doxneed2c-me Posted October 22, 2014 How come my Dragonfruit and Scelenicereus grandiflora seedlings are shooting out a bunch of roots from aerioles? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Philocacti Posted October 22, 2014 (edited) It's pretty common for these species to throw roots from the middle of the stock or wherever they're touching something Edited October 22, 2014 by Philocacti Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hostilis Posted October 22, 2014 All of my epiphytes regularly grow aerial roots. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
doxneed2c-me Posted October 22, 2014 Do you just leave them or do you cut them off? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dreamwalker. Posted October 23, 2014 (edited) totally normal....when I take cuttings, I'll plant the aerial roots & leave the cut end above the soil...prevents any possible rot occurring............. I also found the plants growth will accelerate rapidly if repotted into a wide shallow plastic pot with the aerial roots buried......small pots with the single main stem stall in comparison. Edited October 23, 2014 by Dreamwalker. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zelly Posted October 23, 2014 plants that grow aerial roots use them to extract moisture and nutrients from the surrounding air, such as most orchid species. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dreamwalker. Posted October 23, 2014 I'm not sure if aerial roots on dragon are the same thing as orchid's...but I'm just guessing. Dragons will swallow huge trees in their native habit...some really good pics out there...they throw out roots as they grow to gain a foothold in tree crevices filled with nutrient rich debris. I know commercially they are grown on trellis, and seem limited to a few main rising stems.....but I'm just going on pics & vids I have seen ...they don't grow outside here. I initially followed the recommendation of placing the cuttings upright in soil after the cut end had callous, they would grow really well, but tend to rot at the base as the season cooled. Now I grow 100's of cuttings for grafting & never bury the cut end just the side/aerial roots & they thrive. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites