November 2019 Graft Updates Part 2: Echinopsis hybrid variegata

Echinopsis Hybrid Variegata Graft Part 2

While sharing my updates about Echinopsis graft on Cereus stocks in Facebook, someone asked me about Hylocereus stock also known as Dragon Fruit Cactus or Pitaya.

There are nemerous ways of grafting, but 2 common methods commonly used are Slab/Tip graft and impale graft. 

If you are growing "Moon Cactus", the cactus with fully bright solid red, yellow, orange or pink color on top of a short green different cactus; that is a grafted Gymnocalycium mihanovitchi (mutated with non green color pigment). 

Generally, it was simply grafted by attaching G. mihanovitchi onto Hylocereus. 

However, what I'm about to share is slightly different, it is impale graft. The main difference is where you sharpen the stock with the ring becoming the center, and may or usually prepare a hole on scion ealier before attaching the two right on the pointy end and the hole. 

Below is the picture taken to be used as example. 

Uncut actively growing stock ready to take on grafting

Usually this is the standard way of cutting stock for grafting, when they are still soft and the center ring is yet to be hard and corky. 

But this time we are going to do different way of grafting. You may fail if the choice is to just simply Slab graft on older stock or lower cut on the stock, impale graft is there to deal with that and it usually have greater success rate over slab graft on younger stock in my oppinion. 

Older stock or lower part of the stock with harder middle ring. 

Remove the flesh around the middle ring to expose the woody core. Make sure you remove all flesh just close to the core but not the thin layer of cambium. If you are accidentally removed the cambium layer, you will see the white color of the core; removed too much and you have less surface to get scion and stock to attach. 

Put a hole on the scion especially if you stock's core is not hard and may break off. 

Impale the pointy end of the stock with the scion. 

Wrap with plastic wrap to place pressure equally to the scion. You can use rubber band for it but it is very hard and took too much time. 

Hold the scion and plastic wrap with rubber band. In 2 weeks, you can remove the wrap. 

Hope that helps. 

Cheers.