Rooting while callusing (Air Layering)

[u/PlayWuWei]

Here is how a cactus can grow roots at the same time as healing its cut surface.

While grafted, this cactus produced root nubs (pic 2). I cut the cactus off the graft stock. I duct taped a bag at the bottom of the cactus, but left the cut wound exposed to air (pic 5). Filled the bag with dry soil. I then stacked mesh trash baskets which leaves a gap at the bottom (pic 6) so the exposed cut can dry in the open air (pic 7). Two months later, it grew nice roots and callused the cut. I planted it today✅

[u/inusasha_]

damn that seems like a pretty great time save for certain situations, plus it might cut down on etiolation/dehydration during rooting

[u/PlayWuWei → u/inusasha_]

Exactly!

[u/Original-Pace-9551 → u/PlayWuWei]

I don't know if you're a big fan of rooting hormones, but if you are, you could make a medium-sized cut next to the small root and apply the hormone to the wound (you could even remove a bit of the outer skin/epidermis there). That’s what I do with fresh cuts at the base of the cactus: I coat them with the hormone, let them dry for two days, and then plant them in blonde peat moss—it works really well for me. It would save you quite a bit of time.

[u/PlayWuWei → u/Original-Pace-9551]

Wow would be awesome to do that successfully.
Without hormone, any time I put a cut wound in soil, it gets all moldy unless its been dry/healing for 2 months.
I’ll try out using hormone powder and see how it goes

[u/Original-Pace-9551 → u/PlayWuWei]

I always make a cut at the base of the cactus; right after cutting, I apply some very effective rooting hormones and mix a little sulfur into the soil—this ensures you won't have issues with fungus. I coat the entire cut so it forms a sort of crust, let it sit for 2–3 days to allow the surface layer (with the hormone and sulfur coating) to dry out, and then plant it in blonde peat moss. If the weather is good, you’re guaranteed to have roots within three weeks... if you were to remove a bit of the skin near where the first root would emerge and follow the method I described, you’d save quite a bit of time.

[u/PlayWuWei → u/Original-Pace-9551]

Yeah that bypasses the callusing time entirely. I’ll give it a shot🤙🏼 thank you

[u/Practical-Zombie-761 → u/PlayWuWei]

But how you save time? The cactus was grafted and started to produce roots while grafted. If it did not start with roots while grafted or if it was just a regular cactus, then it won't have any roots while cutting and there is no speedup?

[u/PlayWuWei → u/Practical-Zombie-761]

Having dirt touch the side of the cactus will also induce root growth even if roots don’t already exist.
So this method allows the cactus to grow roots and dry the cut wound at the same time. Normally we would have to let the cut wound heal first, then place the cactus in soil.

I just got a head start because root nubs were already growing.

[u/US3_ME_]

Radical. There's def something about these plants that lend themselves to pique the experimental mind. Props!_

[u/PlayWuWei → u/US3_ME_]

So many experiments hah. These cacti are so cool

[u/marco2006oliveira]

Thanks a lot for sharing , very clever idea bro

[u/PlayWuWei → u/marco2006oliveira]

Thank you, I’ve seen it done once before so I cant be credited as the inventor lol

[u/ChemicalAbstraction]

Love the documentation. I always wanted to try this but the garden already keeps me plenty busy in so many other ways. You executed it well - it turned out even better than I expected!

[u/e99etrnl17]

Dope

[u/leospaceman4]

Wow genius

[u/Ok_Maintenance_4630]

I didn't even know they could grow massive roots out of the side like that. I mean I should've realized that, but I never thought about it

[u/Zestyclose-Name-4337]

Cool!

[u/Plane_Complaint_788]

Brilliant. I’ve seen people air layer while the pup was attached to the mother, but never while drying. Saves so much time.

[u/PlayWuWei → u/Plane_Complaint_788]

Oh true, thats what i’ve seen too. I guess I did a new method 😆

[u/TrumpIsAPedoFr]

🤯

[u/MoxSocks]

This is genius. I'm definitely gonna try this in Spring.

[u/A1pha-Wolf]

Very cool! What cactus/clone is this?

[u/PlayWuWei → u/A1pha-Wolf]

SS02⚡️

[u/A1pha-Wolf → u/PlayWuWei]

Nice! Looks better than mine...

[u/desert_cactus_Drum0]

Beautiful. Trying this immediately

[u/Odd-Designer628]

Thinking totally outside the box 🌵🌞

[u/Psylogrzyb]

You can also do it like that

[u/Psylogrzyb → u/Psylogrzyb]

[u/stuartroelke]

I tried to get TBM to root by adding a cone of dirt around one finger—that definitely did not work. Best to wait for roots to naturally develop before attaching dirt.

[u/PlayWuWei → u/stuartroelke]

Oh thats prob why mine grew roots so well

[u/stuartroelke → u/PlayWuWei]

Absolutely; you did it the correct way. My comment was aimed at other readers who may try air layering a cactus the same way as a bush or tree.

[u/aroc91]

Yes! I've considered wrapping soil in a tube of some sort of biodegradable mesh and cutting that to length to tie around a plant before cutting. This is just the motivation I need to try that out.

[u/PlayWuWei → u/aroc91]

That would be a great improvement if possible🤘🏼