cactus grafting
 

I have an 18" tall ribbed cactus which was being eaten away about 4" from
the top and I was afraid that the top part would simply die. So I cut the
top off above the bad bit and cut the bad bit off the main stem and tried to
graft the top onto the bottom, if you see what I mean.

I held the top bit hard to the bottom bit with a weight, hoping it would
graft itself and grow together. Unfortunately, someone hit the thing and
knocked off the top bit and I now see that the cut ends, top and bottom,
have simply calloused over without trying to grow together.

What should I do to make this work?

Thanks

Rob Graham

"Robin Graham" wrote in message
...
I have an 18" tall ribbed cactus which was being eaten away about 4"
from
the top and I was afraid that the top part would simply die. So I
cut the
top off above the bad bit and cut the bad bit off the main stem and
tried to
graft the top onto the bottom, if you see what I mean.

I held the top bit hard to the bottom bit with a weight, hoping it
would
graft itself and grow together. Unfortunately, someone hit the thing
and
knocked off the top bit and I now see that the cut ends, top and
bottom,
have simply calloused over without trying to grow together.

What should I do to make this work?

Cut the callouses off and start again - and ban 'someone' from getting
within 6 feet of it.

--
ned

http://www.bugsandweeds.co.uk
last update 21.08.2004

In message , Robin Graham
writes
I have an 18" tall ribbed cactus which was being eaten away about 4" from
the top and I was afraid that the top part would simply die. So I cut the
top off above the bad bit and cut the bad bit off the main stem and tried to
graft the top onto the bottom, if you see what I mean.

I held the top bit hard to the bottom bit with a weight, hoping it would
graft itself and grow together. Unfortunately, someone hit the thing and
knocked off the top bit and I now see that the cut ends, top and bottom,
have simply calloused over without trying to grow together.

What should I do to make this work?

Use a very sharp thin blade and work quickly. Then make sure noone
knocks the thing off before it has had chance to graft. Grafting is a
bit hit and miss - even with practice not all grafts will take well.

However, since the two bits have been separate for a while you may find
that whatever you do now the scion will not be in a fit state to graft
because it is no longer well supplied with sap and a bit too limp to
cut. And there has already been time for the main stem to react to loss
of its growing point by activating another.

If you put the top bit over some damp coarse sand on loose gravel it
will probably root down at this time of year. And live for a long time
(months) without any roots at all if it has to. The base will regrow a
new main stem from one of the leading nodes (and will probably do this
now anyway).

I have had to decapitate columnar cacti before (and will shortly have to
do it again since the biggest one is out of growing space at 8' tall).

Regards,
--
Martin Brown

In article , Robin Graham
writes
I have an 18" tall ribbed cactus which was being eaten away about 4" from
the top and I was afraid that the top part would simply die. So I cut the
top off above the bad bit and cut the bad bit off the main stem and tried to
graft the top onto the bottom, if you see what I mean.

I held the top bit hard to the bottom bit with a weight, hoping it would
graft itself and grow together. Unfortunately, someone hit the thing and
knocked off the top bit and I now see that the cut ends, top and bottom,
have simply calloused over without trying to grow together.

What should I do to make this work?

You have to get a very good match between the two bits, so that there is
no air between them, and to hold them together very firmly. If you
wanted to try again, you would need to cut both ends again.

I'd suggest abandoning ideas of grafting, and simply grow on both parts
separately. If you place the top on top of damp cactus compost, it
should root and within a few years get back to 18 inches; meanwhile, the
stump will send up one or more offshoots from the top.

What on earth was eating it?

--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

If you place the top on top of damp cactus compost, it
should root and within a few years get back to 18 inches; meanwhile, the
stump will send up one or more offshoots from the top.

Yes, I agree. Unfortunately the stump is most of the plant, i.e. about 12"
and it would be a pity if it had a truncated top, albeit with shoots growing
from it. It's taken many years to get this far!

What on earth was eating it?

Don't know. Part of the stem was going brown and shrinking and I could see
that if I didn't do anything the bit above this would die off completely.

Rob

In article , Robin Graham
writes
If you place the top on top of damp cactus compost, it
should root and within a few years get back to 18 inches; meanwhile, the
stump will send up one or more offshoots from the top.

Yes, I agree. Unfortunately the stump is most of the plant, i.e. about 12"
and it would be a pity if it had a truncated top, albeit with shoots growing
from it. It's taken many years to get this far!

What on earth was eating it?

Don't know. Part of the stem was going brown and shrinking and I could see
that if I didn't do anything the bit above this would die off completely.

Sounds more like rot than being eaten.

--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

Sounds more like rot than being eaten.


Likely. I was being a bit generic here.

Rob

Thank you all for your help here.

Rob Graham