Dragon Fruit

[Richard]

Here is a fruit of Hylocereus undatus cultivar 'Paul Thomson'. In my climate, it is about 50-60 days from flower to ripe fruit. The flavor is not as fruity or as sweet as H. guatemalensis. Overall I would rate it very good (4 out of 5), and for a white dragon fruit it is one of the best.

http://www.plantsthatproduce.com/image_gallery/Hylocereus_undatus_Paul_Thomson_fruit_400x400.jpg


http://www.plantsthatproduce.com/image_gallery/Hylocereus_undatus_Paul_Thomson_fruit_halves_400x400.jpg

[sunfish]

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=37551&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=37551&ppuser=2868)

Any idea what variety this is.Small fruit,size of a lemon,and not self fertile

[D_&_T]

Like to see about getting some cuttings this spring and Try my luck again!

[sunfish]

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=37710&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=37710&ppuser=2868)

[Dean W.]

This stuff grows fast.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=39439&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=39439)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=39443&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=39443)

[Richard]

This stuff grows fast.
...

Dean, nice setup you've got there. Is that a solarium?

[Dean W.]

Thanks, no it's a Rion.

[The Hollyberry Lady]

This is my first time growing a dragon fruit plant, and I got a Roger Meyer cutting from Bob. I see from your pic Dean...they grow roots everywhere! :eek:


My cutting is starting to do the same...


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSC00771.jpg


: )

[Richard]

Roger Meyer is perhaps best known for his work with Kiwis. He is a frequent speaker at agricultural conferences on the west coast. He and his wife Shirley also sell their wide collection of fruiting plants at CRFG and other horticultural fairs.

Here's a random picture of Roger:
http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSrgtskegMGkohoI20fuy01s_oVlsUsy6LBi006hVSAwrF hQQuV

[harveyc]

Roger also has one of, if no the largest, selection of jujube varieties. I've got six from him so far. I'll probably buy his jujube book the next time I see him.

[sunfish]

<a href="http://s950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/?action=view&amp;current=Picture158.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/Picture158.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[The Hollyberry Lady]

My cutting is getting bigger by the day and roots are growing everywhere...



http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSC00917.jpg



One cool plant...thanks Bob!


: )

[Patty in Wisc]

Hey, don't forget me!:)....I'm the one that sent that Rogers cutting to Bob LOL Looks like it's really taking off since it starting growing. Nice window view BTW! Is that a Christmas cactus to the right? Mine are late in bloomingf but are doing good now.
How do you keep your plants looking so healthy during winter?

[Patty in Wisc]

My one DF is taking its time to ripen. Not growing bigger but still green. It must be cuz it's too cool in sunroom.

[sunfish]

<a href="http://s950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/?action=view&amp;current=Picture162.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/Picture162.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Yup, Patty you did give it to Bob initially so thank you for passing it on! ;)


That's a Thanksgiving cactus to the right of the dragon fruit...very similar to a Christmas cactus. :)


Thanks about my living room view, by the way. :D


I have tons of light here Patty and attribute this mostly to my success. Plus I feed my plants all throughout Winter and keep them showered regularily too...


I just downright spoil them, if you want to know the truth! :ha:


: )

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Here too are 3 different kinds Janan shared with me recently...


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSC01012.jpg


: )

[Jananas Bananas]

They look really good Sherry! Those are definitely going to make it. YAY! :) ~J

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Thanks Janan! :waving:


I think I might keep adding more pieces to the pot as they grow, to fill it up and make it more full looking. ;)


I think these ones will make it too. The fat one in the middle is labelled as "purple" and the medium skinny one is called "pink" and the skinniest one of all in my pot is called "american beauty"!!!


Thanks for all of them, Janan!


: )

[Patty in Wisc]

My one fruit is now almost all pink. Ever since Janan asked about it, it started ripening. I'll post a pic when it's ready to pick & eat...no time now.

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Very cool, Patty! :08:


Janan has brought you good luck! ;)


I snapped off that new arm growing on the Roger Meyer cutting...


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSC01015.jpg


...and I'm rooting it elsewhere to grow into another plant for someone else. :D


: )

[SOCALROCKER]

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=37046&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=37046&ppuser=2868)

Looks tasty and sweet !!!

[SOCALROCKER]

<a href="http://s950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/?action=view&amp;current=Picture162.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/Picture162.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Tony
I have to say your Dragonfruit,Pitahaya plant's look great.In this picture is this dragonfruit growing in the tree,bush,trellis or what?
Can you please let us know it looks very healthy.

[sunfish]

Tony
I have to say your Dragonfruit,Pitahaya plant's look great.In this picture is this dragonfruit growing in the tree,bush,trellis or what?
Can you please let us know it looks very healthy.

This is a neighbors Dragon fruit. It is growing up a tree. She also has a 15' or so Papaya with Dragon Fruit climbing on it.

[sunfish]

This is a neighbors Dragon fruit. It is growing up a tree. She also has a 15' or so Papaya with Dragon Fruit climbing on it.

Maybe more like 20' Papaya


http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=28202&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=28202&si=papaya&what=allfields)

[SOCALROCKER]

Maybe more like 20' Papaya


http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=28202&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=28202&si=papaya&what=allfields)Is it a self or cross polinate dragonfruit?
I'd like to know who is gonna climb that 20' Papaya tree to polinate the flower's.Also I bet those power lines are really gonna love having the new branches growing crazy off the trunk on that Papaya tree.Look's cool growing up that Papaya.

[sunfish]

Is it a self or cross polinate dragonfruit?
I'd like to know who is gonna climb that 20' Papaya tree to polinate the flower's.Also I bet those power lines are really gonna love having the new branches growing crazy off the trunk on that Papaya tree.Look's cool growing up that Papaya.

I am not sure if there self pollinating or not.I'll have to go check it out see if there's any fruit growing up high on the papaya oe.

[sunfish]

Febreze® Set & Refresh Scented Oil Air Fresheners | Air Refreshers For The Home (http://www.febreze.com/en-us/Pages/Product.aspx?product=febreze_set_refresh_thai_dragon_fruit)

[Patty in Wisc]

Tony, how do you know when to pick your DF? Someone told me when the skin looks like stretch marks LOL. It's been a nice pink color for almost 3 weeks & the tips are still green ... like the pics of yours. Since I only have one, I want to pick just right. I'm having a problem getting pics on from my cam. Thanks

[Jananas Bananas]

Patty is this the "Roger Meyer" Sherry and Bob talk about? Is the name Roger Meyer or the plant came from Roger Meyer (plant guru)? I am anxiously awaiting the taste report on it since I have only eaten those from the Asian Market. :)

~JaNan

[sunfish]

Tony, how do you know when to pick your DF? Someone told me when the skin looks like stretch marks LOL. It's been a nice pink color for almost 3 weeks & the tips are still green ... like the pics of yours. Since I only have one, I want to pick just right. I'm having a problem getting pics on from my cam. Thanks

I picked mine when there was some give when squeezed. Like picking a ripe peach. But I'm no expert.Like the person said pic it the day before it splits.

[Patty in Wisc]

LOL ....that's what Leo on pitaya forum said. You must be on there.

[sunfish]

LOL ....that's what Leo on pitaya forum said. You must be on there.

Yes

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=39883&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=39883&ppuser=2868)

[Richard]

... Is the name Roger Meyer or the plant came from Roger Meyer (plant guru)? ...

Only the latter exists. Someone shortened the name in the hand-me-down process.

Seedlings of Dragon Fruit do not come true-to-cultivar unless (1) it is a species, not a hybrid; and (2) it is pollinated in complete isolation from other varieties. If #1 and #2 are not followed, then the fruit of the seedlings will vary in taste from somewhat similar to completely different from the parent(s).

[Patty in Wisc]

Originally Posted by Jananas Bananas
... Is the name Roger Meyer or the plant came from Roger Meyer (plant guru)? ...

