As we have seen in previous posts, the graft It is one of the most used forms for multiplication of succulent plants and cactiIf you would like to learn more about the grafting technique, you can consult our article on the art of grafting cacti.
It is for this reason that today we have brought you the steps we must follow to perform a cactus graft.
- Step 1: A week before grafting, it's important to prepare the plants so that the transplant is less traumatic. We can use a little more fertilizer and water to prepare our plant. What we want to achieve with this additional input is for the plant to swell, making the grafting easier.
- Step 2: We've already seen that the recipient plant is called a rootstock. This must be from the same season; in other words, we can't use an older plant as a rootstock, as the fleshy part would dry out, leaving the skeleton protruding and eventually pushing out the graft we just made. It's important that the recipient plant be at least two years old. For more information on this, see our article on when to graft.
- Step 3: It's important to use a knife, a scalpel, or any other sharp, pointed object to make the cuts. Make sure these items are previously sterilized and very sharp. To sterilize the knife, instead of putting it in the microwave, soak it in bleach diluted in water for 24 hours.
- Step 4: We must make a horizontal cut in the receiving plant.
- Step 5: If you are one of those who does not want the rootstock to show, you should cut only 4 centimeters above the ground.
- Step 6: It's important to make sure that when you join the two plants together, they are firmly attached. Press lightly to ensure proper contact and to prevent air from entering and transferring impurities to the new plant. For more details on the process, visit our article on how to graft cacti.
- Step 7: Use elastics to hold both parts together and prevent them from coming loose.
It's important to be patient. After about 15 days, we'll start to see that the graft has healed perfectly and we'll be able to remove the elastics. Also, if you'd like to learn more about the propagation of cacti and succulents, we recommend you consult our specific article.
