Can cacti be grafted onto sunflowers?
In comparison with the knowledge of most people about grafting cacti and sunflowers, please refer to the detailed introduction below.
Can cacti be grafted onto sunflowers?
Cacti are generally used for grafting plants such as Disocactus ackermannii, Rhipsalis spp., and Echinopsis spp., primarily focusing on the thick and relatively upright Opuntia and Euphorbia species. The only commonality between them and sunflowers is that they are both succulent plants; however, they belong to different families and genera. Even if they survive after grafting, they might merely be in a parasitic state, with poor flowering quality.
Is it possible to use cacti for grafting sunflowers?
Although sunflowers are sturdy and easy to grow, they are not cold-resistant and can only be cultivated annually or overwinter as perennial roots. This is done to increase their ornamental value and to cultivate old stems.
In recent years, grafting sunflowers has quietly become popular among flower enthusiasts, with various rootstocks being chosen.
For example, perennial sunflower old stems, wild Portulaca spp., Portulaca grandiflora 'Variegata', Crassula ovata, S Sedum spp., and cacti, it seems that the sturdy and easy-to-grow sunflower can survive when grafted onto any plant, but this is not actually the case!
Grafting is about affinity and is only suitable among plants of the same family and genus. Grafting can make up for some deficiencies of the grafted plant, improve its stress resistance, and ornamental value, making such grafting meaningful!
Cacti are not the ideal rootstock for grafting sunflowersCacti are generally used for grafting plants such as Disocactus ackermannii, Rhipsalis spp., and Echinopsis spp., primarily focusing on the thick and relatively upright Opuntia and Euphorbia species.
The only commonality between them and sunflowers is that they are both succulent plants, but they belong to different families and genera. Even if they survive after grafting, they might merely be in a parasitic state, with poor flowering quality.
Sunflowers belong to the Portulacaceae family of succulent plants and are more suitable for grafting with perennial sunflower old stems, wild Portulaca spp., and Portulaca grandiflora 'Variegata', which have better affinity and are easier to handle.
Growing "lollipop" old stems is also a second choiceThe main purpose of grafting sunflowers is to increase their ornamental value and sense of layering, and by grafting multiple varieties, it is possible to achieve the phenomenon of multiple flowers on one tree.
However, for plants like sunflowers that are relatively sturdy and easy to grow, grafting is not the only option! Growing them in the style of a "lollipop" sunflower can also achieve the same effect, and it is even simpler to operate than grafting.
Simply prepare a bunch of perennial sunflower branches with similar colors and lengths, tie them easily with a lollipop stake, and then pot them. After they successfully take root, the flowering period will also present a clear, multi-flowered ornamental effect.
The introduction above provides a comprehensive explanation of whether cacti can be grafted onto sunflowers and offers some related knowledge about green plants for green plant enthusiasts.