Roger Meyer is the name of the plant.

[The Hollyberry Lady]

I took the one new branch off my Roger Meyer cutting to root into another plant for someone else, but just a few days ago I noticed it's starting to grow again!

: )

[Richard]

Anyone growing Peruvian Apple, a pitahaya sometimes sold as an ornamental plant - and also considered a noxious weed in Hawaii?

In biological nomenclature, it is in the tribe Cereeae (http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/gnlist.pl?1900) with the Linnean name Cereus hildmannianus subsp. uruguayanus (http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?435348). It is also sold under the synonym Cereus peruvianus.

Note that the fruit is truly the size of an apple. Other varieties and subspecies of Cereus hildmannianus produce smaller, less-edible fruits. Here's a picture someone posted on Flickr.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2489/4093801286_09af4a3340.jpg

[harveyc]

Richard, that's one I'm considering giving a try, though I'm not sure it will tolerate my winters.

[sunfish]

Yellow

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=40146&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=40146&ppuser=2868)

[Dean W.]

I wonder how long before they ripen?

[sunfish]

I wonder how long before they ripen?

It's going to take some warm weather

[Dean W.]

American Beauty...
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=40214&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=40214)

[Patty in Wisc]

My only flower bloomed Sept 23 & gave me a fruit. I think it's ready to pick... it has a small split on it.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=40246&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=40246&ppuser=432)

I'm sure it woulda ripened sooner, but it gets to 50* at night & only up to 60* in day.

[sunfish]

My only flower bloomed Sept 23 & gave me a fruit. I think it's ready to pick... it has a small split on it.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=40246&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=40246&ppuser=432)

I'm sure it woulda ripened sooner, but it gets to 50* at night & only up to 60* in day.

Yes I would pic it now.

[island cassie]

Congratulations Patty!!:woohoonaner:

[Patty in Wisc]

:woohoonaner: Thanks Cassie :) I waited5-6 yrs for a fruit! I ate it just after Tony wrote to pick it & vI gotta say it was very bland...no taste. I took some pics but will post later. It looked discolored inside.... a greyish color instead of white.

[sunfish]

My whjite DF is bland with only a slit citrus flavor.The red has a more concentrated berry flavor.I think there over rated.

[Dean W.]

Makisupa
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=40276&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=40276)
Natural mystic
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=40277&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=40277)

[Richard]

My whjite DF is bland with only a slit citrus flavor.The red has a more concentrated berry flavor.I think there over rated.

It's important to get a good tasting cultivar.

[Jananas Bananas]

Have you tasted a lot of them Richard? Which do you think tastes good?

~JaNan

[Richard]

Have you tasted a lot of them Richard? Which do you think tastes good?

~JaNan

In double-blind taste tests, the Hylocereus guatemalensis species is consistantly #1 for taste against all other Dragon Fruit species and cultivars. When ripe, both the skin and the fruit are a deep red. A popular selection of this plant sold by individuals and nurseries is "American Beauty". In blind taste tests, the fruit of collected H. guatemalensis species is not distinguishable from American Beauty.

The thick-skinned Hylocereus polyrhizus is sweet but somewhat bland to "European" tastes. It is popular among peoples who are not accustom to fruits with acid flavors -- for example, a portion of the east Asia peoples consider apricots a sour, inedible fruit.

The white-fleshed Hylocereus undatus species usually does not fare well in double-blind taste tastes, but again is popular among peoples who do not enjoy acid flavors in their fruits. For "European" tastes, the cultivar "Thomson" developed by CRFG founder Paul Thomson is considered the best tasting among them.

The red-skin-and-flesh fruit of Hylocereus ocamponis is not widely available. To make matters worse, internet sellers offering this plant are typically providing H. polyrhizus instead. Another blow to its use are serious spines 1/2" to 1" in length. I have a three year-old plant which I hope to have set fruit this year. Otherwise, I have not tasted the fruit. It is said to be comparable to H. guatemalensis.

Among the hybrid cultivars, the pink-purple fleshed Physical Graffiti is very popular and occasionally places #2 or #3 in double-blind taste tests. Its parentage includes selections of H. undatus and H. polyrhizus.

I have tasted Selenicereus megalanthus, the "Yellow Dragon Fruit" -- from plants grown here locally in southern California and also picked from plants in Columbia and flown in overnight. The fruit of the latter is very good, but the fruit grown locally is a bit disappointing.

[Jananas Bananas]

Thanks Richard.

I have American Beauty, Guyute (Hylocereus undatus) , Natural Mystic (Hylocereus polyrhizus X H. undatus), Purple Haze (Hylocereus undatus) supposed to have a pleasant grape, kiwi-like flavor (description from seller - I am really hoping this one is very tasty), and an unknown from a trade. I have only tasted the white flesh from the Asian market. It was very mild, but I liked it.

Dang Patty, I was hoping that was going to be the best tasting fruit you ever ate! It sure looked pretty though.

I think I may have a bud forming on one of the Purple Haze (I hope I am not jinxing it!). It is very round and looks like a pea. Once it gets a little bigger I will get a shot of it. It may turn out to be another branch, but it doesn't look like the others. Fingers crossed!

~JaNan

[sunfish]

I wonder how long before they ripen?

5 months and still o sign of ripening

<a href="http://s950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/?action=view&amp;current=Picture157.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/Picture157.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[Yug]

They're not rare here (HI), there are some growing wild near my garden. My neighbor has red and yellow ones. The blooms are gorgeous.

[Richard]

5 months and still o sign of ripening

I met a CRFG member from the coastal Los Angeles area whose yellow dragon fruits take 9 months to ripen.

[sunfish]

I met a CRFG member from the coastal Los Angeles area whose yellow dragon fruits take 9 months to ripen.

That's a long time

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Richard, why do the fruits take that long to ripen...and furthermore why would someone wait that long?! Are they that good?! :eek:


I've only tried one kind but hoping to sample others soon...


: )

[Richard]

With regard to Yellow Dragon Fruit:

Richard, why do the fruits take that long to ripen

It is more tropical than the others, so here in southern CA it takes 9 months instead of the 9 weeks in the tropics. Compare that to the red or white species that ripen here in about 45 days.

...and furthermore why would someone wait that long?! Are they that good?! :eek:

The fresh ones that are ripened in Ecuador and then flown in are excellent, but the ones grown here that I've tasted have been marginal. However, the people growing them already knew that, but nothing was going to stop them in their fruit craziness from trying to grow it :D

[sunfish]

With regard to Yellow Dragon Fruit:



It is more tropical than the others, so here in southern CA it takes 9 months instead of the 9 weeks in the tropics. Compare that to the red or white species that ripen here in about 45 days.



The fresh ones that are ripened in Ecuador and then flown in are excellent, but the ones grown here that I've tasted have been marginal. However, the people growing them already knew that, but nothing was going to stop them in their fruit craziness from trying to grow it :D

Lots of plants only have one crop a year.What difference does it make how long the fruit takes to ripen.

[Richard]

Lots of plants only have one crop a year.What difference does it make how long the fruit takes to ripen.

True, Citrus and Avocado can take 14-18 months.

[sunfish]

<a href="http://s950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/?action=view&amp;current=Picture171.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/Picture171.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[Dean W.]

I can't get over how fast this stuff grows given a little warmth.:ha:

[supermario]

I expect to get some fruit from my American Beauty plant this year. I tasted some fruit from the "mother" plant and it was outstanding. I have to agree that although very tasty, the dragon fruit that I tasted while visiting Nicaragua were larger and sweeter. The interior and exterior were identical to American Beauty, so I think it is the same. However, I can never know for sure.

