How to cultivate and manage Disocactus
Abstract: The related content about how to cultivate and manage Disocactus and the cultivation techniques of potted Disocactus will definitely help you. Let's learn about it together!
Disocactus is a popular flower. When we buy it from the market or online, we usually get the potted ones with self-root planted in a flowerpot. It is quite difficult to cultivate indoors because recently many people have asked Xiaoqi about problems with their Disocactus, such as wilted leaves or root rot. So how can we cultivate Disocactus well indoors? If you really can't cultivate the self-rooted Disocactus, you can use a technique to graft it. Grafting is the most suitable method for indoor cultivation of Disocactus, as it is simple to operate and maintain, and the flowers bloom better than those of self-rooted Disocactus. Do you know what to graft it with? What are the advantages of choosing different rootstocks? I will tell you about it today.
Why is it difficult to cultivate self-rooted Disocactus? We know that Disocactus belongs to the cactus family, and cacti require less watering. However, the ball of the cactus is relatively large, while the leaves of Disocactus are relatively thin, and their root systems are weak. Excessive watering in an unventilated indoor environment can easily lead to root rot. If you don't water it, the roots can't store much water, and the leaves also don't store much water. Forgetting to water or watering too little can cause the leaves to wilt. This is the reason why we can't cultivate Disocactus well. Therefore, using grafting is the most reliable method, using someone else's roots and trunk to store nutrients and supply the Disocactus for growth and blooming, which prevents root rot and allows for rapid leaf growth, resulting in a full bloom during the flowering period. There are many types of rootstocks, and I will talk about which ones are suitable for grafting.
1. Triangle
The triangle is what we call the branch of the pitaya, which is triangular in shape and hence the name. It is relatively suitable for grafting Disocactus, and the growth is quite fast afterward. Usually, using the branches of pitaya for grafting, as long as the cambium layers are aligned, it will heal quickly and grow new buds within 7 to 10 days. After healing, the growth will be very fast, and since pitaya does not have a dormant period in summer, we can water and fertilize normally according to its habits in summer, which will not cause any problems for the Disocactus and allow it to grow slowly in summer.
However, there is a characteristic of the triangle that needs to be considered when cultivating in northern regions. If the temperature drops below 5 degrees Celsius in winter, it is prone to rotting in an unventilated indoor environment. For those who want to cultivate in low-temperature conditions, it is not recommended to use triangle for grafting. Moreover, the roots of the triangle are shallow and belong to the soil surface roots, so if the soil at home is not breathable or excessive watering occurs, it can easily lead to root rot. For beginners, these are things to pay attention to, and it is not recommended to use triangle for grafting.
How to cultivate and manage Disocactus
2. Cactus
Cactus is also one of the main rootstocks for grafting Disocactus, but the growth of Disocactus grafted with cactus is relatively slow. If cactus is used to graft on仙人指 (another plant), the growth will be very fast. Because even after healing, the compatibility between cactus and Disocactus is small, and the growth will be slow. Using cactus to graft Disocactus requires 20 to 30 days to recover and grow normally after the cambium layers are aligned. If the grafting operation is not aligned, it will be in a state of停滞 growth, so it is not recommended to use cactus for grafting Disocactus, but rather for仙人指, which is similar in appearance and flowering to Disocactus.
3. Yexian
Yexian has branches that can grow leaves individually, similar to tree leaves, but it is a plant from the cactus family with spines. It is the best choice for grafting Disocactus. Firstly, it has a very high compatibility with Disocactus, and it can quickly survive and grow new buds within about seven days after grafting. The later growth will be very fast, and Yexian also does not have a dormant period in summer, so normal watering is sufficient and will not cause problems for Disocactus. Moreover, Yexian is not picky about soil; if you cultivate it in garden soil and follow the principle of watering when almost dry, it will grow normally without root rot or other problems.
However, in the northern regions, remember that it cannot be cultivated outdoors because if the temperature drops below zero, the entire branch will freeze. These three are the most commonly used rootstocks for grafting Disocactus, and I have told you their advantages and disadvantages. You can choose a suitable rootstock based on your own environment and maintenance conditions.