Grafting Baby Cactus On Pereskiopsis

30 Days Old or younger Seedling Graft

How long can you wait for a cactus to be old enough for grafting?

One year old?

2 cm big?

As big as your Trichocereus rootstock?

Why wait when you can graft right after the seed germinate! You save lot of time by grafting at such a young age. Astrophytum may takes 5 to 6 years to mature and bloom if grown conventionally yet by grafting to Pereskiopsis, Epiphylum, Selenicereus or Hylocereus; it can bloom as early as 8 months old.

How does it work?

Here is step by step pictures to help.

Step 1

Cut your healthy rootstock, around 1 inch off the top.

See the vascular ring? That where your scion ring should overlap.

Step 2

Prepare your scion. Cut it to match the size and level of the rootstock

Cynthia knitzei scion. It is very slow on own root and tend to crack when there is too much water.

The ring is not visible and seems to be scattered, do not throw this kind of scion away, it will grow normally.

Echinopsis seedling, 30 days after sowing

My finger for scale lol

Step 3 

Match the scion with rootstock.

Make sure the contact surface is fully utilize and the ring is intercepted.

Press a bit to remove air bubbles.

Step 4

This is my way of applying pressure. Wrap the union with plastic wrap and clamp it later.

Make sure you do not damage the scion from over pressing. You can always readjust later.

Step 5

Clamping time!

I will clamp the union when they are well arranged.

Plus, I will readjust their position if needed this time.

A bit of pressure is all needed. Make sure they would not move for another 2 weeks.

Results

Astrophytum on Pereskiopsis

This is a random free seeds from online sale. Turn  out to be an Astrophytum.

Astrophytum on Hylocereus

You can use Hylocereus as replacement for seedling graft.

They are less likely to offshoot.

Bloopers

Pereskiopsis is full of GLOCHIDS!

Make sure you wear gloves or be immune to it.

Thanks for reading.

Hope that helps.

Adieu.

The White Spotted Beauties

Astrophytum myriostigma

Onzuka

Today, another two new Onzukas were repotted. It was purchased from a Dutch cactus grower through eBay.

Why do I view them as distinctively beautiful?

1.Their round to almost sphere like shape.

2. Unique white spots pattern

3. Permanent and thick white spots

Lo and behold.

Below is the growing guide from Llifle.com

Description: Astrophytum myriostigma is a quite variable species and several breeds do exist. The "Onzuka" is probably the most beautiful, sought after and attractive of all.

The cultivar 'ONZUKA' (In Japanese speaking "Onzuka Ranpo-gyoku") has snowy-white, heavily speckled epidermis with fabulous markings much like the ‘kabuto’ asterias. The white marking varies considerably from plant to plant and there exist an enormous number of different designs, and also plants change their appearance in age and they are full of surprises as they grows.

It was created somewhat by chance in Japan around 1974-1977 by Mr. Tsutomu Onzuka (Hence the name).

He intended to cross a three-ribbed Astrophytum myriostigma with Astrophytum myriostigma var. nudum. Subsequently, over several generations of repeated backcrossed of the the offspring he obtained, unexpectedly, some strange A. myriostigma characterized by large white dots. It has been called 'ONZUKA.' The columnar shape of the older Onzuka comes almost certainly from the tulense variety, a character that should be present in one of its parents

Cultivation and Propagation: Although regarded as a choice and difficult plant in cultivation it is relatively easy to grow. It is sometime seen as a grafted plant but grows very well on its own roots too. Use mineral well permeable substratum with little organic matter (peat, humus). Water sparingly from March till October and keep perfectly dry in winter at temperatures from 5 to 15 degrees centigrade. (but it is Hardy to -7°C for short periods) In the rest period no high atmospheric humidity!! Sun Exposure: Light shade to full sun.

Be careful: The epidermis of ONZUKA is harder than in the normal myriostigmas and cracks easily if plants are overwatered.

Propagation: By seeds, remembering that seedlings dislike strong light and dry conditions and need to be repotted frequently. Eventually, as they become mature, they attain a maximum size of 8-10 cm (20) cm in diameter.

However old plants become senile and have a tendency to succumb to disease and a weak root system. At this stage, as is well known, they die suddenly. So, after they reach 10 cm in diameter grow them slowly, and adopt a new repotting period, using intervals of every 2 - 3 years. Additionally grow them under drier conditions or with stronger sunlight.

But plants are often grafted to accelerate growth as they would generally take at least a five years to reach maturity on their own, but the grafted plants are typical rather tall growing, compared with plants on their own roots that are usually more flat to the ground

Thanks for reading.

Happy growing guys.

November 2019 Cactus Updates: Astrophytum Myriostigma Fukuryu

Why Do I Love To Collect Astrophytum myriostigma Fukuryu?

Today I would like to share my new A.  myriostigma Fukuryu. Bought through eBay, it was originated from China and a degrafted Astrophytum. 

At the moment, China made cactus is receiving a not very warm welcome from some grower in my country. Generally, there is a mixed views between locally grown vs China vs Thailand. That also includes own root vs grafted. 

As an Agronomist, I never bother much by this because I choose what to obtain based on these reasons. 

1. Price 

Buying things online can be really expensive, I always watch for the currency of any listed cactus when surfing on eBay. That includes the shipment cost too, European, America and Australia cost more than China and Thailand; I will buy something really worthy if it came from these region. 

2. Rarity

China and Thailand are really good with mass producing grafted rare cactus, I always look from them when looking for cheap bargain. Rare cactus usually come with one of both of these characters namely price and difficulty to grow. Grafted cactus are more resilient and cheaper. 

3. Health

I always choose the healthiest cactus. Obviously, you can see wheather the cactus have been dried or removed from the pot for a long time or not. Sometimes, its about experience too, when you know your seller well, its kind of good product will get returning buyer. 

4. Size

I see size as how much I paid will worth it. Generally, bigger and cheaper is best of all combination. If it involves bidding and lots of cactus at same time, I will go for the bigger one. 

5. Period of shipment

The longer the cactus in shipment, the lesser their health is. It is related to country source and quality of product. Living in Asia, I will get better product from closeby countries, but any shipment lesser than a month is good to me. Dutch and Poland offers around 2 weeks shipment to me, and they are also cheap.

6. Purpose

I have 3 main purpose which are to graft as scion, to be replicate and used as rootstocks and to breed. Good trait and healthy plant will be grown and used for crossing. Small and cheaper cactus usually for grafting. 

Now, getting back to our main topic, I have a small number of cactus collection but putting a belief that they will grow in number later on due to my bad spending on cactus, flower crossing and grafting. 

I have collected 2 similar Fukuryu before this, there are other fukuryus as well but only two are similarly looking like this. 

Here is the link to my previous post about my Astrophytum collection.

#1

#2

They are distinctively come in attractive bright color and prominent inter ribs growth that resembles carambola or star fruit. 

I bought them all in order to make future cross and select their inter ribs growth traits and hopefully get something similar to A.  myriostigma Karina Keel Crested Fukuryu. 

Here is the picture of A. myriostigma Karina Keel Crested Fukuryu from Llifle website for reference. 

Source <Astrophytum Karina Keel Crested Fukuryu Llifle>

In conclusion, I really fond of Astrophytum species and among their variant, fukuryu is the one I love the most. 

Thanks for reading, happy growing guys! 

Adieu.