That being said, of the localy available varieties that I've sampled(south Florida).. American Beauty and David Bowie are my favorite. They American Beauty is sweet, juicy, and generally tastes like what you would expect a "fruit" to taste like..if that makes any sense. The David Bowie has a hint of lemon and coconut flavor IMO. I've tried several others and while I like them all, the flavor of the above mentioned two types were the most concentrated. A fruit of inferior quality just tastes like a watered down icey.

[supermario]

I can't get over how fast this stuff grows given a little warmth.:ha:

Hey Dean! Long time no see. How are the American Beauty cuttings coming along?

[Dean W.]

They're growing Fast!!! Good to see you posting!

Maybe this year I'll get fruit. I made a burlap and bamboo trellis so it can climb a top my greenhouse. This was earlier in the year so it's grown more.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=40953&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=40953)

[supermario]

Awesome! I'll post a pic of mine tomorrow afternoon. It's a big overgrown mess, but no flowers yet.

I'm contemplating purchasing a David Bowie cutting, but I would have to build a different structure along my wooden fence.

I haven't had much time lately and I'm pretty busy with the rest of my trees since they are all in bloom. I should have more fruit than I can handle this summer! :08:

[Richard]

... That being said, of the localy available varieties that I've sampled(south Florida).. American Beauty and David Bowie are my favorite. They American Beauty is sweet, juicy, and generally tastes like what you would expect a "fruit" to taste like..if that makes any sense. The David Bowie has a hint of lemon and coconut flavor IMO. I've tried several others and while I like them all, the flavor of the above mentioned two types were the most concentrated. A fruit of inferior quality just tastes like a watered down icey.

Exactly. Thank you very much for mentioning "David Bowie", we have never seen this cultivar out here in taste trials. I'm going to start one!

[Want Them All]

Exactly. Thank you very much for mentioning "David Bowie", we have never seen this cultivar out here in taste trials. I'm going to start one!

Why is it named David Bowie? Is this the musician?

[Willow87]

Here are some cuttings I got from Dean
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=40897&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=40897)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=40899&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=40899)

[supermario]

I have no idea why they call it David Bowie. I tried google, but found nothing.

Here is a picture of my 'American Beauty' plant in June of last year:
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b158/damethod/dragonold.jpg

Here is a picture of it today:
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b158/damethod/DSCN0269.jpg

[Willow87]

Wow that is fast!

[Richard]

Why is it named David Bowie? Is this the musician?

Several years ago a breeder in Florida started seedlings from a few hundred cross-pollinations. Many of the names chosen were on the rock-and-roll theme. See the Pine Island Dragon Fruit Viewer (http://www.tropicalfruitnursery.com/dragon/index.htm) for more names.

[supermario]

Thanks Richard! I can't believe I never made that connection!

[sunfish]

Yellow Dragon getting some color

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=41083&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=41083&ppuser=2868)

[Willow87]

Wow Tony that is so neat. The fruit is so interesting.

[harveyc]

Many of the varieties Pine Island is growing came from California and they just re-named them. Looking at the links (file name) for some of the photos reveals the original name/source. Several are Paul Thomson varieties and one is a variety from Quang Ong. I think posted some of the synonyms earlier in this thread.

Tony, your yellow dragonfruit looks like it is coming along well. You've had to be patient waiting for that! I've got a plant also and they only way I'll be able to get mature fruit is to keep it in my greenhouse or a tunnel.

Here's a very good page on cultivation of dragonfruit in Vietnam: http://trunghieufruits.com.vn/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=53%3Aquy-trinh-trng-cay-xut-khu&catid=37%3Anong-trang&Itemid=59&lang=en

[harveyc]

Here are the known synonyms (there are likely others, but just not confirmed):

Some years ago I took a number of pitaya varieties to Florida and
gave them to several people there. Unfortunately many of them had
not been named and only had numbers such as most of Paul's
varieties. I realized recently that they were subsequently given
names and some are now being sold in nurseries as well under these
new names. So I contacted some of the people I gave varieties to
and the following is a list of what some of the varieties were
named. I thought you all might want to know since some of you may
have duplicates in your collections.

1S = Physical Graffiti
2S = Cosmic Charlie
5S = Purple Haze
9S = Dark Star
Quang Ong Self Fertile (QOSF) = American Beauty
Ben Poier H. poly. (BPHP) = Bloody Mary

I did take other varieties, but these are the ones I know for sure
were renamed.

Best regards,

Sven

[sunfish]

Many of the varieties Pine Island is growing came from California and they just re-named them. Looking at the links (file name) for some of the photos reveals the original name/source. Several are Paul Thomson varieties and one is a variety from Quang Ong. I think posted some of the synonyms earlier in this thread.

Tony, your yellow dragonfruit looks like it is coming along well. You've had to be patient waiting for that! I've got a plant also and they only way I'll be able to get mature fruit is to keep it in my greenhouse or a tunnel.

Here's a very good page on cultivation of dragonfruit in Vietnam: http://trunghieufruits.com.vn/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=53%3Aquy-trinh-trng-cay-xut-khu&catid=37%3Anong-trang&Itemid=59&lang=en

The yellow was the last to flower last year.Other than slow ripening fruit it it grows faster than my other varieties.

[Dalmatiansoap]

American beauty
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=41127&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=41127&ppuser=4565)
:woohoonaner:

[sunfish]

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=41483&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=41483&ppuser=2868)

[sunfish]

Almost ready
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=41645&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=41645&ppuser=2868)

[supermario]

sunfish, please let us know what the fruit tastes like! :08:

[sunfish]

sunfish, please let us know what the fruit tastes like! :08:

I'll do that

[sunfish]

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=41751&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=41751)

[sunfish]

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=41838&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=41838&ppuser=2868)

[sunfish]

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=41933&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=41933&ppuser=2868)

[Willow87]

New Growth
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=41971&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=41971)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=41969&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=41969)

[Dean W.]

New Dragon Fruit Trellis planted sparingly. Hopefully I can keep it trained this time.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=41975&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=41975)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=41974&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=41974)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=41973&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=41973)

[sunfish]

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=42398&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=42398&ppuser=2868)

[harveyc]

Have you eaten any of those yet, Tony? I've not tasted one and am wondering if it's worth the work to grow the Yellow Colombian here. My plant is growing pretty good so far but don't think it is big enough to flower this year.

[sunfish]

Have you eaten any of those yet, Tony? I've not tasted one and am wondering if it's worth the work to grow the Yellow Colombian here. My plant is growing pretty good so far but don't think it is big enough to flower this year.

Yes I've tasted one. Of the three varieties I have the red flesh is the best then yellow then white. Their all good it comes down to how concentrated the flavor is.

[Willow87]

American Beauty Cuttings

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m595/Cballen87/Dragon%20fruit%20and%20cacti/dragonfruitMay2011006.jpg
http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m595/Cballen87/Dragon%20fruit%20and%20cacti/dragonfruitMay2011008.jpg
http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m595/Cballen87/Dragon%20fruit%20and%20cacti/dragonfruitMay2011011.jpg

[harveyc]

I just planted another American Beauty myself. FYI - in case you didn't catch earlier comments I made, it's also known as Quang Ong Self-Fertile which is notable since many red-fleshed varieties are not self-fertile.

[Willow87]

Thanks Harvey. I've read a few things on American Beauty. I'm so glad its self fertile. I'm just worried about making something to support it in a container. I have some PVC pipe now but I dont think its thick enough to eventually support a large plant. I thought that the American Beauty were a pink fleshed variety

[harveyc]

Yes, it's more accurately a magenta/pink colored, not one of the darker red ones. Most of the self-fertile ones are white although from my two trips to Nicaragua it seems that the red ones there are often self-fertile since I've seen isolated solitary plants with lots of fruit.

