We have all seen those grafted cactus in the stores. The top is bright orange, yellow, pink, red or some combination. Did you ever wonder where they come from? The exact  way to make them is a protected secret. It is involves radiation and chemical which kill the chloroplast. These are organelles that contain the chlorophyll in plants. When they are killed the other colors that are present are revealed like in fall leaves. These cactus have no chlorophyll so cannot make their own food. They need to be grafted so they can survive. The bigger the base the larger the top will be able to grow.

Almost any two cactus can be grafted. It is sometimes used for plants whose roots do not survive well in pots. They are also crested cactus. The cactus have mutated and grow in very strange shapes. They are interested to look at so are propagated. Also they are cactus that will grow fine in pots but are grafted to look different. I see a lot of Astrophyltum species are grafted.

The base stock can be found at any store that sells grafted cactus. Sometimes the top dies and the base is still very healthy. You can find they them marked down. They will produce side shouts that can be rooted. When they are established, they can be used as graft stock.

You will need a very sharp knife or razor blade and a piece of chain. When you cut a cactus there is a white center core. These must be matched up for the graft to work. This center core contained the xylem or pipe system that move water and nutrients from the grow to the top of the plants. The two cores grow together to form a union or bond that allows water and nutrients to between the two plants. If you have a colored grafted with pups or side shouts one of them can be grafted on a new stock plants. You carefully pull it from the mother plants. You cut the top down to the desire height. You can is a second time with a thin wedge. This keeps the cut wound open to form the union. If it is leave in the air too long a callous will form preventing the union from forming. You cut the base of the colored top and place on top of base stock after removing the wedge. You need to keep the two pieces in firm contact. The older books suggest under a small piece of chain heavy enough to weigh the piece in place. I have found that this works best. It does not matter if it is old and rusty. You can use cotton balls to protect the graft scion. You can also use rubber bands and cotton ball(s) for padding. This method I often find the rubber bands have worked themselves loose with the graft top laying neat the pot.

The two pieces should grow together in a couple of weeks. The process can be repeated by recutting the stock and scion.