Length of stock for graft...How long is best?

[winder]

I was wondering about the size of the base or stock for a graft.

Clearly various stock diameters are feasible, as some people use the narrow Pereskiopsis and other people prefer Trichocereus as a stock.

What I am curious about is whether the height of the stock is important.

One on hand, a shorter stock seems ideal for maximizing the transport of nutrients from the stock's roots to the growing scion.

One the other hand, possibly the shorteness can be overdone so that the stock would have insufficient tissue for photosynthesis to support the roots, at least that is my concern.

Any suggestions as to the ideal stock length?
Does ideal length vary for the stock?
Maybe a shorter Trichocereus can be tolerated, as the girth adds to the photosynthesis available.
Or maybe a shorter Pereskiopsis can be tolerated, as the narrowness may more severely limit mositure and nutrient transport.

It is a tough nut to crack theoretically, so perhaps experience should dictate the proper recommendation.

Well...?

[CJ]

Well,Iv`e never done grafting,and you`ll probably(I do hope) are going to get a more qualified answer soon. But,i`m going to have some fun and answer this anyways,jus on guessing what I think might be correct,on the little Iv`e directly read,and quite honestly what I would deduce or conjecture.

     Since I am used to working w/Trichocereus Pachanoi,my predjudice leans to using that as the grafting stock. My answer then would be to use something between twelve and 20 inches. Why? because it stikes me the grafting stock should be well established,w/good root system. On the other hand,as you implied,the inner tissues shouldn`t be too old,i`m more concerned w/ malleability than hieth,so to speak. In other words for the tissues to be more robust and healthy,able to endure injury in it`s own right,since the tip must be sliced off to expose the vascular system.Also, I would think,one would want two to three inches in diameter,to accodomate and for structural strength.

     Someday I will do some grafting mabe,and would also enjoy reading the experienced response to this.

[EA-1306]

http://www.cactus-art.biz/technics/Graf ... _index.htm
A lot of grafting has to do with roots, this page has lots of good information showing that a vibrant rootstock translates to a vibrant scion.

[jikuhchagi]

can't post any pics from where I am at, but my most successful grafts have been onto 6-8" T.Pachnoi.

How's it going Winder?

j

[Finbar]

I tried Opuntia compressa fer a Mammillaria graft.  Not impressed. They are too thin. Maybe guud fer graftin' seedlin's. The thing iz, O.c. iz a northern species.

I had a bunch of guud linkz at SPF on tha topic.

//http://www.sphosting.com/cactus

//http://sphosting.com/cactus/grafting_tips.html

//http://www.sphosting.com/cactus/cactusnews001.html

Everthing ya ever wanted ta know about cactus graftin' as' such.

Some graft stock species include:
Cereus
Echinopsis
Echinocereus
Harrisia jusbertii(nice cactus by itself & good rootstock)
Hylocereus
Myrtillocactus geometrizans
Opuntia compressa, O. fragilis
Perekiopsis
Selenicereus grandiflorus(usually tha rootstock fer them bright colored scionz in stores)
Stenocereus pruinous, S. griseus, S. victoriensis(very guud)
Trichocereus(supposed ta be very guud)

I have had better resultz with Stenocereus victoriensis. Bob Smoley sellz them cheap($1 unrooted). Get a coupla dozen if ya can. Make sure ta read the web site above about which rootstockz ta use with which plantz.

Tha plastic box with water helpz form tha graft union.

Make alot of graftz - not all will take.

Use alcohol ta sterilize. Make sure it driez before cutting. Work quickly.

Trciho'z are supposed ta be good. I made tha mistake of cuttin' me rootstock to low. I lost a lot that way.

Make sure tha scion and rootstock are compatable

Fin