Is dragon bone really a universal grafting rootstock? Don't be fooled

Dragon bone is a universal grafting rootstock - I don't know if you've ever heard this saying. Actually, this is very wrong, don't be fooled. Dragon bone is not a "universal rootstock." Why? Let's analyze it in detail.

Dragon bone is a plant in the Euphorbiaceae family and can only be grafted with green plants in the Euphorbiaceae family, such as crown of thorns (Euphorbia milii) and coral cactus (Euphorbia tirucalli). This is me grafting crown of thorns with dragon bone. The "universal rootstock" many people talk about should actually be the three-ribbed cactus stem, which looks very similar to dragon bone

The three-ribbed cactus stem is a plant in the Cactaceae family, generally used for grafting Schlumbergera, Christmas cactus, ball cacti, etc. It is a very common grafting rootstock. Grafting with the three-ribbed cactus stem has good compatibility, easy survival, good support, simple grafting, and fast growth, so it is the ideal grafting rootstock in many people's minds.

Let me talk about my own steps and experience grafting Schlumbergera with the three-ribbed cactus stem

When grafting Schlumbergera with the three-ribbed cactus stem, you can graft at the top or graft on the side.

For top grafting, first cut off part of the top of the three-ribbed cactus stem, flatten the top, and make a deep cut about 1 cm near the pith of the three-ribbed cactus stem. Cut both sides of the Schlumbergera to expose the cambium.

Then insert it into the cut of the three-ribbed cactus stem, then fix it with a toothpick or cactus spine. The three-ribbed cactus stem has three ribs, and all are grafted according to this method. For the Schlumbergera segment used for grafting, it is best to use a single segment, so it can supply the Schlumbergera's growth, and it grows faster. If a multi-segment Schlumbergera is grafted, it will recover more slowly

After grafting with the three-ribbed cactus stem, it can grow in about 7 days, and the growth is very fast, without delaying blooming in the same year.