Grafting Christmas Cactus to Dragon Fruit Plant

Video Tutorial

Watch the video below to help you better understand the rest of the article.

Christmas Cactus and Other Holiday Cacti

The first time I saw a Christmas Cactus, I couldn't believe cacti would grow and develop flowers that way. In a recent project, I was able to graft the moon cactus to the dragon fruit plant. I was amazed how the dragon fruit plant can be used as a versatile grafting stock for cacti.

How to Air-Layer Trees and Vines with Just Water

In a previous article, I mentioned how one could easily propagate the Bougainvillea with just water. There was one query asking if other garden plants would respond positively with this approach of propagation. In particular, the inquirer asked about the Gumamela, which is the local term for Hibiscus.

It was rather coincidental that I air-layered a Hibiscus plant with this water technique and sent her photos of the Hibiscus plant I successfully propagated. She was elated to know as she wanted to grow her Hibiscus collections.

It seems that common garden woody plants like the bougainvilleas and hibiscus respond well to air-layering with water. But how about the plants that potentially grow bigger, like vines and trees?

So I put that to the test with a very mature vine of ours which is the Sandpaper Vine or Petrea volubilis, shown below.

Air-Layering Technique with Plain Water - Part 2

(This is the continuation from Part 1)

With the bottle now covered and secured, water and fertilize the plant as usual. Occasionally check the inside for water. Fill it up if the water level falls below 1 inch. Water loss may occur due to evaporation or spill-out when the plant branch is disturbed.

Wait until the roots will form.

Procedure Once the Roots Emerge

18. After 30 days, remove the foil cover of the bottle to peer on the inside of the plastic bottle. If the water in the bottle isn't to cloudy, you could actually notice some of the roots.
    
    
    
    
    

Air-Layering Technique with Plain Water

It was almost incredible to learn that some gardeners have professed to being able to propagate plants with just plain water. By this, I don't refer to dipping cuttings into a jar of water and then wait for some nubs to form which, hopefully, grow into roots.

That kind of propagation works, but seemingly to just a few kinds of plants - and sometimes, the mortality of seedlings is high.

Sandpaper Vine Propagation by Cuttings in Water

In a previous article, I wrote how the Sandpaper Vine (Petrea volubilis), also known as Queen's Wreath, Purple Wreath, Blue Bird Vine and Fleur de Dieu, can be propagated by using a simple method. That Sandpaper Vine propagation is by a humidity chamber.

Recently, I discovered another way to propagate the Sandpaper Vine almost by accident.

Nong Nooch Vines or Petraeovitex bambusetorum

Shown below are the beautiful drooping yellow flowers of the Nong Nooch Vines (Petraeovitex bambusetorum). Locally, these vines are sometimes called by plant traders as "Golden Garland" or "Yellow Garland". The yellow color of the flowers sometimes resemble the color gold.

When the flowers are set side-by-side as shown by the photo above, they look like string curtains. The strings of flowers actually come from individual plants in hanging baskets.

How to Propagate the Golden Garland

The reason I have so many of these vines in hanging baskets is because they are so easy to propagate. The best method I found to be both easy and effective is the propagation technique by air-layering or marcotting. There are a few ways you can do this to a single plant.

Compound Marcotting

You could actually marcot a single branch on several points along the length of the branch. Thus, series of marcots can be made on one branch. This is called Compound Marcotting. I discussed these extensively in the two articles below:

1. Serpentine Air-Layering or Compound Marcotting
   
   
2. Easy Compound Marcotting or Air-Layering for Quick Propagation
   

Compound Marcotting for a plant with multiple branches may be daunting to some because the branches typically crowd each other. But there is a way to do this in this article: Air-Layering Marcots in Crowded Branches (Nong Nooch Vine). This technique is applicable to other vines or plants that have similar growth behavior.

By hanging baskets of the Golden Garland along a garden pergola or arbor, you will create the illusion of a beautiful curtain. This is not only aesthetic but also functional for it doubles as a screen for privacy in the garden.

