First attempt at grafting.

Greetings folks,

Well I finally bit the bullet and attempted my first lot of grafting!
I tried my hand with 6 lophophora seedlings, grafted onto opuntia stock.
Have heard that loph to opuntia doesn't have a great success rate but still wanted to try it.
The grafts are currently in a cling wrap tent in a shady spot inside and I'm hoping that a few are successful. Will be happy if I get 3/6.
Didn't use all my loph seedlings because if none work I would be devastated.
I made a little video of my attempts and it's on YouTube, didn't position the camera correctly though and so half the image is cut off, woops!

Will keep you all posted as to how it goes.

Quick update:
Seems that all of the grafts have failed, they developed a rust colour around the grafted area and the seedlings shrivelled and fell off.
There are maybe 2 that might survive but I suspect they just have more juice in them and will eventually drop off as well.
I am a little disheartened but will continue to try, perhaps not with opuntia. Going to wait until my Peres have some shoots and use them.

My first attempt went really well but that was pure luck. Every attempt has failed miserably since. I am sick of cutting up young lophs and ario's so I have settled for the waiting game. I will try again one day.

I was devastated when they didn't take, I'd been growing and checking on them everyday for 4 months. Think I might switch to the waiting game too. Really feel the last 4 months was for nothing.

My first big mistake was to take seedlings straight out of the hot box and try grafting them. I think the best method is to harden off and wait a little while until grafting. But don't take my word for it I am pretty hopeless at it.

That's an excellent point, think that may have had something to do with it. I didn't harden them off at all. Not sure I'll try grafting again for a while. If I do though I will practise with something else like golden barrels, I have heaps of them.

I do not know details of your grafting method but it is not good time to attempt cactus seedling grafting now.
None can get a good result of the seedling grafting at moment.
I think between September and November will be the best season to assess your seedling grating method and skills in VIC.
It is possible to graft 2 to 3 days old seedlings but 30 to 40 days old will be the best for the assessment.
More than 95% of success rate may be a good target.

Thanks hanazono,
I will wait until September and post my method before trying again.