Cactus vaccination: why do you need to do this and what is the technique of the procedure, is preparation required, and what are the advantages and disadvantages?

Cacti are original plants. Vaccination is one of the methods of their vegetative propagation. This method allows you to spliced two cacti into one. This article will tell you what the vaccination procedure is, why it is needed, its advantages and disadvantages, preparation for its implementation and the technique for vaccinating cacti, as well as further care for the vaccinated cactus.

Why plant these plants?

The cactus vaccination technique is a rather complicated job., mastering it is not so simple. For its implementation, you will need a certain skill. Sometimes, due to vaccination, the plant takes on a strange, sometimes ugly shape. But in some cases, only with its help it becomes possible to save the dying cactus. This applies to the situation when in the winter and summer time of the year it rots, gets sick, and also if during this period the plant suffered from external factors.

Vaccination is recommended for those types of cacti that are difficult to grow at home, or are among the rarest varieties that are not able to get along on their own roots. Without vaccination, it is impossible to dispense with chlorophyll-free cacti that cannot carry out photosynthesis.

The procedure for grafting seedlings in most cases is successful at any time of the year. Vaccination of young plants under the age of 1 month can improve their growth and accelerate flowering. This process contributes to faster seed production in new cacti (how to grow a cactus from seeds?). The cactus on which the vaccination is carried out is called the stock, and the grafted is called the stock.

Advantages and disadvantages

The disadvantages of growing vaccines with cacti are the fact that many of them are unable to harmonize with the stock for a long time. In most cases with age, stocks cannot fulfill the growing needs of scions; as a result, they die. A grafted cactus has a lower collection value compared to an instance that has a tiny but own root.

When buying such plants, you need to know that the conditions of their maintenance in a new place in the future will not always meet those that the seller had.

There are also positive points, namely grafted plants:

are developing rapidly;
blooming quickly;
rich and long bloom.

Reference! The vaccine also helps to save the unusual types of cacti and those that have lost their roots.

How to grow a cactus without roots can be found here.

At what time of the year it is best to plant a plant. It is best to plant a plant from April to August. At this time, life processes are in the active phase. If it is decided to vaccinate in the winter, then it is necessary to withdraw the cactus from dormancy in advance. To do this, you will have to provide him with humidity and heat.

We suggest you watch a video about the pros and cons of vaccinating cacti:

Training

Permanent stock should be chosen for colored, unable to root and lost a large area of the lower part of the cacti. A temporary stock is selected if the cactus needs to take root and grow. Vaccination is a procedure that allows you to connect all sorts of species of this plant, but there are two basic rules. One of them concerns the stock, which should:

have strong roots;
to be completely healthy;
match the size of the scion.

It should be borne in mind that in the future the scion grows faster than the stock; therefore, it must be borne in mind that the cactus located at the top should not destroy the lower cactus. Be sure to take into account the characteristics of both the scion and the stock, for example, on the relation to the presence of lime in the soil. If the lower plant does not tolerate a large number of it, and the upper one, on the contrary, needs it, then both plants can die.

Scion and stock should be closely related speciesthat belong to the same cactus family. The graft should be taken no wider and no more than a stock, which will feed it in the future. The diameter of the stock can be smaller than the scion, however, if the cambial rings match, the grafting site will grow together perfectly. As a result, the plant will look like a mushroom with a leg.

Reference! Rootstocks can be cacti related to undemanding and fast-growing species, perfectly developing on their roots.

Universal stocks are considered:

trichocereus;
eriocereuses;
echinopsis;
selenicereuses.

Scion Selection

As a graft, experienced gardeners recommend taking young plants with a good metabolism. No need to use large, old and hibernated cacti. All of them grow together hard. On the scion, you need to make a flat, even cut, thanks to which the plants will fit together as tightly as possible.

Procedure technique

First, the top of the cactus is cut off on the stock; its edges need to be mowed a little. Then another smooth and thin section is made. This piece must be left on the stock so that the latter is wet. The stock is also cut evenly and the edges are beveled. Before installing them, the cut on the rootstock needs to be updated, for this it is necessary to remove the thin layer on the cambial ring.
After that, you need to do everything very quickly. Using a pair of tweezers, remove the cut-off piece from the rootstock and press the graft onto the cut. It is necessary to try to connect cambial rings very precisely. For a tighter attachment, the scion needs to be twisted a little, pressing it into the cactus located below.
Then the scion is pressed crosswise with previously prepared plaits. If there are spikes in the graft, it is necessary to enclose the material, otherwise they will tear the tourniquet. Those sections that remain open are sprinkled with ground coal.

Cactus needs to create greenhouse conditions. If the room has low humidity, then it is covered:

a can;
a plastic glass;
a piece of agrofibre.

Important! The grafted plant for 14-21 days must be put in a warm place where the sun's rays do not penetrate. This amount of time is enough for the cacti to grow together.

We suggest you watch a video on the implementation of the cactus vaccination:

How to care after the procedure?

While the grafted plant is standing in a dark, warm place, it does not need to be watered and sprayed. The cut point cannot be moved. The plant must be ventilated, excess moisture contributes to the development of fungi on a fresh cut. Attachment must be loosened after a week, and after 7 days, remove. A solid glossy crust will be clearly visible under it.

After this time, the cactus is abundantly watered, preventing water from entering the cut. The successful vaccination is indicated by the growth of the scion. If the plant has not taken root, then the procedure can be repeated again. To do this, make new cuts on the stock and scion.

It happens that the vaccine has dried up, has not taken root, experienced cactus growers advise not to throw it away. The fact is that the scion can live in this state for many years, grow up in children (how to propagate cacti by planting children?).

The appearance of grafted cacti surprises many people with its unnaturalness.. This procedure is very interesting and not very complicated. Although those who do this for the first time need to be patient, because the first time it may not work.