Quite a few people use PVC pipe for support successfully though I would think it's got to be at least schedule 40 and I think most people paint it to increase it's lifespan. I'm using a 4x4 with a rebar cross at the top. Mine are all in large pots so that I can move them to protect them in the event of an Arctic blast, but I may plant some hardy white ones in the ground this year since unprotected ones showed no damage when exposed to about 15 days of frost and lows down to 26F this past winter. It's a white selection from George Emerich of Fallbrook, CA which is informally called "George".

[Willow87]

I have another one called Natural Mystic that is a red fleshed variety. It hasnt shown any new growth yet, but it does have roots. Could you give me more info about that variety? I dont know much about different types of PVC pipe, but I did hear someone talk about painting it with a weather resistant paint. Could I make a T shape support out of PVC? I have mine in 3 gallon containers. I know eventually I may have to get a bigger container, but I'm afraid of the plant eventually tipping the pot over from top heavy.
I didnt know there were hardy dragon fruit. I dont think I could grow them outside in my climate though, here we do get occasional snow or ice storms or bad cold snaps. I would still like to learn more about that variety.

[harveyc]

I don't have any personal experience with Natural Mystic but Pine Island Nursery says it's a magenta-colored variety from Thailand and that it too is self-fertile (the only other one they carry besides QOSF/AB). A grower in Mexico has confirmed this.

What I think you might want to do is to use a PVC cross (or I guess a cross and then above that a T) at the top of a center pipe and then go out about 2' each way at the top with additional pipes. At the end of those, you could use elbows without gluing them in and then have pipes going down to the ground to keep your plant balanced.

I've planted most of mine in a half of a 30 gallon plastic barrel with two plants in each "pot". It's about 20" wide so it's pretty stable, but I'll brace it if it becomes very heavy.

Yeah, I don't think you can grow any pitaya outdoors if you get down into the very low 20s or lower. But I think some can probably take even lower than 26F if they have some overhead protection from hard frosts. But in January 2007 we had several days where we stayed below 30F (with one night getting down to almost 20F) and I don't think any of them would survive that without some supplemental heat.

I don't know much more about George other than the fruits I've tasted of it were not very sweet.

I've got way more varieties than I should have but I guess that's because I keep chasing after ones that I've heard great things about from hobbyists around the country and even Spain, etc.

I'm considering building a small greenhouse to get more serious about these things as my plants will be pretty hard to move by the end of this year. My wife is very tolerant of my hobbies, thank God! :)

There's a fairly new bi-colored magenta/white variety being grown in Vietnam and I'd like to find some way to get that too. I do have an import permit so I just need to find a way to get it here, though I don't know anything about the tas

[Willow87]

Ill need to bookmark this post so I can back and look at your instructions once my dragon fruit get larger. I will have to bring them indoors during winter. I saw a picture on one site of some bonsai dragon fruit. The plants were one short stem and still had fruit on it. I live in zone 8a. Its amazing that it got that cold there. I bet it was a major shock to alot of plants and people. If I lived in a tropical climate or had a greenhouse I would love to grow more varieties of dragon fruit. Since you have so many varieties you should build a greenhouse lol. How long have you had your dragon fruit? I like looking at the different dragon fruit on Pine Island Nursery, and I look forward to tasting a dragon fruit.

[sunfish]

Lots of new growth on White Dragon fruit

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=42874&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=42874&ppuser=2868)

[sandy0225]

I got some cuttings on ebay last fall real late. supposedly there are four different kinds, and a couple of them look a little different from each other. I thought they were goners, they looked bad when I got them (frozen), they didn't grow one little bit through winter, but now they are starting to grow. I'll just have to wait and see what they turn into though. There were supposed to be four kinds, but none of them were marked at all. so it was a pretty worthless purchase for me so far.

[Willow87]

I hope your dragon fruit cuttings grow for you Sandy. Mine have slowed down for some reason.

[sunfish]

It's been 8 hours so I hope it's okay to post some photo's.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=43082&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=43082&ppuser=2868)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=43081&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=43081&ppuser=2868)

[harveyc]

I saw flowers that had bloomed for the past week or two in Fallbrook late on Monday of Paul Thomson's S-8 selection. The fruits are small, but taste reportedly pretty good. They also had a couple of Guatemala (G2) flowers but the H. undatus were a was off.

Sorry I didn't have time to make it down your way, Tony. I was up until after midnight packing Sunday night and left at 4:45am but still didn't have enough time.

[sunfish]

I saw flowers that had bloomed for the past week or two in Fallbrook late on Monday of Paul Thomson's S-8 selection. The fruits are small, but taste reportedly pretty good. They also had a couple of Guatemala (G2) flowers but the H. undatus were a was off.

Sorry I didn't have time to make it down your way, Tony. I was up until after midnight packing Sunday night and left at 4:45am but still didn't have enough time.

The one with the bud is the S.B.R. It hasn't put on new growth but it has two buds ?

[harveyc]

The one with the bud is the S.B.R. It hasn't put on new growth but it has two buds ?

That's strange. I've heard before how plants required a certain mass before fruiting. Maybe those flower buds were already developed somewhat before the cutting was taken last year. I'm going to check mine now! :)

[sunfish]

That's strange. I've heard before how plants required a certain mass before fruiting. Maybe those flower buds were already developed somewhat before the cutting was taken last year. I'm going to check mine now! :)

If I remember right the buds were already on the cutting

[Patty in Wisc]

I'm happy for you Tony! Wow, 2 buds so close together.... and already on the cutting.

[harveyc]

I just looked and one of my cuttings has 3 vegetative shoots and 1 flower bud. There were no signs of any of that a couple of months ago.

[supermario]

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b158/damethod/DSCN0340.jpg

My dragonfruit has several flowers and developing fruit now.

:woohoonaner:

[sunfish]

Santa Barbara Red

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=43187&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=43187&ppuser=2868)

[harveyc]

mine is smaller than yours, Tony. I thought yours didn't have new growth on it but it looks like it's got a side shoot on it?

[Dalmatiansoap]

Harvey how do U fert your DFs? I dont know what to do with my, they are so slow?

[sunfish]

mine is smaller than yours, Tony. I thought yours didn't have new growth on it but it looks like it's got a side shoot on it?

The side shoot was there from the beginning.The smaller bud dried up. I guess I should re-pot since it's in a 1gal pot half filled.

[sunfish]

This is all the growth I have on the SBR

<a href="http://s950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/?action=view&amp;current=Picture240.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/Picture240.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[supermario]

Harvey how do U fert your DFs? I dont know what to do with my, they are so slow?

I know this was meant for Harvey, but I'll let you know what I've done up to now. I use 20-20-20 water soluble fertilizer once a month. I also apply a 6-3-16 granular fert once every 2 months or so.

[Dalmatiansoap]

Thanks Mario,
I did use 15-15-15 two weeks ago but Im not sure about dosage, Im afraid of overdosage.

[harveyc]

Harvey how do U fert your DFs? I dont know what to do with my, they are so slow?

Sorry, Ante, I wasn't intentionally ignoring you, I hadn't seen your post. I fertilized all of my pitaya with a slow release fertilizer at the time of planting and have been using 14-7-7 azalea fertilizer lately. I don't have local sources for good water soluble fertilizers other than bulk liquid fertilizers I sometimes buy in large quantities (a ton, etc.) for my farm needs which aren't a complete formulation.

[sunfish]

Buds on red flesh Dragon Fruit

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=43214&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=43214&ppuser=2868)

[supermario]

Thanks Mario,
I did use 15-15-15 two weeks ago but Im not sure about dosage, Im afraid of overdosage.

If it's a fert that you dissolve in water, I think once a month is fine. I believe it's 1-2 tablespoons per gallon depending on the size of your plant. Mine is a already pretty large and has several flowers and fruit, so I use 2 tablespoons per gallon.

I also apply the granular 6-3-16 every 2-3 months since it's a slow release and has micro nutrients as well.

I'm not an expert, but I haven't had any problems so far.