Easy Compound Marcotting or Air-Layering for Quick Propagation

Spawned by the article on serpentine air-layering, I'm writing this one on how to easily propagate your favorite vines using compound marcotting.

As long as the vine branch is thick enough to perform marcotting, then you do marcotting in between nodes. Nodes that have leaves or foliage are preferable.

Before, I was hesitant to air-layer several parts of the vine (in other words multiple marcots), for fear that the vine may not have the "energy" to allow the marcots to root. That, however, is not so much the case.

Serpentine Air-Layering or Compound Marcotting

Propagating the Golden Garland Tutorial

The Nong Nooch Vine aka Golden Garland

The Nong Nooch vine (Petraeovitex bambusetorum), also called Golden Garland, is such a lovely vine with pretty yellow flowers that we have these plants always blooming in hanging garden pots. But the best part about them is that they're incredibly easy to propagate by air-layering or marcotting.

Propagation by Cuttings in Humidity Chamber (Sandpaper Vine)

I've seen the Sandpaper Vine's flowers many times in photos all over the internet and found them amazingly beautiful. The fact that the flower colors of violet and blue aren't as common as the reds and yellows in the tropics makes this vine even more appealing to me.

The Sandpaper vine's scientific name is Petrea volubilis. Unlike the white Porana volubilis (which I have in a container trellis), this vine isn't aggressively twining at all. Petrea volubilis's other common names are Queen's Wreath, Purple Wreath, Blue Bird Vine and Fleur de Dieu (Flower of God)).

Propagation by Stem Cuttings (Rangoon Creeper)

In a previous article I described the propagation of the Rangoon Creeper vine by root division. I also mentioned in that article how difficult it is to propagate the Rangoon Creeper vine or Quisqualis indica by stem cuttings.

Well, I no longer think it's difficult. Apparently, you just need to know the right time and the correct techniques to successfully propagate it by cuttings.

Easy Grafting Technique for Adenium (Desert Rose) - Part 2

(This is the continuation of Part 1)

This article discusses an easy technique for grafting the Adenium obesum or the Desert Rose plant using simple materials and tools. The Adenium obesum is one of many plants that is easy to graft. The fact that there are many hybrids and varieties of the Desert Rose plant makes grafting this plant extremely interesting and rewarding.

In Part 1 of this article, I discussed the simple materials and tools to be used to graft an Adenium scion to the Adenium stock. It also discussed the steps in identifying and cutting the the Adenium scion and stock. This part will continue the rest of the steps for for easy flat-cut grafting.

Later in the article is a discussion on how to differentiate a successful Adenium graft from a failed graft and why grafting can become a rewarding hobby.

Easy Grafting Technique for Adenium (Desert Rose)

The Adenium obesum is one of the most grafted among ornamental plants in Asia, and for good reason. So many beautiful varieties of interesting colors, patterns and forms have come about.

For quite some time I've been toying with the idea of grafting an Adenium obesum or Desert Rose plant. Actually, I've previously done a V-cut or Wedge graft on an Adenium obesum plant. It was a third attempt and the only successful one thus far.

My only regret is not having experimented this flat-cut grafting much sooner. Never did I realize is that it would be much easier to do than the wedge graft once you know the simple technique. This is at least true for Adeniums.

Propagation by Root Division (Rangoon Creeper)

The Rangoon Creeper (Quisqualis indica) is a very beautiful and fragrant vine that is difficult to propagate, in my experience. I've tried propagation via stem cuttings to no avail. Thus far, I've only managed to clone a Rangoon Creeper through air-layering.

My experience in air-layering or marcotting a Rangoon Creeper has had very limited success. Out of the thirty or more marcots I air-layered from the rangoon creeper atop our garden gate arch, only two rooted. Out of these two, only one was really healthy and thrived.

