How to Graft Christmas Cactus onto a Cactus? Detailed Method and Steps
Grafting a Christmas cactus onto a cactus not only gives it an attractive shape resembling a rockery with green trees, but also lets you enjoy the beauty of cactus flowers in summer and the beauty of fiery red Christmas cactus flowers in the cold winter, making our homes more comfortable and healthy. Let's take a look below at how to graft a Christmas cactus onto a cactus!
Treatment of Rootstock and Scion
1. Rootstock selection: The cactus used for grafting must be thick-fleshed and sturdy. Its cultivation method follows that of ordinary cacti. Generally, choose a pot with a diameter of 30 cm, and graft when the cactus has grown to a height of 30 cm.
2. Scion selection: For the scion, choose a healthy mother Christmas cactus plant, and from it select a relatively tender top branch of the current year that has nodes as the scion, with a length of 3-4 cm.
3. Scion treatment: Use a blade sterilized with alcohol to cut both sides of the lower part of the scion into a wedge shape, with a cut length of 0.8-1.2 cm. The grafting time is generally chosen in May or October; weather that is too cold or too hot is not conducive to its survival.
Grafting Time and Methods
1. Choosing the time: Grafting is best done during the Christmas cactus growing season. Generally, grafting can be done from the end of March to October, but the best period is April to July. During this period, the grafting survival rate is high and growth is fast.
2. Insertion method: For a Pereskia rootstock with a diameter of less than 3.0 mm, make a cut from top to bottom on one side to expose the wood. At the middle vascular bundle part of the scion base, use a sharp knife to cut an incision from bottom to top along the leaf surface, with the incision width the same as the width cut on the Pereskia. Insert the scion into the rootstock incision so that they fit tightly together, then secure it with transparent tape or plastic wrap.
3. Cleft grafting method: For a rootstock with a diameter greater than 3.0 mm, make a straight cut from top to bottom at the cut opening, with a depth of 1.5 cm. Peel off the epidermis on both the front and back sides of the scion base so that the vascular bundles are exposed and it forms a wedge shape. Insert the scion into the rootstock incision and align the vascular bundle area of the cut surface with the rootstock incision, then bind and secure it.
4. Building a support: After the grafted Christmas cactus survives, generally after about a year of growth, the Christmas cactus will wrap around the cactus. At this time, a support needs to be made so that the Christmas cactus hangs on the cactus like a fountain.
Post-Grafting Care and Management
1. Watering: When watering, follow the principle of "water thoroughly when dry, do not water when not dry." The water temperature should be as close as possible to the soil temperature. In summer, water in the morning or evening as much as possible; in winter, water from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., and pour the water directly onto the pot soil, otherwise it will affect the appearance of the spines.
2. Fertilizing: Follow the principle of "timely, appropriate amount, and according to the plant" when fertilizing. Fertilize in spring and autumn, once every 15 days, and it should be done in the early morning or evening of a sunny day. The fertilizing method is to dissolve the fertilizer to be applied in water and pour it into the pot in the morning. Watering thoroughly at one time gives better results. Keep the concentration at about 0.2%.
3. Light: Cacti prefer sufficient sunlight, especially in winter when full sunlight is even more important. In summer, they mostly prefer semi-shade conditions, and during the high-temperature summer season they should be placed indoors. In winter, place them in a sunny room, and the Christmas cactus can bloom with fiery red flowers during the Spring Festival.
4. Temperature: The suitable temperature for cacti is 20-35°C. In winter, it is advisable to maintain 10-18°C or higher. When the summer temperature is too high, shade must be provided and more water sprinkled on the ground to lower the temperature.