Upside Down Grafting

[Shane]

I successfully an M. gracilis fragilis a few weeks ago*. It has been growing, but only roots. To do the graft I cut the scion in half and grafted each half hoping one would take. Only the one grafted upside down took. I'd heard you could graft upside down but I don't remember where. Will it ever grow anything other than roots?

*See:
viewtopic.php?f=22&t=43532

[DaveW]

Yes they just put out offsets from the areoles, just as would any cactus you "blinded" by removing the growing point. You can then either root them down when large enough or re-graft them the right way up to produce a normal plant.

If only a few seedlings germinate cutting in half and grafting both top and bottom halves is one way to produce grafted mother plants much quicker.

[Shane]

Yes they just put out offsets from the areoles, just as would any cactus you "blinded" by removing the growing point. You can then either root them down when large enough or re-graft them the right way up to produce a normal plant.

If only a few seedlings germinate cutting in half and grafting both top and bottom halves is one way to produce grafted mother plants much quicker.

Thanks. I was hoping this was the case