hi folks,

Just a quick question... does anyone know if turbinocarpus degrafts and roots well? Aztekium is hard to root once degrafted - I want to know if I need to leave some of the stock attached. Turbinocarpus lophophodies BTW

cheers & thanks

Jim

Yes they will root mate I have done a few. Just do them like Astro Myrio's and you should be fine. A little bit hit and miss but you will be fine.

HN

Thanks hello nasty,

I have mixed results with Astrophytum degrafts, some are fine but I have lost a fair few to rot. My most recent technique is to place them on a cm or so of gravel on top of the potting mix when roots appear. I figure this helps keep the sensitive lower side as dry as possible.
Do you have any special tips?

I have two methods I use. The first is much like yours except I use only coarse river sand in a very shallow pot/container, put under shade cloth and await roots.

The second; I dust the cut area once dry with rooting powder (not gel) and sit it on top of a tube like pot of similar size, make sure you get a good coating of powder. Ensure the pot does not have too many holes or it will not be dark enough to encourage rooting. Again place under shade cloth and await roots.

Both work pretty well but I still have trouble with Ariocarpus and Asterias degrafts. They are hit and miss. I have good success with Myriostigma using the first method.

Goodluck

I was talking about the actually growing of them once they start putting out roots. once roots appear I like to sit them on a bed of gravel on top of the potting mix.

I've never had any problem once the roots have formed, I just pot them up like a regular plant of that species.

How do you encourage rooting?

With Lophophora I tend to use the 'coir' method but with Astrophytum I just leave them sitting in a bucket of sand.

time of cutting/rooting is probably important. Active growing period would be expected to encourage rooting more...