[sunfish]

I use Grow More banana fuej:goteam::woohoonaner:

[harveyc]

Ante, I read of an Israeli study that suggested applying small amounts of nutrients with each irrigation. Using a fertilizer with an analysis of 23-7-23, 35ppm of N was applied with each irrigation. http://web.archive.org/web/20070112160643/http://www.jpacd.org/V5P98-105.pdf

[Dalmatiansoap]

Thanks Harvey, by now the new growth is noticable after fert apply and now Im adding smaller quantity of 15-15-15 every few days.
BTW great article Harvey, thanks for shareing.

[Willow87]

I was wondering if this is a bloom on my dragon fruit cutting? The cutting is less than a foot tall. It looks different from the new stems that appear.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=43360&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=43360)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=43359&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=43359)

[sunfish]

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=43371&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=43371&ppuser=2868):08:

[harveyc]

Cameron, I think those are shoots, not flowers.

[Willow87]

Thanks Harvey, it would have been neat if it was a bloom. I really look forward to the blooms in the future

[capthof]

Instead, let's shorten that vertical support to 3 feet high and make use of inexpensive materials, shown in this diagram:

I put several varieties in pots with three foot post formed a "T" or "H" structure. Secure the post to the bottom of the pots with fender washers. Rap the post with hemp rope or burlap so the roots can get in the rope and the rope or shade cloth holds nutrients. A little liquid fertilizer and off they go.
"If you build it they will grow."
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=33448&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=33448)

[Richard]

"If you build it they will grow."

Yes, definitely.

[harveyc]

I put several varieties in pots with three foot post formed a "T" or "H" structure. Secure the post to the bottom of the pots with fender washers. Rap the post with hemp rope or burlap so the roots can get in the rope and the rope or shade cloth holds nutrients. A little liquid fertilizer and off they go.
"If you build it they will grow."
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=33448&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=33448)

Scott, what variety do you have flowering there?

Some friends who have Paul Thomson's S-8 have been getting flowers for at least a few weeks already, even with a cooler than normal season, but there Guatemala selection started later and the undatus are still a ways off. We're finally starting to get warm here so I'm hoping for growth to pick up.

[capthof]

The flower in the picture is an American Beauty, the one Chris Rollins added.
Some nursery's here just sell Red, white and yellow to simplify things.
The Hemp rope has been my favorite for rapping the post and I have laid granular fertilizer on the cross members for long term feeding. On some I have put a layer burlap then rap it with shade cloth because the burlap deteriorates rapidly and the nylon shade cloth last longer. The Burlap does hold nutrients better it just doesn't hold up for the long term.

[sunfish]

SBR

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=43389&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=43389&ppuser=2868)

[harveyc]

Wow, Tony, looks like a strong bud for a cutting that hasn't put on any visible growth yet. You must at least have some good roots going. My flower bud dropped off when I planted it in the ground. :(

[sunfish]

Wow, Tony, looks like a strong bud for a cutting that hasn't put on any visible growth yet. You must at least have some good roots going. My flower bud dropped off when I planted it in the ground. :(

I haven't checked for roots .I'll leave it in the 1gal. pot until I harvest the fruit. I hope.This one is self fertile ?

[harveyc]

I haven't checked for roots .I'll leave it in the 1gal. pot until I harvest the fruit. I hope.This one is self fertile ?

Yes, Jack that you/we got it from only had this one variety growing and he described it as self-fertile. I don't know if he assisted in pollination or not, but that would be affected by what wildlife might be present to help out.

[sunfish]

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=43371&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=43371&ppuser=2868):08:

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=43442&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=43442&ppuser=2868)

[capthof]

Looks Good Tony!

[sunfish]

Looks Good Tony!

Missed the chance to hand pollinate that one. I'll have to keep a closer eye on them

[sunfish]

Lots of buds this year

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=44615&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=44615&ppuser=2868)

[harveyc]

I've got a total of about 10 buds so far on 3 plants. Hope they all set fruit and hope I get even more flowers!

[sunfish]

Which varieties ?

[harveyc]

8-S, Physical Graffiti, and Condor :)

I'm hoping to maybe get flowers on a couple of others as well.

[Dean W.]

Lots of buds this year

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=44615&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=44615&ppuser=2868)

You must be irrigating a lot? It's been so dry here that nothing seems to be growing.

Some of my Dragon Fruit plants have the fungus or whatever it is. You know it's the brown spot kind of thing. Any ideals guys? I'm kind of rethinking attempting to grow this stuff here.:bananas_b

[sunfish]

You must be irrigating a lot? It's been so dry here that nothing seems to be growing.

Some of my Dragon Fruit plants have the fungus or whatever it is. You know it's the brown spot kind of thing. Any ideals guys? I'm kind of rethinking attempting to grow this stuff here.:bananas_b

Dean I water twice a week. I think Richard suggested Copper Sulfate for the fungus.

[sunfish]

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=44808&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=44808&ppuser=2868)

[Patty in Wisc]

Just noticed today that I have a blossom started. Was getting ready to give up as a lot of plant has turned orange/rust colored. Thanks Sunfish for the reminder to give it copper sulfate - which I have. I'll have to climb up on a stepstoole to figure out if it's red Jaina or yellow. Woohoo
I remember reading that they seem to bloom on full moon evenings. Last yr the flower bloomed on full moon. The next full moon is the 13th & I won't be here to pollinate... I'll have to get a neighbor over to do it.

[sunfish]

<a href="http://s950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/?action=view&amp;current=011-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/011-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/?action=view&amp;current=010-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/010-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[Dalmatiansoap]

what a predator plant. yours?

[sunfish]

what a predator plant. yours?

No this one isn't mine

[Patty in Wisc]

You're still a show off Tony :ha::ha::ha:

[sunfish]

You're still a show off Tony :ha::ha::ha:

Mine looks better then that one.



Did you get the Yellow DF rooted ?

[sunfish]

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=44862&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=44862&ppuser=2868)

[Patty in Wisc]

Did you get the Yellow DF rooted ?

It was about 3 inches - rooted, when I got it from a friend

[sunfish]

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=44893&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=44893&ppuser=2868)

[sunfish]

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=44893&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=44893&ppuser=2868)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=44930&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=44930&ppuser=2868)

[sunfish]

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=44930&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=44930&ppuser=2868)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=44931&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=44931&ppuser=2868)

[harveyc]

Which variety is that, Tony? Did you save pollen? Many people put the entire anthers in a jar to refrigerate but I plan to experiment and try to shake or scrape off pollen and dry it and freeze it for longer term storage.

[sunfish]

Which variety is that, Tony? Did you save pollen? Many people put the entire anthers in a jar to refrigerate but I plan to experiment and try to shake or scrape off pollen and dry it and freeze it for longer term storage.

This is the red flesh variety. I did not save pollen,probably should.I've got 30 buds on this one plant I'll collect pollen tonight.

[sunfish]

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=44967&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=44967&ppuser=2868)

[sunfish]

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=44862&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=44862&ppuser=2868)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=45015&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=45015&ppuser=2868)

[harveyc]

Here's an animated GIF made up of 17 photos I took from 6:32pm to 10:06pm last night of my 'Condor' pitaya

http://www.chestnuts.us/CondorBloom.gif

[Willow87]

That is amazing Harvey!

[oakshadows]

Beautiful, it will be nice when we see blooms on our seedlings. Next year or so maybe.

[sunfish]

Met Harvey and Mr. Leo Manuel today and took a tour of Leo's yard. Good stuff

[oakshadows]

Don't stop, add some more info please.

[sunfish]

Met Harvey and Mr. Leo Manuel today and took a tour of Leo's yard. Good stuff

That's about it.


http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=2&sqi=2&ved=0CB0QFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.forestmulch.com%2Ffoto.htm&rct=j&q=leo%20manuel%20dragon%20fruit&ei=MhlYTpP3Aq7UiAL5rrywCQ&usg=AFQjCNGIATDsn5HaDCvXPTNSK2Pdl8THtg&cad=rja

[Patty in Wisc]

Whaat, no pictures???

