Cactus/Cactus identification
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Question
Good morning. I can't identify this specie (and even bought a book) because it has a rounded top with flowers and the base is different and from it several arms developed. It was a very little one when I bought and the arms just appeared the last 2 years and the flowers this year.
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I hope you can tell its name, because I sincerely don't understand much of cactus yet and can't find mine in any list... maybe I'm looking in the wrong direction, I don't know.
Thank you in advance
Dear Veronica,
From what I can see in the attached photo, the globular plant looks like a Gymnocalicium species, probably G. schickendantzii (sp?) grafted onto a Hylocereus undatus, which is a jungle cactus and it is sprouting branches, which should be removed, since they will overtake the grafted Gymnocalicium.
Such grafts are common in the retail trade, since the stock plant (hylocereus) grows like a weed in the tropics. Once a tiny teardrop size cactus is grafted onto it, the grafted top part (scion) grows very quickly to a marketable size, within months in the tropics. The problem is that the stock plant, hylocereus, is relatively short lived and the scion (gymnocalicium) will eventually have to be cut off and rooted on its own. I'd wait until the scion is finihed blooming.
Out west, the nurserymen normally use another plant, Stenocereus victoriensis, a tough cactus, for grafting stock. It is much slower growing, but also generally lives as long as the scion grafted on top.
Hope that helps,
Maureen
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Maureen
Expertise
I can answer questions regarding the care and propagation of cactus and succulents and would actually group these together as folks often mistake one for the other and often their care is quite different. I also have a cold hardy cactus and succulent garden that has been quite successful. The subject in regard to classification of type is enormous and I wouldn't be able to answer all questions by any means. It is really IMPORTANT TO INCLUDE A PHOTO if at all possible and LET ME KNOW WHERE YOU ARE FROM, especially in terms of climate.
Experience
I have learned by reading books, by trial and error and by consulting with folks with much more knowledge. I have primarily grown C&S for the last 20 years.
Organizations
Cactus and Succulent Society of Massachusetts.
Education/Credentials
No formal training. See experience.
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