If moon cactus has no chlorophyll and can't survive on its own without being grafted to a host cactus, then how did it survive in the wild and grow old enough to reproduce?
Since there are over 80 known species of Moon Cactus, there's a good chance they all came from a far fewer number of specimens that, over time, naturally grafted to other chlorophyll-producing plants, and among themselves, in the wild.
If you have a Moon Cactus or are considering getting one, this article contains information on their care:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/cacti-succulents/moon-cactus/care-of-moon-cactus.htm
I bought a cactus with a bright day glow pink bloom on the top of it. I'm trying to find out the correct name for it, because I'm using it in my biology report with pictures. I certainly can't incorporate my cactus in my assignment if I don't know the correct name and origin and scientific name for it. I also propagate succulents but I don't know the name of that either! Please help, thank you.
The cactus you have is a very interesting grafted specimen. The pink section on the top is a moon cactus, scentific name Gymnocalycium mihanovichii. It is a mutant variety of that species which cannot produce green chlorophyll and appears pink because of other biochemical compounds it contains. Without chlorophyll, it cannot photosynthesize, so it would die without being grafted to the green cactus on the bottom, which is most likely a Hylocereus cactus (I am not sure of the species).
Your succulent is probably some variety of Echeveria.
My moon cactus stem recently grew a whole new shoot/stem almost as large as the main stem but now my yellow moon cactus is shriveling up, can I save it? Also, should I remove the extra growth and replant it?
You an remove and propagate the new offsets. This can help you extend the life of your cactus.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/cacti-succulents/moon-cactus/care-of-moon-cactus.htm
What can help save my moon cactus? It is turning yellow dry and brittle. Roots look good as far as I know. What is wrong? It may have got a frost bite in our window since the weather has turned cold.
At this point, the bottom half may not recover. It has been uprooted on top of what appears to be a fungal infection. The top of the cactus is a separate type of cactus grafted on top. This has a chance for a little longer if you pull them off and sow them in their own pot or pots. They will not live very long, though as they don't produce their own chlorophyll. That is why they are grafted on top of the green cactus.
Infections like this are commonly caused by over-watering. These are very drought tolerant, and like the soil to remain on the dry side.
Here is an article for more information on their care: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/devils-backbone/devils-backbone-plant.htm
I got a moon cactus from Walmart, I got it in December and it was red at the top! I placed it in a window seal with the blinds slightly open but soon moved it to the table. The red top turned orange and it started to look very sad. Now it is all shriveled up, thin, and hard. What happened? Is there no hope for it?
It sounds like it started suffering from a lack of light, coupled with a bacterial infection. This can happen when it remains too moist for too long, or if the infection was already there when you got it. Sometimes it can take a little while to show. This cactus appears to be too far gone to save. On the next go, I would immediately transplant into a larger pot with cactus mix. This will allow for proper drainage of the soil.
Here is an article that will give you some more information: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/cacti-succulents/moon-cactus/care-of-moon-cactus.htm
i bought a mini garden with a moon cactus in it, when i transferred it all to a new pot, i noticed the bottom half of the moon cactus was actually buried under the soil causing it to dry off and fall off, the top half (plus the pink ball at the top) seem healthy, will it be okay? will it continue to survive?
This is very common. Where ever you got it from likely kept it over watered. You can bury up to a little past that, and it will re root from this area. Just make sure to water only when it is almost completely dry to avoid further rot. This article will give you more information on their care: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/cacti-succulents/moon-cactus/care-of-moon-cactus.htm
My teacher got a moon cactus and the stock, which comes from the "Dragon Fruit" cactus is totally dead. I want to graft it onto a better-suited cactus. Can I graft it onto a different kind or is this the only kind that works?
They can graft to a few other species, but it will be best to be grafted to the cactus that it is originally grafted to.
You can try on many species. Some will take and some will die. Even on a known grafting species, many of them will not take to the graft. This process will be trial and error, so as long as you have several, then you can try to graft to many things.
I would stick to the dragon fruit, or even some species of euphorbia.