apr 05, 2010 2:24 am

Post by **daiv** » Mon Apr 05, 2010 7:06 pm

If you ever want to know anything about red gymnos and similar plants, this is the place to go:

http://www.lapshin.org/cultivar/N42/smirnov-e.htm

(Article discussing radiation.)