How to graft a Christmas cactus? Learn it easily in 3 minutes

The Christmas cactus is a relatively easy plant to grow and usually blooms in winter, but many people's Christmas cacti do not grow very lushly. If you want the Christmas cactus in your home to grow more densely, grafting is a good method. So how do you graft a Christmas cactus? Next, let me teach you in 3 minutes, and even beginners can complete it easily!

1. Benefits of grafting a Christmas cactus

1. After grafting, it grows better and is easier to shape;

2. Grafting can effectively reduce the problem of root rot;

3. After grafting, it is easier to care for and tends to fill the pot.

2. How do you graft a Christmas cactus?

1. Grafting time

Christmas cactus grafting is generally best in spring and autumn, but grafting in late spring and early summer is best, because the temperature is suitable, the survival rate is high, and the grafted Christmas cactus grows vigorously and has higher ornamental value.

2. Rootstock selection

For grafting a Christmas cactus, you can choose plants such as cactus, columnar cactus, tiger pear, three-ribbed arrow, dragon fruit, and so on as the rootstock. Generally, cactus is chosen as the rootstock.

3. Christmas cactus scion selection

The scion should be a branch that is more than one year old or growing vigorously. The ideal choice is a part with a growing tip, about 8-10 cm long. Tender new branches should not be used as scions.

4. Christmas cactus grafting tools

A sharp knife, a low-concentration potassium permanganate solution or alcohol, toothpicks, and clips.

5. Christmas cactus grafting steps

Step 1: First choose the rootstock well. Today I will teach you to use the yellow-spined cactus to graft a Christmas cactus, and the survival rate is very high.

Step 2: If you choose to graft at the top, first sterilize the knife with alcohol, then make a horizontal cut at the top, and disinfect the cut.

Step 3: After cutting, you will see that the cut surface is divided into two parts (see the picture below). The outer ring is the epidermis, and the middle is the pith. The best position to insert the Christmas cactus is between the epidermis and the pith. Inserting it in this position allows the wound to heal faster.

Step 4: Use a small knife to make a cut in the cambium, not too wide, and about the same width as the Christmas cactus scion being inserted, so that the grafting wound is small and recovery is fast.

Step 5: Prepare the Christmas cactus scion, with 2-3 segments of leaves per piece. Do not use new leaves, and do not use leaves that are too old. It is best to use robust leaves from the middle part.

Step 6: Use a sterilized small knife to cut the base of the Christmas cactus into a wedge shape, exposing just a little bit of the white part. Try to shape it in one cut.

Step 7: Insert the Christmas cactus leaf into the cut in the cactus, and try to align the center line of the leaf with the areole of the cactus. The areole is the nutrient channel of the cactus, so this makes survival easier. After inserting, secure it with a toothpick or clip.

Step 8: Besides horizontal insertion at the top, you can also insert vertically. Use a knife to cut a slit about 1.5 cm deep above the areole, insert the scion, and then secure it.

Step 9: If grafting on the side of the cactus, also graft at the areole. First disinfect the grafting position with alcohol, then make a cut 1.5 cm above the areole. The cut should be close to the width of the scion, and then insert the scion.

Step 10: After grafting, the Christmas cactus needs to be kept away from wind, direct sunlight, and rain. Water it 10 days after grafting. If after more than ten days the Christmas cactus leaves have not wilted, it means the grafting was successful. Below is a Christmas cactus successfully grafted by a flower enthusiast. It already has small flower buds. Isn't it amazing?

3. Precautions for grafting a Christmas cactus

Many people like to graft Christmas cacti, but every time it ends in failure. In fact, the success or failure of grafting a Christmas cactus mainly depends on 2 key factors:

1. During the grafting process of the Christmas cactus, be sure to disinfect the knife, the rootstock, and the cut parts of the scion. Many people fail at grafting, and the cactus wound rots, precisely because they did not do a good job of disinfection beforehand.

2. It is best to graft on a sunny morning. Cloudy and rainy days can cause problems such as slow wound healing and infection, and it especially must not be exposed to rain.

Conclusion: The above is about how to graft a Christmas cactus. Isn't it simple and easy to learn? I hope it is helpful to everyone. During grafting, we need to master the techniques well so that we can improve the success rate.