Growing Schlumbergera for grafting stock

[Shane]

I just bought a flat of S. truncata to use as grafting stock (see this video). There are 5 plants in each 3.5" (9cm) pot, and I'm considering splitting them all up into their own pots. I actually would have done it already, but there are 18 pots (90 plants), and in 4" pots (the only size I have enough of) this would take up 10 square feet. Which seems like a lot. And perhaps an entire 4" pot for each might be too much

Should I repot them? If I repot them, what size pot should I use? Any other tips for getting them to grow fast?

[DaveW]

The advice seems opposite to that normally to get flowers Shane. Most seem to think they flower better when grown harder and slightly rootbound, but you are after vegetative growth and usually slightly soft rather than harder growth for grafting on.

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/housep ... plants.htm

As pots take up a lot of space can't you use seed trays or something deeper giving them more root room but not taking up so much staging space? Even gravel trays etc, just drilling a drainage hole in the bottom? Many plants seem to grow better communally in trays anyway since the soil does not dry as fast as in pots and have far more root room.

Stocks are mostly grown individually in pots so they are easy to graft on. However you are not grafting on the stocks in situ but taking off the top couple of joints and then grafting on those, therefore the stocks can be grown communally in a deeper container rather as these are in this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83hwOoz7rvA

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=plant ... 97&bih=603

Have a look and see what your local garden centre or hardware store has that is deep enough.

[Shane]

The advice seems opposite to that normally to get flowers Shane. Most seem to think they flower better when grown harder and slightly rootbound, but you are after vegetative growth and usually slightly soft rather than harder growth for grafting on.

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/housep ... plants.htm

As pots take up a lot of space can't you use seed trays or something deeper giving them more root room but not taking up so much staging space? Even gravel trays etc, just drilling a drainage hole in the bottom? Many plants seem to grow better communally in trays anyway since the soil does not dry as fast as in pots and have far more root room.

Stocks are mostly grown individually in pots so they are easy to graft on. However you are not grafting on the stocks in situ but taking off the top couple of joints and then grafting on those, therefore the stocks can be grown communally in a deeper container rather as these are in this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83hwOoz7rvA

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=plant ... 97&bih=603

Have a look and see what your local garden centre or hardware store has that is deep enough.

Thanks Dave, this is exactly what I was looking for. Good for the plants, cheap, easy and doesn't take up lots of space

I'm thinking I'll use a tray about as deep as the pots (4in/9cm), is that reasonable?