Air Layering or Marcotting (Rangoon Creeper)

The Rangoon Creeper (Quisqualis indica or Combretum indicum) is also known by the common names: Chinese honeysuckle, Burma Creeper, Scarlet Rangoon and Drunken Sailor. Other names for the plant include Quiscual (in Spanish), Niyog-niyogan (in Filipino), Madhu Malti or Madhumalti (in Hindi), Malati (in Assamese), Akar Dani (in Malay) and Radha Manoharam (in Telugu).

The kind that we have is the double-petaled variety. Compared to the single petal variety, the double has smaller petals on the flower. But the cluster of flowers look so much thicker. It is one of the most beautiful and fragrant vines we had. Naturally, almost immediately, we wanted to propagate or make clones out of it.

Splinting Weak Air-Layered Branches (Rangoon Creeper)

Although it may not be the best propagation technique that works for me, I've managed to propagate a few Rangoon Creeper (Quisqualis indica) seedlings through the air-layering technique or what others call marcotting. Air-layering the Rangoon Creeper vine especially on branches on top of a garden arbor is quite challenging. This is because you need to climb up a ladder with the marcotting kit and work from there.

Make a Garden Dibble Handle for Comfort

In a previous article, I illustrated how to make a custom garden dibber. This customized garden dibber allows the repotting of seedling plugs from the seedling tray. The garden dibber has been effective in preventing the damage of tender roots of young seedlings.

The garden dibber, or garden dibble as others would call it, is essentially made of two basic parts: the dibble head and the dibble handle. The dibble head is molded concrete. The dibble handle is really nothing more than a metal rod that sticks out from the dibble head. It's a scrap reinforcement bar (or rebar) that is only 9 mm thick.

The rebar, as I've found, is really too thin for my hand to hold. The dibble head, being made of concrete, is a bit heavy and there isn't enough leverage when holding the garden dibble.

Adenium Obesum (Desert Rose) Wedge Grafting

Because of its ease of cultivation and nice flowers, the Adenium obesum was propagated and grown as general ornamental plant all over Asia, notably in Thailand. Until in around 10 years ago, other cultivars of adenium was brought to Thailand. Then selecting and hybridizing of Adenium started.

Until now many hybrids have been produced by many breeders. The flower color and form of new hybrids are much more beautiful than original adenium. Flowering habit is also improved, many new hybrid flowers in large group of flowers and flowers all year around. There are many nice hybrid that are worth cultivating.

Repotting Seedling Plugs from the Garden Tray

After pricking the seedling plug from the garden seedling tray, the next thing to do is repot it. For most garden plants, repotting is fairly straightforward. Take a stick or use a finger to create a hole on the ground or the pot's soil. Put the seedling's root ball in and backfill with garden soil.

Some garden seedlings though have a more delicate root system where the roots break off easily if mishandled. Sometimes an unintentional sudden tap on the main stem may break young brittle roots. Such is the case for Bougainvillea seedlings grown from cuttings.

Picking Seedling Plugs from the Garden Tray

The use of a garden seedling tray is a practical way to grow garden plants from seeds and cuttings. A garden seedling tray has multiple cells where one can sow seeds or stick cuttings for propagation. Each cell has its own drain hole to let out excess water. Seedlings can be watered with light spraying or sprinkling or even by soaking the entire tray in a soaking tub.

But the most practical use of the seedling tray is the convenience in picking seedlings mature enough for transplanting. Because cells are partitioned in a seedling tray, it's easy enough to harvest seedlings without disturbing the other seedlings in the adjacent cells.

Improvised Soaking Tubs to Water Seedlings

Soaking seedlings in a tray using tubs is a practical method for watering and fertilizing young plants. This would be nice if you had the garden tray and a matching soaking tub to utilize. But what if you didn't have or find an appropriate soaking tub to match your garden tray? Or what if you only had a couple of tubs, bins or pans?

In these situations, you can improvise a setup where you can still use the bins or trays that you have at hand. But you do need a couple pieces of whatever you have. This article discusses how you can set this up with nothing more than a big disposable plastic garbage bag.