Cacti Grafting Stocks
Information about specific rootstock species for grafting cacti
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It is important to note that every plant, especially cacti, react differently to different climates. The same plant may do GREAT in full sun and lots of water here in our climate, but in England where it's much cooler would likely rot with our watering schedule. Please keep in mind this is just a general guide to what has worked good for us, and how we did it. The climate here in Taiwan is tropical, which means hot and wet in the summer and fairly warm (10c+ all the time) and dry in the winter. Adjust your parameters depending on your local climate.
We recommend that any cacti graft, while healing, be kept under weak lighting (i.e. fluorescent) and 20-30 degrees Celsius. Success rates are far greater with the majority of cacti under these conditions.
Quick stats key.
Acanthocereus sp. |
Shaded Sun |
5C + |
Can take over watering well. Water when starts to dry. |
Easy grafting difficulty |
Very fast growth speed, permanent stock |
Advantages
1. Easy to graft with.
2. High water tolerance.
3. Good scion growth.
4. Easy to propagate.
5. Large root mass.
6. Does not often rot. |
Disadvantages
1. Doesn't tolerate temps below 5C.
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Notes: We are not positive on the exact specie of Acanthocereus this is, but it is really a wonderful plant to work with. it is much easier and forgiving than Hylocereus, and its scion growth rate is just as fast, perhaps even faster. It is fair to treat this graft stock the same as one would Hylocereus, the advantage is it is easier to work with (except the spines!).
This may be grown in pots, in the ground, in sand or in soil. It is really not picky about much of anything except really cold temps. It does not, as far as we know, tolerate freezing. Full sun to shade, it will still perform well, but we find almost full sun is best.
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Keep grafts at 10+c. |
Keep tape on for 4-8 days. |
We prefer this for the following species: Every specie we grow.
Suggested scions:
Cereus jamacaru |
Full Sun |
5C + |
Medium watering-right after substrate dries
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Easy grafting difficulty |
Medium growth speed, permanent stock |
Advantages
1. Fairly easy to graft with.
2. High water tolerance.
3. Good scion growth.
4. Easy to propagate.
5. Tolerates cool temperatures.
6. Does not often rot.
6. Huge root mass. |
Disadvantages
1. Not very fast.
2. Sometimes will keep offsetting at the stock.
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Notes: Cereus jamacaru is very similar in appearance and growth habit to Cereus peruvianus, so can likely be treated as one in the same when it comes to grafting.
Cereus jamacaru is a relatively easy to graft to specie that can grow in cooler climates as well as hot climates. It is also able to grow in salty areas, such as beaches, without any harm. The only real problems with this cactus is many animal pests are attracted to it. Caterpillars, snails and similar vegetarian invertebrates are all a potential risk.
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Keep grafts at 10+c. |
Keep tape on for 4-8 days. |
We prefer this for the following species: We only use this for plants we intend to plant in the ground outside all year. This stock is used for its hardiness, not its speed.
Suggested scions: Accepts and grows virtually all scions equally as well.
Harrisia jusbertii |
Light Shade |
5C + |
Medium watering right after substrate dries |
Easy grafting difficulty |
Fast growing, permanent stock |
Advantages
1. Fairly easy to graft with.
2. High water tolerance.
3. Fast scion growth.
4. Easy to propagate.
5. Tolerates cool temperatures.
6. Grows well in lower light. |
Disadvantages
1. Not as fast in hot (tropical) climates.
2. Sometimes will rot when joining the graft if done while moist.
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Notes: Harrisia jusbertii is an all around great stock for grafting. It accepts almost any scion specie and begins growing quite quickly. Scion growth is fast and steady but may become bloated and put out new shoots. One potential problem is that it may rot if grafted under very high humidity or is kept too dark and moist. This is not too common, but it happens to some people. This stock also performs poorly in very warm countries, and dead scions are common in temps above 35 C.
