Propagation of chimera species

[rgiesecke]

Does anyone have any experience with graft propagation of chimera species? I know some are more prone to reversion to their component species than others are... what are the main influences to that effect? Rootstock, light intensity, watering schedule, all of the above? For example, pupping on a Myrtillocalycium tends to be reverted to Gymno pups, but my plant was successful propagated as a chimera by a horizontal graft. Is it "the right push" or just luck whether new growth points come in as chimera growth?

[snarfie]

Well, i also have a myrtillocalycium, and it partly reverted back to gymno. As far as i know it never reverts back to myrtillo. I cut all the gymno growth off, so only areoles with myrtilo remained(at least partly green areoles). Two areoles sprouted, and both had chimaera growth. On the last photo you can see how much i cut off to force the plant to make chimaera offsets

[Onzuka]

Well I've done a few grafts in my time, but never had a chimera. Then again, I've never used Myrtillocactus stocks and Gymnocalycium scions. Perhaps these are more prone to the phenomenon.

Steve

[snarfie]

I've read that chimaera's are extremely rare to happen. As far as i know the known graft chimaera's are ortegopuntia cv. Percy, myrtillocalycium, hylocalycium and stenogonia

[Hanazono]

I grafted a 1 month old asterias seedling onto a hylocereus stock in 2006.
It turned to a hylocereus/asterias chimera as shown on the photo.
The life was quite short and it had gone.

[rgiesecke]

I just got a Stenogonia that appears to be trying to put on reverted growth. I ended up posting this question while wondering if I should regraft the stable chimera portion as two horizontal scions, or just give it time.

Stenogonia

image.jpg (38.31 KiB) Viewed 2435 times

Also, got this one from the a seller in the Czech Republic this spring.

Astrophytum caput-medusae + Ferocactus glaucescens

image.jpg (54.11 KiB) Viewed 2435 times

I grafted a 1 month old asterias seedling onto a hylocereus stock in 2006.
It turned to a hylocereus/asterias chimera as shown on the photo.
The life was quite short and it had gone.

At least you got photos while it lasted. Thanks for posting.

On the last photo you can see how much i cut off to force the plant to make chimaera offsets

Reassuring to see that it did eventually work though. Appreciate you sharing your experience.

[snarfie]

That astrophytum+ferocactus is also often sold as an astrophytum hybrid, so i am not really sure if it actually is a chimaera, that's also why i didn't put it in my last post.
what i would do: cutting of reverted growth and regraft that part. Because i don't know about the horizontal graft. You could also do both btw.