Dragon Fruit Cacti

Hi

Purchased some moon cacti a while ago (got caught up in the hype whilst at a plant market). Felt a little bit duped once I researched their origins but impressed at the ingenuity of the grafting process. I started to take a keen interest in the hosts that are generally used. Anyways, I decided to de-graft and see if the hosts would start sprouting natural growth. Two have started to sprout and the 3rd looks like it may do soon. I got a little bit carried away and constructed a trellis to train them up (too many youtube videos and delusions of grandeur)

The plan is to keep them outside for the summer, they are in and area where I can control the watering regime rather than nature. When winter comes I plan to bring the oversized pot and trellis construction inside in an area that gets good daylight (you can see I didn't think this through very well).

Are these plants likely to survive if kept dry and insulated outside over winter?

I think I know the answer but confirmation is always appreciated

Thanks in advance for any input.

 

What are they grafted onto.
I take it you are growing on the rootstock.

 

I've removed the upper scions (not sure if that is correct terminology) and trying to grow the rootstock without them on top. I believe the rootstock is some type of Hylocereus undatus dragon fruit cacti/plant. They've started to sprout natural growth so trying to see how far I can get with them.

 

I've grown Dragon fruit pips, but after a number of years it never flowered for me, but obviously yours are more adult in nature and not seed grown.
I have a feeling what you have is fairly tender, it might survive undercover and dry, but a lot would depend on how cold the winter is.

 

Yeah, looks like my living room will be a little bit crowded this winter

One of the rootstocks has produced three sprouts, 2nd one two and the third one is being lazy.

Suppose time will tell how well they do. Not really focusing on flowers or fruits at the mo. Happy plant will do for now.

 

Lazy One

 

This one looks like it is sprouting on a sprout?

 

Full steam ahead

 

One of the saved scions. Not even checked to see if it has rooted (fingers crossed) . ID anyone? Looks like it was trying to flower. Probably scuppered that by de-grafting.

 

I'm a bit confused.
You originally bought "moon cacti", which I believe is the commercial name for the chlorophyll deficient cultivars of Gymnocalycium mihanovichii moon cacti - Recherche Google.
These cannot be grown on their owns roots, so your final pic can't be one. In fact this looks like a healthy Notocactus.

 

The last picture I posted was of one of the three cacti which was grafted on top of a Hylocereus undatus. I de-grafted it along with the chlorophyll deficient cacti as I was more interested in the hosts. I disposed of chlorophyll deficient cacti because as you have noted they won't survive without a host. I used the term moon cactus as an umbrella term to describe any cacti which has been grafted on top of a host. I didn't realise that moon cactus was used solely to describe chlorophyll deficient cacti grafts. Thanks for the id by the way and just to add it has started to root.

 

Dragon fruit progress.

 

BE WARNED. They are Triffids, in disguise.
If they like the situation:-

 

Yeah seen one growing in an abandoned house in Crete. It had literally taken over the whole house.
Plan is to keep them under control with regular pruning that's if I'm even lucky enough to get to that stage. Will prune off the shoots that I don't train up the support but don't want to touch them yet as they seem fairly happy. Seen a few techniques on how to keep them under control. Still early days yet and the plants might not be happy when they have to come in for winter. Will be right by a window but not south facing so getting enough light over winter will be an issue. Will try and root the cuttings and keep them somewhere brighter. That's the plan anyway