Grafting questions...

[Krayken]

My friend has a few questions on grafting -


Scenario # 1. Fizzgig already has a SP that is doing well. Now, in the spring, if Fizzgig wanted to graft a button type cactus onto one of the branches, would this hinder the growth of that branch at all? (The branch is about 4 in.) Or for that matter, the growth of the other branches? Or would it even be worth while to graft onto a branch instead of the main plant? Because he would hate to hinder the look of his SP, which looks pretty cool.


Scenario # 2. Fizzgig also has another SP cutting saved for potting in the spring. Now, can Fizzgig slice the top off the cutting and graft a button type cactus on at the same time as planting the SP cutting? Or should he wait a few weeks until the mother plant has rooted to attempt the grafting? Also, will a button grafted on top hinder the growth of any branches that "would be" on the mother plant?

[Pharmer]

Yes, it will hinder the growth in that it will stop the growth at the tip (the tip will be sliced off).  All of the growth that would have been going into the branch tip will be directed to the grafted scion.  I think this would be a fine grafting location on fiz'z cactus.  It might also be good to cut off a four inch branch and root it alone and then graft onto it.  This way when he cuts off the tip to graft, the growth can't be redirected to another branch.  It is good to graft cacti of similar sizes, so seed grown plants or small cuttings work well, although I have seen pics of grafts on much larger branches too.  

The conditions for grafting aren't really the same as the conditions for rooting.  I don't think it would be a good idea to try to graft at the same time as trying to root a cutting.  

Peace.