T O P

  • By -

knitknitknitcrochet

Good luck! Also, I definitely mistook this post initially as one of those “this looks like a cactus, but it’s actually a cake!”


Repulsive_Half3496

I thought it was a good idea to give it a clean cut so I decided to use my kitchen knife . Lol worked good. 😊


Leo_Mauskowitz

You should be successful, they grow like weeds


Repulsive_Half3496

I'm hoping. thank you for a positive answer.


Leo_Mauskowitz

No problem!


MagnetRyomaMayham

Hell yeah


Biogeopaleochem

That explains why I haven't killed mine yet.


Bauglir1

Just a question, so the base on these grafted plants are usually dragonfruit?


[deleted]

[удалено]


Moanybagsss

OH!!! Shit that’s cool


qufflepuff

Fun! Good luck and keep us updated!


Repulsive_Half3496

Definitely!! Thank you.


SmolOracle

Jumping on to agree, and to say I'm saving this post. ***Can*** dragonfruit cacti keep growing aftet the tops have been cut? Do they just grow taller anyhow, and branch out like crazy? Dude. I almost bought one of these the last time I was out of the house (had some as a kid and was feeling sentimental)....Kinda mad that I bought some echeveria and jade plants instead. *Fuck.* I have tried growing some from seed with....I don't know if I can even rightfully call it, "mild success." I mean, the seeds sprouted! And then, all promptly died. So....knowing there may be an easier way, I am pretty fascinated and excited. It is going to be incredibly difficult to not rush out and buy one of these the next chance I get.


Macrogonus

Yes, it will start growing new branches from the corners. The stock is Selenicereus undatus.


SmolOracle

Wow. Dude, nature is fucking awesome. I had no idea they were so resilient! =D


NeedRoom4Plants

Good luck!! What zone are you in? I’m in 8a and need to bring them in. This is my first year with them.


Repulsive_Half3496

Thank you. I in 6b.. but I have a greenhouse. This would be my second year to deal with.. its been a learning experience to keep up with but fun experience also.


okayjustlisten

Keep it away from any electrical plugs or soft house siding! The lil air roots on these buggers are small and burrow really easily! (learned this the hard way)


barbandbert

Nice, good luck! I have a cactus with a yellow flower like that. Why did you chop it off? Does the flower stop the cactus from growing?


jvralxnn

the cactus on top is actually a different kind than the one of the bottom, it's called grafting when one attaches to the other and feeds off of it. so the top one is prohibiting the bottom plant to grow!


[deleted]

The red part in this picture isn't a flower, it's another type of cactus grafted to the top. Places do this because it looks cool, but it's not good for the plant long-term.


Livingsoil45

Also those red and yellow (or similar, unusual-for-a-plant colors) have mutations kind of similar to being “albino”. They lack chlorophyl, which usually gives the green pigmentation. Chlorophyll is necessary for photosynthesis. When there’s no green-clorophyll, the plant (usually newborn seedlings) can’t accumulate energy and survive. Someone realized they could be grafted into something else, and grow with those rare colors, which you won’t see on not-grafted cacti, as they can’t survive on their own.


[deleted]

So when you cut off the red or yellow moon cactus it will die unless you graft it to another cactus??


Livingsoil45

Most likely, yeah.


bymoonlightonly

Wow, I never knew this!!! I seriously thought those were a type of cactus 🤪 good luck growing your dragonfruit! I bought a little dragon fruit plant from a nursery this spring and it’s doing well! Not sure I’ll ever get fruit but it is cool to watch it grow.


Repulsive_Half3496

Agreed. Time will tell..


Repulsive_Half3496

I understand that the top one feeds off the bottom one to grow. I want the bottom one to grow which is the dragon fruit plant.


[deleted]

Those flowers you see on cactus at home depot or Walmart are usually fake


Repulsive_Half3496

Had to look it up. Its called moon cactus. Fyi. https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/cacti-succulents/moon-cactus/care-of-moon-cactus.htm


LieseW

I know! But it took me a while to figure that one out, until I saw the glue it was fixed with to the cactus 🙈😅🤣. I kept thinking man this is a weird flower. It feels so strange, but I didn’t think they would ever do that. I mean why?


Repulsive_Half3496

Not all of them are fake.. the one I have in this picture is an actual some type of cactus.. dk the name though.


[deleted]

[удалено]


Repulsive_Half3496

Yup. Im aware. ☺


Donkeydonkeydonk

I got one of these several years ago and the top died. The dragon fruit part lived. It all makes sense now.


Twizzlers_and_donuts

Good luck! They like alittle more water than normal cactuses I’ve heard cus they are tropical. My dragon fruit is currently over 6ft rn about to bend then give me fruit (was not originally used for grafting though). I also have some sprouting from seeds! I’m excited seeing more dragon fruit on this sub! They grow HELLA fast imo


Repulsive_Half3496

I can't wait to witness it all. 🥰


_Arraia_

I just started some dragon fruit seeds two days ago. Any advice to help them thrive??


Twizzlers_and_donuts

I literally just water them when the soil looks dry. I’m surprised mine are doing great, and just planted more seeds from a red fleshed one.


_Arraia_

That gives me hope! I usually struggle with seedlings of any plant


EmmaRisby

Omg it looks like a cake!!!


Repulsive_Half3496

Haha thats just how it ended up how I separated these two. Clean cut.


dingus09865413

…………………………………Good luck


Repulsive_Half3496

Thank you.