[sunfish]

Whaat, no pictures???

No pic's. Harvey is headed to the Pitaya festival in Irvine,but I think he forgot his camera. Me and Harvey exchanged some banana pups.Got a Dragon cutting from Harvey also. I'm sure Harvey will post something when he gets home


Pitahaya Festival - 8/27/2011 - Irvine, CA : Fruits, Rare Fruits, Orchards and Exotics (http://www.cloudforest.com/cafe/gardening/pitahaya-festival-2011-irvine-t1429.html)

[sunfish]

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=45326&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=45326&ppuser=2868)


http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=45325&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=45325&ppuser=2868)

[harveyc]

Good to finally meet you today, Tony!

Besides the cutting I got from Leo I got Cebra from a grower in Fallbrook and expect to get another from Quang tomorrow which I think will put me up to about 28 varieties of DF. Kinda crazy? I'll probably pick up some others at the festival tomorrow. Had dinner with Edgar and his wife Pat as well as Ramiro and some of the other UC folks tonight. Fortunately, I napped for almost 3 hours this afternoon after getting to my hotel after driving all last night. I put on about 600 miles and I'm ready to crash. Yeah, my camera did get left home but don't know that I have other things I need to photograph.

Growers in Fallbrook use 15% shade cloth on G2 which sunburns easily but even that cuts way back on production. I think I'll send them some PurShade to try out on some of their full-sun plants to see if that reduces production still.

[sunfish]

Nice meeting you Harvey.

After seeing the Leo is growing his Pitaya,I know I'll be adding a few more varieties. No need for large pots or giant trellises . You may not get lots of fruit but growing so many different ones will be fun

[harveyc]

The Pitahaya Festival in Irvine, CA on Saturday was a fun day, albeit uncomfortably hot. Between trading with Leo and some other friends at the festival and getting some cuttings from the trial there as well, I've probably added another 8-10 varieties and am now up to about 35. Kinda crazy, I think.....

At the trial they don't do any hand pollination and most varieties (19 formally on trial with another 20+ also planted) produce quite well with the exception of Valdivia Roja which opens up late and doesn't get pollinated very well from bees, etc. One plant of this selection had 28 out of 28 flowers drop due to lack of pollination. Physical Graffiti (Thomson's 1-S) is by far the most productive variety. Since I have a plant of this with fruit on it I was looking forward to tasting it at the festival. Unfortunately, I was quite disappointed with its taste. I tried it about five times, taking pieces from a different area of the large tray to make sure I was trying from different fruits but they all were similar. Haley's Comet was my favorite by a long shot and 'Delight' (another Thomson variety) came in second, both with decent sweetness. Oddly, the trial results show that Physical Graffiti averages a higher brix than Haley's Comet. Haley's Comet is one of the varieties I've now got added to my collection.

Edit: I'm hoping that Haley's Comet and some others in my collection might come close to Physical Graffiti's productivity with the use of hand pollination.

[Dragonfly]

I have cuttings of several dragon fruit - Natural Mystic, Guyute, Purple Haze, Dark Star, Cosmic Charlie and Purple Star (I can't find anything about this one.) No room for all these so this should be interesting. They sure do like my South/West facing windows though.

I am hoping to give away a few cuttings (duplicates) in a swap I'm in on another website. Then I'll add some yellow dragon fruit cuttings.

[harveyc]

Here's another GIF time-lapse animated image, this time of a H. undatus 'George' flower. I increased the frequency and took 38 shots. The first 35 were 5-6 minutes apart and the last 3 were 15 minutes apart, starting at 6:46pm and ending at 10:48pm.

Instead of imbedding the image I'll include links since some folks might have a slow connection and not appreciate the large file.

http://www.chestnuts.us/GeorgeBloom.gif (600x600 pixels, 5.3 MB)
http://www.chestnuts.us/GeorgeBloomM.gif (200x200 pixels, 714 KB)

[sunfish]

Here's another GIF time-lapse animated image, this time of a H. undatus 'George' flower. I increased the frequency and took 38 shots. The first 35 were 5-6 minutes apart and the last 3 were 15 minutes apart, starting at 6:46pm and ending at 10:48pm.

Instead of imbedding the image I'll include links since some folks might have a slow connection and not appreciate the large file.

http://www.chestnuts.us/GeorgeBloom.gif (600x600 pixels, 5.3 MB)
http://www.chestnuts.us/GeorgeBloomM.gif (200x200 pixels, 714 KB)

Cool

[oakshadows]

Beautiful work. Thanks

[sunfish]

Good size Dragon Fruit

<a href=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=45695&ppuser=2868><img src=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=45695&size=1 border=0></a>

[harveyc]

Did you cross-pollinate that flower? My Physical Graffiti flower pollinated with its own pollen (by hand) is quite a bit smaller than the two other fruits on the same plant which I cross-pollinated. I don't know if that's because it's on a thinner/weaker branch or because of metaxenia as discussed in http://aob.oxfordjournals.org/content/93/4/469.full.pdf. Others have claimed cross-pollination results in larger fruit so I tend to think that's probably shown in my PG fruits as well.

[sunfish]

Did you cross-pollinate that flower? My Physical Graffiti flower pollinated with its own pollen (by hand) is quite a bit smaller than the two other fruits on the same plant which I cross-pollinated. I don't know if that's because it's on a thinner/weaker branch or because of metaxenia as discussed in http://aob.oxfordjournals.org/content/93/4/469.full.pdf. Others have claimed cross-pollination results in larger fruit so I tend to think that's probably shown in my PG fruits as well.

I used it's own pollen. Out of 12 fruit three are large the others much smaller ?

[harveyc]

I used it's own pollen. Out of 12 fruit three are large the others much smaller ?

Did you have any other pitaya flowers that wildlife may have pollinated those flowers with?

[sunfish]

Did you have any other pitaya flowers that wildlife may have pollinated those flowers with?

Yes the White.Do Skunks count as wildlife ?:ha::ha:

[harveyc]

Yes the White.Do Skunks count as wildlife ?:ha::ha:

I'd guess your larger fruits could have been patially pollinated by the white (H. undatus) by moths, bats, ants, bees, or other insects while the skunks simply wondered where the pleasant scent competing for attention was origin
ated from.

[Want Them All]

I planted this in June 2010. This week, I saw flower buds for the 1st time. According to the label, Hylocereus polyrhizus does NOT need a pollinator. Does that mean I don't have to do anything, and these flowers will become fruits on their own? How does this "red" variety taste? I've never had one to eat.

On a related note, when you guys hand pollinate, do you take pollens from anthers in different flowers and stick them on stigmas from different flowers?

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a67/delldude/red.jpg
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a67/delldude/CopyofDSC_5581.jpg
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a67/delldude/CopyofDSC_5582.jpg

[harveyc]

I planted this in June 2010. This week, I saw flower buds for the 1st time. According to the label, Hylocereus polyrhizus does NOT need a pollinator. Does that mean I don't have to do anything, and these flowers will become fruits on their own? How does this "red" variety taste? I've never had one to eat.

On a related note, when you guys hand pollinate, do you take pollens from anthers in different flowers and stick them on stigmas from different flowers?


I wouldn't trust those labels but suspect it may be self-fertile but the pollen still needs to get from the anthers to the stigma. Until you know from experience that the flower will self-pollinate (i.e., flower has a stigma close to the anthers) or you have some form of wildlife that will spread the pollen to the stigma, you should hand-pollinate. It appears likely that it is best to use pollen from another variety but, if it's a self fertile variety, you can pollinate with anthers from the same flower (it makes no difference if you pollinate from another flower on the same plant as the pollen is identical).

