Cactus Seedling Graft : Pereskiopsis vs. Dragon Fruit Cuttings

I love grafting! Back in the day, I could do around 300 grafts in one sitting. Yep, I was that hooked! 😄 

I also love breeding, but it takes a lot of time, so I started using grafting methods to speed things up—especially when it comes to seedlings.

Over the years, I’ve tried a ton of rootstocks for my cacti, and each one has its strengths and weaknesses. Two popular options for seedling grafts are dragon fruit cuttings and pereskiopsis. 

Here’s how they compare:

Dragon Fruit Cuttings

Pros:

• Scion grows faster than with pereskiopsis.
• Can flower even if the seedling’s still small.
• Can hold larger scions as they grow.

Cons:

• Weak against overwatering.
• Scion can get disfigured or even produce pups early on.
• Harder to graft smaller seedlings (under 2 months old).
  
  

Pereskiopsis

Pros:

• Best for seedling grafts due to its cambium.
• More resistant to overwatering and pathogens.
• Easy to grow, propagate, and maintain.
• Usually keeps the scion intact and undistorted.

Cons:

• Doesn’t always hold large scions.
• Grows slower compared to dragon fruit, but still fast for seedlings.
• Not ideal for large cacti grafts.
  
  

Which One Should You Choose?

Honestly, both have their perks—it all depends on your goals. If you want faster growth, go for dragon fruit cuttings. If you’re looking for an easier grafting process, pereskiopsis is the way to go.

Why not try both and challenge yourself? It’s all about experimenting and finding what works best for you!