Blossfeldia minima offsets onto O. humifusa seedlings

[robinast]

Today, I tried to graft little offsets of my clustering Blossfeldia minima grafts on Pereskiopsis. Im not very sure that I'll succseed
as the those Blossfeldia pups were very hairy and I'm not sure I could avoid the hair from occurring between the rootstock and
scion . Also, this time I had planted the O. humifusa seedlings before grafting as they were growing extremely densely and started
to etiolate heavily already.  Thus, it was not too easy task to put new grafts without touching the earlier ones. The success rate
will be seen after a week or so and I think I wouldn't do any other graftings this way before I'll see the results of my today's work.


Streched O. humifusa seedlings before grafting. The fact that they were tall was not a problem - but the seedlings' tiny diameter was.
Some of the seedlings were so thin that I had difficulties in finding small enough pups for them.


Blossfeldia minima on the Pereskiopsis stock. A heavy clustering is always a problem with grafted Blossfeldias, or, if to be corrrect,
I have not seen any naturally looking grafted specimen.


O. humifusa is said to keep grafts looking very natural - I wonder if this is also so with Blossfeldia.


A closer look of one freshly grafted plant.

[Carlo & Daniele]

it looks like a good work! keep us updated!
how old are the stocks?

thanks

[danskibsted]

interesting! keep us updated.
Dan

[robinast]

The stocks are about 2 months old. I sowed the seeds in September - but kept the sowings in a cool place for about three months. After that the sprouting was quick and seedlings growth vigorous.

[robinast]

Fiasco!!  As I was afraid of, I apparently could not avoid the Blossfeldia hair away from cut surfaces - and sure, the surfaces became contaminated with fungus spores. The picture that opened after I arrived at home today (after being away a couple of days) was not just encouraging - if to be careful with words. Have a look:



If to be honest, I do not remember that I EVER have had such a disaster with my grafts...
Luckily, I have a lot of both Opuntia seedlings to graft onto as well as the stuff to graft.

[danskibsted]

I'm sorry for your result
This happens for me too from time to time when I try new methods.
I hope you have better luck next time!

[robinast]

Thank, Dan, for your nice words - sure I can try again! This case is not enough to dishearten me!   

[Paulzie32]

It's a real shame to have lost so many.... but it looks more like something other than just getting some hairs under the scion.  That looks like it either got too cold, was too dark, too wet or too hot.  I'm guessing too dark and damp. 
I wish you luck for your next attempt.

Love these little plants!

[robinast]

Thank you, Paulzie!
Well, I actually do not think that it was too cold or/and wet... I've grafted more than ten similar pots in simllar conditions (seedlings of astros, arios, also Aztekiums, Blossfeldias and Geohintonias) and this was a single failure. Thus, most likely the problem was in contaminating of the cut surfaces, I suppose. But, of course, I can not know for sure. What IS sure, is that all the grafts were made and kept in the same conditions.