There are different selections of polyrhizus but some are sweet and tasty but some consider them to have an "earthy" taste. Report what you think after you have yours!

[Want Them All]

Thanks harvey!!:nanadrink:

[sunfish]

I planted this in June 2010. This week, I saw flower buds for the 1st time. According to the label, Hylocereus polyrhizus does NOT need a pollinator. Does that mean I don't have to do anything, and these flowers will become fruits on their own? How does this "red" variety taste? I've never had one to eat.

On a related note, when you guys hand pollinate, do you take pollens from anthers in different flowers and stick them on stigmas from different flowers?

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a67/delldude/red.jpg
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a67/delldude/CopyofDSC_5581.jpg
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a67/delldude/CopyofDSC_5582.jpg

Can we see the back of the label ?

[harveyc]

I think those DF bought at Lowe's, etc. are supplied by LaVerne

[Want Them All]

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a67/delldude/Photo_C57DBB42-6B32-E4A6-A2D1-4CF0D95073F1.jpg

[sunfish]

Good size Dragon Fruit

<a href=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=45695&ppuser=2868><img src=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=45695&size=1 border=0></a>

Same fruit 2 days later

<a href=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=45747&ppuser=2868><img src=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=45747&size=1 border=0></a>

[jreidsma]

Hope everyone doesn't mind if I join ;)

I am the proud new owner of two dragon fruit plants (Thanks Janan) and I have run into some questions. As I have never had these before.

I got Guyute, and American beauty. Both are cuttings and should start shooting out roots soon (Hopefully).

I live in a small mobile home (trailer) though, and these plants will be indoors year round. So I am rather limited on space and so I need to figure out how much room these plants would need to I can get everything ready for them. I know it will be a while until they get bigger but I like to have everything planned out ;)

So Google hasn't been much help yet. So I figured I would come here :)

About how big would these two plants need to get before they would flower and hopefully fruit?

And then about how big of a pot would each plant need to be that big.

Nice pictures everyone :) These look like cool plants :)

Thanks, and hope everyone has a nice day :)

[sunfish]

Hope everyone doesn't mind if I join ;)

I am the proud new owner of two dragon fruit plants (Thanks Janan) and I have run into some questions. As I have never had these before.

I got Guyute, and American beauty. Both are cuttings and should start shooting out roots soon (Hopefully).

I live in a small mobile home (trailer) though, and these plants will be indoors year round. So I am rather limited on space and so I need to figure out how much room these plants would need to I can get everything ready for them. I know it will be a while until they get bigger but I like to have everything planned out ;)

So Google hasn't been much help yet. So I figured I would come here :)

About how big would these two plants need to get before they would flower and hopefully fruit?

And then about how big of a pot would each plant need to be that big.

Nice pictures everyone :) These look like cool plants :)

Thanks, and hope everyone has a nice day :)

Harvey can answer this better then me.The plant will fruit at 5' ,you can keep it pruned .10gal. pot is plenty big

[sunfish]

Hope everyone doesn't mind if I join ;)

I am the proud new owner of two dragon fruit plants (Thanks Janan) and I have run into some questions. As I have never had these before.

I got Guyute, and American beauty. Both are cuttings and should start shooting out roots soon (Hopefully).

I live in a small mobile home (trailer) though, and these plants will be indoors year round. So I am rather limited on space and so I need to figure out how much room these plants would need to I can get everything ready for them. I know it will be a while until they get bigger but I like to have everything planned out ;)

So Google hasn't been much help yet. So I figured I would come here :)

About how big would these two plants need to get before they would flower and hopefully fruit?

And then about how big of a pot would each plant need to be that big.

Nice pictures everyone :) These look like cool plants :)

Thanks, and hope everyone has a nice day :)

Harvey can answer this better then me.The plant will fruit at 5' ,you can keep it pruned .10gal. pot is plenty big

You will need to bring it outside in spring for it to get fruit.

[jreidsma]

Ok, thanks :)

So about 5' and it needs to be in a 10 gallon pot.

I will need to wrap it around something to keep it shorter. Maybe a round basket shape or something? Then I could make the plant form a circle kind of and if wouldn't get too tall.

The ten gallon pot might be a problem.... That's a little huge for a houseplant on a shelf :ha: I will have to see what pots I can find :)

Would I be able to have both plants in a 10 gallon pot?

Would it even flower indoors? I was planning on hand pollinating them at night when they flowered.

Sorry for so many question, I wasn't expecting to ever have one because of how big they are. So I never did any research for them. They are pretty cool plants though :)

[sunfish]

Ok, thanks :)

So about 5' and it needs to be in a 10 gallon pot.

I will need to wrap it around something to keep it shorter. Maybe a round basket shape or something? Then I could make the plant form a circle kind of and if wouldn't get too tall.

The ten gallon pot might be a problem.... That's a little huge for a houseplant on a shelf :ha: I will have to see what pots I can find :)

Would I be able to have both plants in a 10 gallon pot?

Would it even flower indoors? I was planning on hand pollinating them at night when they flowered.

Sorry for so many question, I wasn't expecting to ever have one because of how big they are. So I never did any research for them. They are pretty cool plants though :)

If you can't use a 10 gal. use a 5 gal. They need very little soil.Your better off with a heavy stake as a support,4x4,2x4,steel pipe .Let it grow up rather than down.

[harveyc]

Jordan, the pitaya won't get large enough if you are trying to grow them on a shelf unless you allow them to climb up walls, etc. They also might not get enough light as an indoor plant to fruit. While they can grow with very little light, they usually don't fruit. In natural conditions they will sometimes climb up tall trees but fruit will usually only be present where growth reaches the outside of the tree's canopy. I've seen H. guatemalanisis plants grown under 15% shade cloth which produced much fewer fruit than neighboring portions of plants receiving full sun (even though those had sunburn). American Beauty is a H. guatemalanesis (or maybe a hybrid). Guyute isn't one I'm familiar with.

In general, a pitaya needs to have about 12 or so pounds of plant mass before it will fruit (though I have an 8-S much smaller than that with a fruit). 8-S produces small fruits but in large quantities and over a longer season than most other varieties so it might be a good option for extreme zone pushers.

Good luck!

Another option might be to grow it as a staked plant indoors during cold weather and move it ourdoors once the risk of frost has passed.

[sunfish]

Someone likes Fragon Fruit

<a href=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=45823&ppuser=2868><img src=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=45823&size=1 border=0></a>

[harveyc]

Ouch. You have tree rats? Glad they aren't a problem here.

[sunfish]

Ouch. You have tree rats? Glad they aren't a problem here.

There are rats around,but I'm thinking Raven.

Harvey have you learned of an easy way to process the DF seed ?

[harveyc]

The only processing I've done of dragon fruit is eat them! But I saw Edgar or someone who cut think slices of dragon fruit flesh and laid the slices on something like wax paper so that they would dry out and the seeds were then easily separated.

[sunfish]

The only processing I've done of dragon fruit is eat them! But I saw Edgar or someone who cut think slices of dragon fruit flesh and laid the slices on something like wax paper so that they would dry out and the seeds were then easily separated.

Thanks.That will work.Guess I better start to harvest my fruit before it all gets eaten

[Dalmatiansoap]

Thats bad, nice fruit is wasted :(

[sunfish]

Thats bad, nice fruit is wasted :(

That's alright I have more. 1lb.12oz.

<a href=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=45836&ppuser=2868><img src=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=45836&size=1 border=0></a>

[oakshadows]

That must be from a large older plant. We have somewhat of a wait since our plants are just about 1/2" tall. Very pretty fruit.

[sunfish]

That must be from a large older plant. We have somewhat of a wait since our plants are just about 1/2" tall. Very pretty fruit.