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Keep grafts at 10-30C. |
Keep tape on for 4-7 days. |
We prefer this for the following species: Ariocarpus, Aztekium, Copiapoa, Corypantha, Frailea, Echinopsis, Gymnocalycium, Leuchtenbergia, Lophophora, Mammillaria, Obregonia, Ortegocactus, Strombocactus, Thelocactus, Turbinicarpus. Almost everything that doesnt require a small cut surface (Astrophytum).
Hylocereus undatus |
Full sun |
10c + |
Tolerates over watering |
Easy-Medium grafting difficulty |
Very fast growing, permanent stock |
Advantages
1. Fairly easy to graft with.
2. High water tolerance; rarely rots.
3. Very fast scion growth.
4. Easy to propagate.
5. Cheap. |
Disadvantages
1. Bends under the weight of heavy scions.
2. Does not take cool temps.
2. May split hard skinned sp. (Astrophytum).
3. Some scions become "bloated" (ugly)
4. Some species are hard to graft onto this sp.
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Notes: Hylocereus undatus is a very popular stock used by many commercial and hobby cacti growers. It has huge advantages as it rarely ever rots. It is from tropical climates that often flood so over watering it is virtually impossible. It can take any kind of light, but does well in almost full sun. It is fairly easy to graft harder skinned scions to this specie (such as Astrophytum) but softer species such as Lophophora do not take as easily and may waste away to nothing.
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Keep grafts at 15-35c. |
Keep grafts tape on 5-10 days. |
We prefer this for the following species: Ariocarpus, Astrophtyum, Aztekium, Copiapoa, Corypantha, Frailea, Echinopsis, Gymnocalycium, Mammillaria, Obregonia, Ortegocactus, Strombocactus, Thelocactus, Turbinicarpus.
Myrtillocactus geometrizans |
Full sun |
15c + |
Medium watering-right after substrate dries |
Easy grafting |
Fast growing, permanent stock |
Advantages
1. Fast growth rate.
2. Tolerates some over watering.
3. Loves heat.
4. Accepts almost any scion specie. |
Disadvantages
1. Doesn't like cool weather.
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Notes: This is another very popular grafting stock. It is an all around good stock for most species of cacti. It can tolerate a fair amount of water when kept warm, but may rot if kept moist and cold. It does best in 20+ degrees. Grafts onto this specie tend to grow at a good rate and keep their form rather nice. They are also a little hardier when grafting scions too. They should not be kept as humid as long as other stocks such as Hylocereus or they may develop rot or other infections. From graft to outdoor sunshine we usually allow 3 weeks.
This is very similar in growth rate as Trichcereus pachanoi, but prefers warmer temps; where as T. pachanoi can tolerate cooler temps for longer periods. For warmer climates, this is a better choice. For cooler climates T. pachanoi is probably a wiser choice.
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Keep grafts at 20-30c. |
Keep tape on for 5-8 days. |
We prefer this for the following species: Ariocarpus, Copiapoa, Corypantha, Frailea, Echinopsis, Gymnocalycium, Leuchtenbergia, Lophophora, Mammillaria, Obregonia, Ortegocactus, Strombocactus, Thelocactus, Turbinicarpus. Almost everything.
Pereskiopsis spathulata |
Any sun |
10c + |
Enjoys over watering! |
Easy grafting difficulty |
Very fast growing, temporary stock |
Advantages
1. Fastest rootstock for seedlings.
2. Accepts most species.
3. Does not rot.
4. Good in cool and hot temps.
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Disadvantages
1. Deforms scions shape/growth.
2. May split slower growing scions.
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Notes: This cactus actually has real leaves. It doesn't look all that much like a cactus, but it is. It is by far the fastest growing graft stock around. It is, however, only useful for short periods and is often only used to graft seedlings to. A seedling grafted at only 1mm may reach 4cm in one year! But the stock will often loose their leaves and turn woody within 2-3 years in which time they need to be re-grafted or de-grafted. Because this stock is so fast growing, it often swells the scions to unnatural sizes and shapes and the scion often ends up looking quite mutated. With harder skinned slower growing scions it may also split the scion as too much water is being provided.
