Grafted cacti are special plants, since they acquire colors that they do not normally have when they grow on their own roots. But precisely because they depend on the rootstock to survive, they are sometimes a bit difficult to maintain as their hardiness and hardiness decrease.
They are very pretty, and they also have a few advantages that we cannot see in ordinary cacti. For this reason, its cultivation is interesting, but as I say, you have to know how to take care of them.
How to care for grafted cacti?
Image - Wikimedia / Yercaud-elango
Grafted cacti are plants that take up little space, as their growth is limited by the size of the rootstock (the cactus on which they grow). That is, if the rootstock (also called the graft foot) is three centimeters thick, the graft can only be that diameter. A) Yes, We can take it for granted that they can be kept in pots for a lifetime.
This is undoubtedly good news for those who do not have a garden and / or have very little space to grow plants, as they can be used to decorate the tables on the balcony or terrace for example; And even if you have a room where there is a lot of light, they can grow well in it.
But how are they to be cared for?
Location
Do you have to put them in full sun? The truth is that no. It is true that cacti grow in direct sunlight, but that is only when they grow on their own roots. The grafts, as they are different, are not capable of resisting the direct impact of solar radiation.
Therefore, they must be kept in an area where there is a lot of clarity, but nothing more. In the event that they are used as indoor plants, they should not be placed next to the window, air conditioners, radiators, or anything similar since they could burn and / or dry out.
Earth
Regardless of whether they are to be grown in a pot or in the garden, the use of light substrates is important. Grafted cacti are very sensitive to waterlogging, more than the common ones, so to avoid taking risks they should be planted in the pumice (for sale here), or in a mixture of akadama or chopped brick with 30% black peat.
When you want to put it on the ground, you have to make a hole about a foot wide by about fifty deep, and then insert a piece of shading mesh at the base so that the roots only have contact with the pumice or the mixture of akadama with peat. Once done, the cactus is stuffed and planted.
Irrigation
It must be scarce, no more than twice a week and only in summer. At other times of the year the irrigation will be more spaced, every 15 to 20 days. But yes: do not wet the plant since it would rot.
If it is in a pot, you should not put a plate under it either, since the water would remain stagnant in it and, as a result, the roots would die drowned.
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You can fertilize your grafted cactus with a specific liquid fertilizer for this type of plants (for sale here), in spring and summer. So that there is no risk of overdose, which would burn the roots first and the cactus later, the directions for use should be followed.
Transplant
It will be enough to change them pot once or twice in their entire life. It is done in spring, when it is advanced and the frosts are far behind, as follows:
- First, you have to choose a pot that is about 3-4 centimeters wider and taller than the one you currently have.
- Then fill it with a little pumice or a mixture of peat with perlite in equal parts, keeping in mind that the cactus once planted should not be tall.
- Next, remove the plant from its 'old' pot and plant it in the new one, so that it is centered.
- Then finish filling.
- And finally, water.
Rusticity
The grafted cacti they are sensitive to cold. They should not be kept outside if the temperature drops below 0 degrees.
Why are grafted cacti colored?
Image - Wikimedia / מאיר יפרח
Now that we know how to take care of them, you may be wondering why these cacti are colored. Well this it is because they lack chlorophyll, the pigment that gives them their green color and thanks to which they can carry out photosynthesis.
That is why we say that they are totally dependent on the rootstock, since it is he that keeps them alive by having their own roots. And for this reason you also have to make sure they don't get the sun, as they would burn very quickly.
How long does a grafted cactus live?
It is often thought that grafted cacti live short lives, but the reality is that if they are properly cared for, they can live the same life as if they had their own roots.
What can arise is that they lose color, because they stop receiving the food they need, or because the rootstock becomes ill. When this happens, they have to be changed to another rootstock, which leads me to ...:
How to graft a cactus?
If you want to graft a cactus, We recommend doing it in spring or early summer, as follows:
- The first step is to fertilize the plants a week before grafting them.
- After that time, you have to cut the rootstock a little with a razor previously disinfected with pharmacy alcohol.
- Now, remove the roots from the cactus you want to graft, also with the disinfected razor.
- The next step is to join both parts, ensuring that the rings of one and the other coincide. That is, it is NOT important that they are centered, but that both rings are joined.
- Finally, you have to join them with elastic bands and put them in semi-shadow.
In about 15 days, if it goes well, they will be ready and you can remove the rubbers. In the event that it fails, simply remove the graft and cut a little more rootstock and then repeat the steps.
What are rootstock cacti?
Image - Wikimedia / Christer Johansson
The cacti that are most used as rootstocks are:
- hylocereus: is the most, since they grow fast. Of course, they live little: about 5 years, but they can be re-grafted without problems.
- echinopsis: they make the graft live a long time.
- myrtillocactus: especially the M. geometrizans. They are also fast growing.
Why are cacti grafted?
Finally, it is important to add that cacti are grafted for various reasons, which are basically four:
- Get them to grow faster.
- Save a sick cactus.
- Maintain a crested shaped cactus.
- And of course achieve that they have striking colors, as is done with the Gymnocalycium mihanovichii.
Where to buy grafted cacti?
If you dare, you can buy them from here:
So we hope you have learned a lot about grafted cacti.