The Cactus Grafting Stock Race

Potential problems and variables

Light: Light levels can vary in different locations. Solution: Side by side should avoid differences in photoperiod and light intensities.

Different stocks perform better/worse in stronger/weaker light (example: Harrisia jusbetii does better in lower light than Myrtillocactus geometrizans). Solution: More experiments in different light settings (in time this will happen).

Heat: Same as light in a way. All stocks will be together so will have the same temps. Also some stocks do better in higher heat, while others prefer lower heat.

Water: Different amounts of water can make plants grow more or less. Solution: All plants will be given the same water amounts and at the same time.

Nutrients: Nutrients obviously play a huge role in plant growth. Solution: Only liquid fertilizers will be used, and mixed into one batch and watered equally amongst the plants.

Soil: Different soil compositions will create more or less favorable conditions depending. Solution: The same 100% sand mix will be used with all of them. Substrate will have no nutrients, all washed sand.

Pot size: Root space also plays a role in ability to take in more water/nutrients. Solution: Same pot sizes and volume of sand added.

Root stock size: The surface area of a stock will for sure play a huge role in how much light it can photo synthesis, meaning greater surface area has more energy available. Solution: Not too much we can do about that. We will be using the same height stocks, and try to choose diameters as close as possible (example, use skinny Stenocereus stocks and fat Pereskiopsis stocks).

Scion size: The size of the scion will also play a role in growth speed. Solution: Scions of the same diameter and height will be used.

Scion genetics: Genetics play a huge role in growth as well, which is true for all living things. Solution: All scions are from the same plant (clones), so no genetic diversity here.

Connection quality: A graft connected very well will grow faster than a graft with poor connection. Solution: Hard to solve, can only try to graft as good as possible. High quantity to experiment with will help average everything out.

Root stock species

How this table works.

The top row is the scion species used.

The left hand columns are the root stock species names.

The second row, below the scion species name, are the dates measurements are taken (monthly).

The following cells in the table are the measurements, in millimeters. Height/width (22/14= 22mm high x 14mm diameter).