de graft advice

[Robert K]

hello there i recently purchased this plant which is on a graft of something im unsure about. anyway its a bit top heavy and i am considering degrafting it. is this recommended and if so how do i do it and when as i have never de-grafted cacti before. many thanks

[img]http://i15.ebayimg.com/05/i/001/0b/6e/eecb_2.JPG[/img]


this is another plant i bought grafted but unsure about degrafting due to its mass variegation

[img]http://i18.ebayimg.com/07/i/001/0b/a1/1ab7_2.JPG[/img]

[Ross M]

Robert, I wouldn't touch them until the spring. Even then, the variegated Astrophytum is unlikely to succeed well on its own roots as it's relying on the stock for most of it's chlorophyll (food) production.

You could get two Astros out of the top one come the spring but let them callouse well before potting up.

[Robert K]

so i will be unable to keep the first plant together then?

[Peter]

Robert: cut the stock near the top, allow it to callouse and bury it. It'll root and you'll then keep all the heads together without it looking like a astro lollipop.

[Robert K]

thanks peter. but wait till new year?

[Peter]

Yup, Robert. No rush and you'll gain nothing but risk if you do it now.