Cacti rooting and grafting

Simple how to to rooting cacti-
With most cacti- leave the cutt end dry for a few weeks to several months or until a dry thick callous has formed. Simply place the cut end in soil and water or don't water, it really doesn't matter too much. If the sides start to shrink noticeably you can water. Water especially if the sides look like they are going to touch each other. Cacti will generally form roots even if left out of the soil and in a box or on a porch. Varigated versions of cacti are often slower growers and more prone to root rot. Jungle cacti or cacti commonly used for grafting can take much more watering, but their varigated counterparts still have to be treated like a desert cacti. I prefer to graft my varigated cacti onto a good non varigated specimen to keep it in good health and growing faster. Grafting is best done when the stock or bottom cacti is growing at an excellerated pace. Do not attempt to try grafting when the stock plant is just coming out of dormancy. Cacti grafts generally take 2-4 weeks to fully form. I personally use Co-flex latex free bandage to graft cacti and brugmansia. The key to grafting is simply to cut both pieces and move them together fast when dealing with cacti. The bottom rooted piece is the stock and the top is the scion. Make sure the circle in the center is offset slightly and push down gently while wiggling it back and forth to remove any air bubbles. Then wrap securely and wait. The wrap should apply enough pressure that the cacti do not become seperated upon release. With cacti, neglect is the answer when trying to get them to root. Only water when they are crying for water. With all cacti it is better to treat the freshly cut end one is trying to root with a bit of sulfur dust. Crested and monstrose versions are often best grafted onto a regular version of the same cacti as well to speed up growth. Common grafting cacti are Trichocereus pachanoi, Mertillocactus geometrizans, etc. Water cacti from the sides and never from the top if you want to keep the flesh disease and fungus free. Cacti are easy if you can just remember to listen to them when they want water and when they don't. They shrink and the sides close in on each other when they need more water. Always water a stock plant heavily just before grafting a scion to it and water heavily for a few days there after. Using a stock plant like pachanoi which grows a ft or more a year, well there is not much chance you are going to overwater one of those in the active summer months when one is going to be attempting to graft. Grafting and rooting cacti is simple, just do it.
Sincerely,
Brugmansia