De grafted Astrophytum advice needed

[walker87]

Hi folks,
I recently received a couple of de grafted asterias which still have a very short hylocereus stalk which is completely dried however it has produced roots.
Should I just plant it and rely on hylo roots or do a full degraft and cut the hylo out?

Thanks in advance.

[Hanazono]

G'day waker87,

I have not seen the photo but I assume asterias have alived short vascular bandles of Hylocereus.
Since Hylocereus is not a permanent stock, you have to remove the stalk someday.
The stalk will alive in soil for 3 years and die eventually.

The rooting of old asterias is not easy.
How old these asterias will be 3 years later?
This answer should be a key of your decision making, go now or later.

Unfortunately the union of scion and stock is in deep location of scion when you use Hylosereus stock.
This is a disadvantage of Hylocereus stock.
You have to remove any stock tissues when you did a normal degrafting
When the scion is a round shape, you may have to cut off a half of scion if you wanted to cut simply.
I normally dig out stock tissue for round scions.

Please have a look attached sketch.
You have to remove all red and green parts.

Frank
https://cactiguide.com/forum/download/f ... w&id=70725

[walker87]

Thankyou for the advice Frank.

I have successfully followed your degrafting advice in the past and cut out (as shown in your picture) the stock plant.

The largest asterias must be at least 4 years old as it is very large.
Roots coming from the stock appear to be strong and healthy but the stalk of hylo is very very dry.

I cut out the hylo on some of the smaller ones but I am very nervous about the largest as it is truly a remarkable specimen and I don't want to kill it.

It has been set on dry substrate for now pending next steps.
Would a picture help for best method?

[Hanazono]

Please put your photo on this thread.
I will have a look.

[walker87]

First time uploading pictures, hope this works.

[Hanazono]

G'day walker87,

Please retune the asterias into soil. Please do not cut any parts of asterias now.

Since the asterias is varigated, it may not be able to form roots by itself.
When you think the asterias seemed be weak, depot it and go to a normal degrafting.

Frank

[walker87]

Hi Frank,
Thank you very much for the advice and guidance.

Fingers crossed the plant grows successfully.

I'll post an update in the future.