This specie can be grown in almost any medium and can tolerate huge over watering. It almost never rots, but don't test it....its possible. Most species take well to being grafted to this rootstock. Keep warm and humid and acclimate them to outside a little slower than other stocks. Because it's usually seedlings being grafted, they are easy to dry up and shrivel....so take your time, perhaps a month from graft to outside. Also be sure to trim off the offsets that come out. This stock puts out offsets once cut daily.
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Keep grafts at 20-30c. |
Keep tape on for 3-6 days (seedlings don't need tape). |
We prefer this for the following species: Only seedlings of slower growing species. This stock grows scions FAST, but at a price. They bloat and look unnatural so we use it less and less as time goes on. It can take anything, but larger scions are difficult to graft to as the stocks diameter is often a cm or less.
Selenicereus grandiflorus |
Any sun |
10c + |
Tolerates over watering. |
Easy grafting difficulty |
Very fast growing, temporary stock |
Advantages
1. Fast rootstock for most scions.
2. Accepts most species.
3. Rarely rots.
4. Good in cool and hot temps.
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Disadvantages
1. May split slower growing scions.
2. Not suitable for large scions (weak).
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Notes:
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Keep grafts at 20-30c. |
Keep tape on for 3-6 days (seedlings don't need tape). |
We prefer this for the following species: This is good for boosting plants, but we prefer other stocks for larger and more valuable species as this stock doesn't always keep the scions true form well. It is also not a very strong stock, so it will bend/break under the weight of larger scions. It is a great all around stock, and can be done relatively easily by most.
Stenocereus pruinosus |
Full sun |
15c + |
over watering |
Easy grafting difficulty |
Fast growing, permanent stock |
Advantages
1. Accepts many scion species.
2. Excellent for large scions.
3. Fast growth rates.
4. Tolerates some over watering. |
Disadvantages
1. Doesn't like cool temps.
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Notes: We have just recently in the last couple years turned onto this lovely cactus for grafting. We have being really surprised at the rate of which it grows scions! It also has an advantage over other stocks as it can become quite a large fat cactus! The grafting process and care conditions that we provide this specie are identical to those of Myrtillocactus geometrizans. We notice similar growth rates with this as M. geometrizans and T. pachanoi but the plus is it is a bigger stock and will, in time, produce far larger scions than the other 2 species. A very nice stock we are using more and more.
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Keep grafts at 20-30c. |
Keep tape on for 5-8 days. |
We prefer this for the following species: Any large species and crested specimens. This stock is used for its HUGE quality, and strength. Accepts almost any specie.
Trichocereus pachanoi |
Partial sun+ |
10c + |
Some over watering ok |
Easy grafting difficulty |
Fast growing, permanent stock |
Advantages
1. Fast growth rates.
2. Tolerates cool temps.
3. Accepts most scion species.
4. rarely rots.
5. Tolerates over watering. |
Disadvantages
1. Is not the best in hot climates.
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Notes: This is another of the cacti grafting industries main stock. It is incredible hardy and hard to kill. It can take cooler temps and moist soil without rotting, unlike most others. This is an ideal cacti for grafting cooler regions such as Canada and the UK. It is almost the same growth rate as Myrtillocactus geometrizans but can take cooler temps. Treat the grafting process as you would for Myrtillocactus geometrizans.
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Keep grafts at 20-30c. |
Keep grafts humid for 7+ days. |
We prefer this for the following species: Ariocarpus, Copiapoa, Corypantha, Frailea, Echinopsis, Gymnocalycium, Leuchtenbergia, Lophophora, Mammillaria, Obregonia, Ortegocactus, Strombocactus, Thelocactus, Turbinicarpus.
Trichocereus peruvianus |
Partial sun+ |
10c + |
Some over watering ok |
Easy grafting difficulty |
Fast growing, permanent stock |
Advantages
1. Accepts most species.
2. Hardy, water tolerant.
3. Easy to graft to.
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Disadvantages
1. Slower growth than pachanoi.
2. Spines can be annoying.
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Notes:
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Keep grafts at 20-30c. |
Keep grafts humid for 7+ days. |
We prefer this for the following species: We don't use this much, but it takes almost any specie equally as well.
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