Pilosocereus Azureus & New Peyote Graft

The first time I tried to graft onto this huge Pilosocereus Azureus the join between the Scion & rootstock quickly developed a mould which spread through and ultimately killed the Peyote. The weather was partially humid at the time which probably promoted the mould.

However I moved on and attempted a re-graft a few weeks later when the weather was less moist. I have no idea exactly when I grafted this Lophophora Williamsii Var. Caespitosa but it must be about 2 months old by now. It was a small pup from my mother Var. Caespitosa. It took a while to show signs of the graft taking but it eventually plumped up!

I have taken it inside for the winter to make sure it doesn't develop a mould again. Also to protect it from the overly curious wildlife!

Here are some pics:


I was hoping that the size of the rootstock will cause the Scion to show greater growth (this is what i've heard). But as this graft was done late in the season I think I'll need to wait for spring to see whether this is the case!




You will have to take my word for it as I have no pictures to compare, But this graft has shown some quite significant growth. The scared tissue around the sides of the Peyote used to cover the whole thing! All of the green tissue is New Growth!



This button was showing some significant pupping before it was grafted so I am expecting to see some Extreme Pupping!


Unfortunately it looks like a bird of some sort got too curious & took a couple of hearty pecks out of my poor Peyote!

Mega Plant Update!

I haven't been keeping up to date with my blogging unfortunately. So this will be an update of almost all of my collection!
Its become winter here in NZ so things are starting to shut down. But unlike the UK the winters are mild and there is the occasional sunny day so some things are still growing (slowly).
I'll start with my windowsill cacti.

This Lophophora Williamsii var. Caespitosa graft was done on the 4/12/09, It is now just over 7 months old. It was my first attempt at grafting any cacti & I must say its gone brilliantly - beginners luck perhaps! Its grown to 3.5+cm in diameter & has sprouted 6 pups! Two of which are already <2cm!
Here are some pics:




Provocative!


Here you can see one of the pups pupping! Now that in an accomplishment!







Here is a pic of how it started out 2 weeks after it was first grafted:


This is some incredible growth for just 7 months! It hasn't even experienced a full NZ summer yet! I cannot wait to see the results for next year!

Pereskiopsis Spathulata

I have been desperate to find this plant in NZ ever since I got here. It is an ugly prickly leafy cactus that grows like a weed - But it is a cactus (a true cactus). This means that grafts of all other cacti will take to them easily. This includes Peyote!
Due to its leaves and jungle-cactus nature it is an extremely fast growing plant - I have heard it can grow 4cm in a week.
It has a very thin steam unlike other cactus which makes it ideal for seedling grafting. This is its main use among cactus cultivators.

As peyote are so difficult to come by in NZ my plan was to grow seeds & graft them onto Pereskiopsis. Within a few years I can grow a respectable collection of grandfather-like peyotes.
The growth rate is incredible when grafting with Pereskiopsis; a peyote will grow from a seed to a flowering plant in a year instead of 10 years in the wild!

HOWEVER! I have searched for this plant far and wide, on the internet & at specialist cactus nurseries and the result is that is absolutely does not exist in NZ atall!
...
Well apart from the three cuttings I have sitting in front of me!
I have managed to get sent some cuttings sent to me from a Kiwi on the forum site 'shroomary'. He is currently living in Aus & sent the cuttings from there.
Incredibly they were not seized by customs & are did not die from the journey!

I will plant the unrooted cuttings directly into a moist soil & place them in a humidity dome (makeshift) & out of direct sunlight. After two weeks they should plump up and grow like a beast!

Heres is a picture of my new babies:


Pereskiopsis Spathulata unrooted Cuttings