Second Attempt at Grafting Loph to Pereskiopsis Spathulata

[Chief BigTittyFlapFlaps]

well almost everything has germinated.  all separated and labelled.   i haven't opened the containers yet but there are no signs of any problems.  if you have an opportunity will you post a pic of an opuntia graft?  i want to try this but need to visualize it better first. 

[Inyan]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-glXJrswWtw#t=106

Okay, I had to borrow these off the web for several reasons. Reason number 1. I do not have pictures of many of my old grafts. 2. My grafting stock, while plentiful is not actively growing as yours is right now. While I do have a bit of grafting stock as it grows wild around my house, it would not be advisable to use my own private collection for this right now nor would it be advisable to use the wild specimens without getting them into an active state of growth. So, I apologize for getting these pictures off the web, these are some excellent pictures and techniques. My own methods incorporate much of what you see here as I have taught myself how to graft by watching videos such as this and looking at what others do and how they fail. My methods are often an amalgamation of these methods and more... depending on supplies at hand. For instance, while I love parafilm and I think it is the best thing since white on rice when it comes to grafting... I don't always use it. Not because it would not improve my grafts, but simply because I don't always have it on stock. Humidity... I don't always increase humidity for grafts... that are using older scions, but for seedlings it is a step you can't skip over in my climate.
With all of that said, if you would like to see some of my grafts.... I will be making some fresh grafts soon. I've been debating making a new video, doing a step by step picture grafting tutorial, or perhaps both. The only other way I could make some grafts for you sooner would be to have some actively growing stock which I would consider getting if it were not for the fact that my stock will be ready in another month as weather warms up. Suffice it to say that my green house is in need of repairs and can not keep the cold out right now. So, while I have many excuses... please understand I will get my own pictures up soon if for no other reason than to help you on your endeavor or give you some motivation. The only other way I could get a picture graft to you sooner would be to visit you and walk you through a few different techniques myself as you do seem to have your stock up and growing very nicely. I don't see any actively growing Opuntia stock however and that is for me... my favorite for small seedlings if you wish to keep a more natural look and still achieve good size and growth. If you need some grafting stock, I can definitely send you some Opuntia from my private stock or that collected wild around the house, but it won't be ready to graft for some time due to the cold. I have both Opuntia compressa that I love, but its full of glochids... and Opuntia without thorns and glochids, but its no where near as cold hardy as the other.

[Inyan]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HA3ZIjHGKZ0&list=PLA28FD2A2BC144FE1
Here is another video I found that while using tubercles and not seedlings... it is quite easy to do seedlings the same way. I would like to add, that when using seedlings with this method it would be advantageous to use a humidity dome of some sort such as a cup or bag placed over or around the graft. Parafilm can also be used to help secure tubercles as well as seedlings and will prevent the lifting and drying out of the surfaces as well that are sometimes the culprit of grafts only partly taking or failing.

This last video, while excellent... I include to show you that this practice goes against what many would have you do to graft with Pereskiopsis. I.e. the blotting dry and the holding down of the scion with a weight. Also, the rooting of the Pereskiopsis using rooting powder and let us not forget this fellow did not use humidity while initially holding down the scion with the weight of a glass microscope slide. All of these things go against or at least contrary to what many who have grafted to any extent thinks is needed. I believe this is because we all learn how to listen to our plants when we learn to graft. We learn things that are specific to our grafting stock and to our particular environment. Click here or anywhere in this last paragraph to see the next video.

[Chief BigTittyFlapFlaps]

here are some of the opuntia i have.  the rest are out back covered in snow somewhere.  they are covered in glochids.  i don't know what varieties i have.  the person who gave them to me told me they were native to british columbia. 

[Inyan]

Those look like the same Opuntia compressa I have growing wild in my back yard. They are definitely good for grafting, but not this time of year... as if I needed to say that. Glochids on these can be a pain, but you will get a more natural looking cacti with earlier flowering times with this one.

[Chief BigTittyFlapFlaps]

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[Inyan]

Your baby is looking good! Congrats are definitely in order for your first seedling graft.

[Chief BigTittyFlapFlaps]

thanks dude!  probably would have popped off had you not told me to close up that bag among other things.  I'm tempted to do a time lapse just for fun. 

[Inyan]

I think you should definitely post updates on this graft as it is your first. I can see other people getting inspired by your success already.

[Chief BigTittyFlapFlaps]

will do! 

[Chief BigTittyFlapFlaps]

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[Chief BigTittyFlapFlaps]

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[Inyan]

Looking darn good my friend!

[Chief BigTittyFlapFlaps]

thanks!  it's pretty exciting for me to see it grow this fast!  can't wait for the summer! 

[Chief BigTittyFlapFlaps]

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