How to graft crabclaw orchid onto cactus
Among gardening enthusiasts, crab claw orchid grafted cactus is known as the "perfect marriage in the meaty world." By implanting the scion of Crabnoidea into the cactus rootstock, it not only improves the plant's resistance, but also creates a unique ornamental form. This article will systematically explain the key steps and maintenance tips of grafting operations in a combination of pictures and texts. 1. Four steps for grafting the core of crabclaw orchid 1. Rootstock treatment: Select healthy cactus with a diameter of more than 3 cm for precise grooving of cactus. After wiping the knife with an alcohol cotton piece, cut off 1 cm horizontally on the top to form a flat surface. A 2-3cm V-shaped groove is cut longitudinally in the cambium (at the junction of epidermis and pith core). The groove width is slightly larger than the thickness of the scion of Crabnoidea to ensure full exposure of the cambium. 2. Scion preparation: The cutting art of Crabclaw Select a branch of Crabclaw with 2-3 leaves, remove the top buds and retain mature tissue. Cut the base into a 30-degree slope and control the length at 2.5- 3 cm. The surface is required to be smooth and "duckbill". The entire process needs to be completed within 10 seconds to avoid tissue oxidation. 3. Jointing fixation: The key operation of core alignment quickly inserts the scion into the cactus incision to ensure that the cambium fits completely. Insert two disinfection toothpicks using a cross method, wrap the outer layer with wax paper and fix them with long tail clips to form a stable triangular support structure. 2. Three-dimensional maintenance system after grafting 1. Environmental control: The golden ratio of temperature and humidity places the plants in a scattered light environment of 18-25℃ to maintain 60% air humidity. Avoid any moisture contacting the interface for the first 72 hours, and maintain micro-moisture in the substrate by tray water injection. 2. Light management: The progressive light-seeing rule will completely cover the shade for the first 15 days after grafting. Starting from the 16th day, 1 hour of soft light exposure will be added every day. Normal light can be restored after 30 days. Observe if the scion is full, it means that the vascular bundles are successfully connected. 3. Survival test: The three-stage judgment standard was used to observe whether the scion shrank in 7 days, to inspect the formation of callus in 14 days, and to test the firmness of the scion by light touch on 21 days. After completely surviving, a sharp grafting knife can be used to cut off the new bud points of the rootstock and concentrate nutrients to supply the scion.
By accurately grasping the grafting opportunity (the best in spring) and standardizing the operating process, the grafting success rate can reach more than 85%. Regular application of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers can promote the rapid formation of layer adhesion of scions and achieve a three-dimensional shape of "multiple ears on one stock." By mastering these core technologies, you can also create amazing fleshy grafting art.