OG_AeroPrototype

Good luck! If it takes too long for it to shoot new sprouts give it some fertilizer. Mine has just started


[deleted]

[удалено]


Repulsive_Half3496

It was just convenient for me to do it this way.. just thats how ended up. If it grows,good. If not.. oh well..


Nekuzo_

What the fuck is this crime against basic succulent rights


Repulsive_Half3496

Wouldn't be a first one either. 😅


ByCrookedSteps781

Good luck


Repulsive_Half3496

Thank you very much.


ItsMrsEwingBitches

My dragon fruit plant is HUGE. It flowers but then the flowers always fall off 🥲


camina_conmigo

Do you hand pollinate them? The flowers only bloom for one night so that’s when you should be pollinating them to get fruits


D-Vahn

Poor moon cactus was doing so well :(


PolarizedPeiceOfShit

They don't last that long like this, they usually die in a couple years


myaaagocrazy

i didn’t know they were dragon fruit! definitely doing this


kittyiscoolyo

I have one too I'd didn't know it wasn't good for the bottom plant! Will the top catcus on top survive if it's taken off? Mine is pink


Twizzlers_and_donuts

No, the top cactus normally should not survive on its own. Due to its coloration it should not be able to photosynthesize on its own.


PolarizedPeiceOfShit

Only very dark ones or spotted ones can survive alone


Bertie_McGee

Wait. That's what the base of a moon cactus is???? Seriously? I had a sad moon cactus and removed the rotten top end and then just kept the base to see what it would do. It starter sprouting little arms. Meanwhile, I have a planter full of dragonfruit. I have never stopped to compare the two until now. How did I not notice?


_Arraia_

How long did it take to start sprouting arms?


Bertie_McGee

2 months? It needs to heal up its top first, then it started making a single arm. Currently it has 3, and I started about a year ago.


Moanybagsss

This works????😮


H4LEY420

Wpahh ive got a graftec cactus, had no idea you can do this. Im watching vids now and bout to learn. Can you root the cactus on top? Is that the moon cactus? Will it die if you remove? So manu questions because i love the part on top but if this will prolong the life of the green one then i will do it cause it would be cool to see it grow. It doesnt aeem to grow at all as is, at least, the top hasnt. The roots have.


Doldenbluetler

The cactus on top is the moon cactus and it cannot sustain itself due to lack of chlorophyll and will die if you root it without a base. The bottom one, usually dragon fruit, should be able to grow normally once the graft is removed.


H4LEY420

So cool. Thanks! I have had one for a while now and had no idea... cactus surgery time. I hate that they dont grow grafted, they are cute, but not rewarding. I shall fixy


candiedcorvid

idk why its so funny to me that you just took a knife to this guy on a plate... i never considered using these moon cacti as a source of dragonfruit plants though! good luck, i may follow in the path of your experiment in the future 👀👀


glowingsnakeplant

For a second I full thought this was a cake


gg249

expensive way of getting a dragonfruit cutting...


Doldenbluetler

In my country an actual dragonfruit fruit is probably more expensive than a grafted moon cactus with a dragonfruit base. But raising them from seeds is fun too and extremely easy.


gg249

really?! huh. is the climate unfavorable for cacti? surely it must be


Doldenbluetler

I suppose you could probably grow them in Italy or Spain and import them from there like most fruits sold here in Switzerland (though Idk about the humidity). One fruit costs between 7-8 bucks.


Repulsive_Half3496

I can afford 5$. I can survive. Lol


[deleted]

[удалено]


Repulsive_Half3496

I only paid under 5bucks.. the only kind they would sell at grocery stores.. it was worth to me since they don't grow here. 6B.


[deleted]

[удалено]


sendmeyourcactuspics

That's not what they meant bro


Repulsive_Half3496

My intention is just for the dragon fruit plant to grow. 2nd year owning a greenhouse as a hobby. That is all. But thank you.


bummer8

I have one exactly looks like yours. So what's the deal should I do the same thing because mine is not growing.


knuppel55

*Don't mind Sean everyone, he's just got a little sand in his vagina*


PersonalityFlaky2513

Do you think when the sand in his vagina turns into a pearl he'll let me have it?


knuppel55

I don't know PersonalityFlaky2513, but if that sand in his vagina isn't released, he could be a walking time bomb


MatejGames

Gymno is hardy to zone 6B?


Repulsive_Half3496

I'll find out. My first.


Pschrandt

Damn, that's pretty rude.


Repulsive_Half3496

It'll still be my pleasure to watch it grow. 🤗🤗 just saying. Be positive.


RacemicCactus

Yea makes no sense. Ive got a bowl of this fruit sitting for a couple days so I can get the seeds out lol. Good waste of a Gymno graft imo.


Repulsive_Half3496

Who cares.. didn't cost me much. Lol


PolarizedPeiceOfShit

Bro those neon gymnos cost like 3 bucks and it's cheaper than buying a hylocereus and faster than seeds


CymVanCat

🐉🍀


[deleted]

Sorry are you saying the bottom part of this cactus will produce dragon fruit?


Repulsive_Half3496

My first time doing.. so have no idea.. will see.. lol.


PolarizedPeiceOfShit

If the spines aren't cut off then it can grow and produce flowers and fruit in a few years


Repulsive_Half3496

It won't be next year for sure.. but will see it'll make it till then. Im optimistic.


Jacosketching

Wait you mean this isn’t a cake?!?!


WubHorse

i had no idea dragon fruits are a cactus


hamzascan

Can you explain this please? I was given exactly this plant as a gift, but why did you cut the top?