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Back to the
graft index
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Versione
Italiana |
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Step by step instructions on how to graft on
Opuntia compressa stock.
The classical methods.
There is not only one
method for grafting, but many. Here I suggest some
examples, but you can
adapt the techniques to your own needs, and change them according to the
season, size of the
stock and
scion,
species etc...
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Choose a healthy
young cladode (maximum 1 year old) |
From a single
cladode it is possible to obtain two grafting stock A and B. |
Pick up a seedling (In the example an Astrophytum cv. superkabuto) |
Prepare the scion for the graft removing the root with a sharp knife. |
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Put the scion on
the top of the stock. |
Move the scion to
expel air bubbles in the union zone. |
Opuntia juice is
very sticky and now the scion does not fall down not even if the stock is
inclined |
Use a rubber band
to put the two parts together. |
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Keep the graft in
a shaded (or dark) warm room for about a week (or more) before potting... |
After 10 days the
plants are ready to be planted (it does not matter if the Opuntia is a little
dried up: this is normal) |
Let's water ... and then
put the plants for some days in a shaded place before
to move them among the other cactuses (end of April 2003) and... |
....the same plant
(August 2003)
first flowers!!!
Updated August 20 2003 |
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A two month old
graft and .... |
...A pic of the
same plant after two more months. Astrophytum superkabuto grafted on
Opuntia shows that the white flecking is considerably enhanced. |
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An alternative way: One year old
prickly pear seedling |
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We can use either
1-2 years old O. compressa seedlings (like in the photo) or a rooted cutting.... |
Cut the stock at
3-4 cm ... |
lean the scion on
the top.... |
fix the graft with
a rubber band or, like in the example, using a weight or some
other methods you like. |
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Update July 10
2003 ...But the stock soon start to produce new shoots...
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Updated July 10
2003 ...they may be detached easily, simply
turn and push them down..... |
Updated July 10
2003 ...and now remove the pads, when the scion is
still small this operation must be repeated several times... |
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How to work with very small shoots or young
seedling ( but for small shoot ii is better to use the classical
Pereskiopsis vellutina) |
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Take care of
the stocks from failed grafts, they are a good source to obtain
cladodes for further new grafting attempts |
Use a very young
cladode in developing phase... |
Cut the cladode
this way... |
Collect a small
shoot ( in the the example a Sulcorebutia rauschii cv. violacidermis).
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We can also
use very young seedling of only few days old!! |
For a small
scion it is not necessary ( and very difficult) to fix it, merely lean
it on the stock. |
For a home made
graft you can simply put it for about 10 days in a cupboard or, if you
prefer, store it in an environment with an high degree of humidity like
a closed box containing some receptacle filled of water. |
two weeks later
the scion starts growing with success, some new spines are produced on
the top. Now keep the new graft in a shaded place for a month before
placing it among the other plants. |
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