health of degrafted plants

Joined : 16 May 2008 Posts : 194 Location : Canberra

Hi,
Just wondering if anyone could comment on the health of degrafted plants once they regrow roots. I read they often are not as healthy as their naturally rooted brother and sisters? And often they are more susceptible to disease.

Would like to hear people’s opinions?

Subject: Re: health of degrafted plants Fri May 30, 2008 5:56 pm

I've only degrafted a few lophos. Rooted easily and are growing fine. No disease issues. Thats about all I can say. I think Kada has a fair bit of exprience degrafting.

Subject: Re: health of degrafted plants Fri May 30, 2008 6:14 pm

Pretty much the same here as HN's experiences. Where is Kada? He always has good info on this sort of stuff.
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Joined : 05 Apr 2008 Posts : 163 Location : International

in my opinion, there are 2 things both to do with roots. if it is a tap root specie you gain the advantage of no taproot...taproots, or at least lack of many capillary roots, slows growth and tap roots seem easier to be affected by rot.

a disadvantage, especially with large degrafts, is when they dry they become concave or whatever that shape is called. they indent, which is bad with excessive water as it will form a little condensation which may possibly lead to rot. but if you cut it ok and let it dry ok without much dehydration, its perfect.

but for disease and such i haven't seen any difference in my own plants....

hollonasty/trig you guy got any degrafted astros? they tend to grow much faster than seed grown because of their capillary roots vs the larger roots of teh seed grown ones.

also small cut size helps....hylocereus grafts for example when de grafted have a much smaller cut surface area than a large stenocereus graft.

Subject: Re: health of degrafted plants Sat May 31, 2008 12:24 pm

Good info Kada. All my astros are either still on graft or seed grown. I will remove one or two of the bigger ones after next growing season. Sounds good.

Whats your astro rooting method? I have heard of people using 24hr artificial light for some difficult to root species.

Joined : 16 May 2008 Posts : 194 Location : Canberra

Thanks guys - its good to know. Smile

I have a large Astro myriostigma which was cut pretty high up - and as a result the bottom has dried very concave. I hope it puts out some roots soon!

Joined : 16 May 2008 Posts : 194 Location : Canberra

I thought I would post some pics of the degrafted A myrios x ? - ok it wasn't that big.
the pick of another A myrio x ? shows the extent of the sunburn I foolishly gave to all of my plants - some were ok. others are in a bad way. I think it might be time to degraft this one too. the flesh has gone orange (obviously) and puffed up - as if inflated.

Joined : 05 Apr 2008 Posts : 163 Location : International

this is one of the main reasons hylocereus is used for astro grafts....you dont want to cut them in half...that makes them worth no money.
cut the hylo stock as short as you can and then try and cut chunks out until there is no hylo left but the scion is uncut...if that makes sens. that way your astros keep a natural look and often root much faster.....BUT if they are grafted to a columnar type cactus, there is little choice but to actually cut them. i always use a rooting powder, not to promote root sbut to allow the cut to dry more evenly without huge dehydration.

Subject: Re: health of degrafted plants Sat May 31, 2008 2:32 pm

Your astro is a Myrio cv Hakuun a really nice cultivar. The Hylo looks like it had rot not sunburn ? I don't think it would be possible to sunburn a plant in the ACT this time of year anyway.

Joined : 16 May 2008 Posts : 194 Location : Canberra

Subject: Re: health of degrafted plants Sat May 31, 2008 3:20 pm

Your green house sounds awsome....high 40s in the act. Good work WT. Now just don't kll al your plants Very Happy

Joined : 14 May 2008 Posts : 458 Location : Corio. Victoria

Would love to see pictures of your greenhouse ..................

How big is it?
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http://community.webshots.com/user/parrotsheaven

Joined : 16 May 2008 Posts : 194 Location : Canberra

You shouldn't get me started about my
greenhouse. Very Happy

I can post elsewhere if the mods like to preserve this thread but here
goes.

Basically it’s a double skinned solar greenhouse (not all double skinned
yet) that is designed specifically for my garden and Canberra. There are two insulated solid walls
and the rest in thermax plastic.
It’s designed so in the middle of Canberra’s
winter I get full light penetration and in summer the penetration is reduced. Its
all solar azimuth angles and what not. Smile

Its still a few months away from finished but when it’s done it should
be pretty good. I'm putting in a paved floor once my friend takes up
their parents back garden.

my secret weapon will be a heat storage system that I've never seen
before - it basically works like 'Rock charging' greenhouses on a commercial
scale - but I will be using beers bottles full of water. I've done my
calculations and I should be able to heat my greenhouse (when fully double
skinned) at night and cool during the day - I should be able to keep the night
temps pretty high. As soon as I get some spare time I will build a
practice one just to make sure it’s going to work. Laughing

Anyway some pics. Ignore the messy back yard – the clean up
comes after a few other projects.

These pics are of roughly what it’s like at the moment. Still in
construction mode.

and some of my cacti -they are all pretty young nothing too special yet either. Smile

Joined : 16 May 2008 Posts : 194 Location : Canberra

Subject: Re: health of degrafted plants Sat May 31, 2008 4:26 pm

Looks awesome. Some nice plants there too Smile