3 year old plant.You can tell I have better DF weather than Pineapple weather

[jreidsma]

Jordan, the pitaya won't get large enough if you are trying to grow them on a shelf unless you allow them to climb up walls, etc. They also might not get enough light as an indoor plant to fruit. While they can grow with very little light, they usually don't fruit. In natural conditions they will sometimes climb up tall trees but fruit will usually only be present where growth reaches the outside of the tree's canopy. I've seen H. guatemalanisis plants grown under 15% shade cloth which produced much fewer fruit than neighboring portions of plants receiving full sun (even though those had sunburn). American Beauty is a H. guatemalanesis (or maybe a hybrid). Guyute isn't one I'm familiar with.

In general, a pitaya needs to have about 12 or so pounds of plant mass before it will fruit (though I have an 8-S much smaller than that with a fruit). 8-S produces small fruits but in large quantities and over a longer season than most other varieties so it might be a good option for extreme zone pushers.

Good luck!

Another option might be to grow it as a staked plant indoors during cold weather and move it ourdoors once the risk of frost has passed.

I was going to have a lamp by it and the window by it. It would be the same strength lamp I use with my cacti and all my other plants. As long as I have the plug in :ha:

After I would find one and measure everything, I was going to (hopefully) have it in a five gallon pot apiece. And then have a PVC pipe or something big enough for them to climb on.

My ceiling only would go to about 3'-4' not including the pot's height. So I would need something that would spiral a bit. Maybe like a safer tomato cage? Then the dragon fruit would spiral around it instead of going straight up like normal. So then it could really get bigger then the three feet, without getting too tall.

If this doesn't sound like it would work then I might just have to keep them smaller. My mom doesn't want me having anymore bigger plants outside as our yard is tiny.

And I don't think climbing up my walls is a option either :ha: It would be cool though....

Nice plants and fruit everyone :) Sunfish, that one is huge :eek:

[oakshadows]

Enjoy your project and when you get the results you will know what will work for you. I do a lot of things that may or may not work but it is the enjoyment of doing them that make any sense out of it. If you don't try, you will never know. Good luck

[sunfish]

I was going to have a lamp by it and the window by it. It would be the same strength lamp I use with my cacti and all my other plants. As long as I have the plug in :ha:

After I would find one and measure everything, I was going to (hopefully) have it in a five gallon pot apiece. And then have a PVC pipe or something big enough for them to climb on.

My ceiling only would go to about 3'-4' not including the pot's height. So I would need something that would spiral a bit. Maybe like a safer tomato cage? Then the dragon fruit would spiral around it instead of going straight up like normal. So then it could really get bigger then the three feet, without getting too tall.

If this doesn't sound like it would work then I might just have to keep them smaller. My mom doesn't want me having anymore bigger plants outside as our yard is tiny.

And I don't think climbing up my walls is a option either :ha: It would be cool though....

Nice plants and fruit everyone :) Sunfish, that one is huge :eek:

Small Pineapple.

If you can let it climb 3' and then hang down 3' that may work

[jreidsma]

Hi,
Ahh, ok. So my plan may yet work :)

I guess if it doesn't work I have some new info :ha: And a large cactus.

I will have to see what I can find. Only the one has roots right now so I have a bit of time to piece this together. See what ideas come, and what designs can be made out of PVC pipe... :ha:

:ha: "Small pineapple" That made me laugh :) Still a big fruit though :)

[sunfish]

Something is eating them faster than I can harvest them

<a href=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=45849&ppuser=2868><img src=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=45849&size=1 border=0></a>:woohoonaner:

[oakshadows]

That's a shame, just when they get ripe. I had a similar problem with a large garden. Can the fruit be taken off the plant just before ripe and ripen on a shelf?

[sunfish]

That's a shame, just when they get ripe. I had a similar problem with a large garden. Can the fruit be taken off the plant just before ripe and ripen on a shelf?

I am not sure if it will ripen off the plant but I have no choice.I'll set a couple rat traps tonight see what happens.I've seen some roof rats around ,their huge not sure if a trap will kill them.

[oakshadows]

This might sound a little iffy but we have killed over 25 in the last month. They are everywhere. Them and the caterpillars and the squirrels. I might have got ahead of them. It has been good weather for the critters and they took advantage of it. Get on those rats fast as they can multiply rapidly. Good luck.

[Want Them All]

I am not sure if it will ripen off the plant but I have no choice.I'll set a couple rat traps tonight see what happens.I've seen some roof rats around ,their huge not sure if a trap will kill them.

As an alternative to picking them early, can you wrap each fruit in something?

[sunfish]

As an alternative to picking them early, can you wrap each fruit in something?

Good Idea but I'm getting lazy.As long as I get a few I'm good

[oakshadows]

Not sure what would keep a rat from getting to the fruit. In Key West the rats ruined all of the papaya fruit most of the time and the neighbors really got ticked if you grew it. I'm past getting lazy, now just exhausted.

[sunfish]

Not sure what would keep a rat from getting to the fruit. In Key West the rats ruined all of the papaya fruit most of the time and the neighbors really got ticked if you grew it. I'm past getting lazy, now just exhausted.

If I'm not feeling lazy maybe I'll sneak out tonight and see if I can get a pic of whatever it is. I'll post it in Shot In The Dark :ha::ha:

[Dalmatiansoap]

No need for that, just leave them a camera, nowdays they are smart enough to use it themself:ha::ha::ha:
:woohoonaner:

[sunfish]

No need for that, just leave them a camera, nowdays they are smart enough to use it themself:ha::ha::ha:
:woohoonaner:

They'd probably take the memory card with them.:ha::ha::ha::ha:

[Dalmatiansoap]

They'd probably take the memory card with them.:ha::ha::ha::ha:

:ha::ha::ha:
:nanadrink:

[sunfish]

<a href=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=45888&ppuser=2868><img src=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=45888&size=1 border=0></a>

[harveyc]

Looks good, Tony. How's the taste? Does it seem as sweet as you'd like? Don't let your passionfruit influence your answer!

[sunfish]

Looks good, Tony. How's the taste? Does it seem as sweet as you'd like? Don't let your passionfruit influence your answer!

This fruit is not fully ripe.For some reason it started splitting while the skin was still green.May have been that week of hot weather we had. it was not real sweet like last year.

[harveyc]

I was disappointed with Physical Graffiti at the pitaya festival in late August but someone told me that their later fruits tasted better than their early fruits. I think it will be a few weeks for mine to be ripe as they are developing slowly and days are getting shorter.

[sunfish]

I was disappointed with Physical Graffiti at the pitaya festival in late August but someone told me that their later fruits tasted better than their early fruits. I think it will be a few weeks for mine to be ripe as they are developing slowly and days are getting shorter.

None are as sweet as the Passion Fruit :ha:

The last white DF I picked was 1lb. 15oz.

[oakshadows]

Are you sure it wasn't a "dinosour fruit"? Hope you get ahead of those rats as we are pulling our hair.

[sunfish]

Are you sure it wasn't a "dinosour fruit"? Hope you get ahead of those rats as we are pulling our hair.

I put a rat trap up on the trellis.The trap was tripped but I didn't get whatever it was.Reset the trap and it has not been touched.I think if nothing else the trap has them scared. I hope

[ago58]

Hello everyone,

I just joined this site.
I have a plant, Pitaya,
self-fertilizer,
obtained from seed,
about 11 years ago.
From 3 years bears fruit regularly,
with an average of 10-12 fruits per year.
I wanted to ask to stimulate flowering,
particular methods used?

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=45984&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=45984&limit=recent)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=45978&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=45978&limit=recent)



Agostino(Ago)

[sunfish]

Hello everyone,

I just joined this site.
I have a plant, Pitaya,
self-fertilizer,
obtained from seed,
about 11 years ago.
From 3 years bears fruit regularly,
with an average of 10-12 fruits per year.
I wanted to ask to stimulate flowering,
particular methods used?

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=45984&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=45984&limit=recent)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=45978&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=45978&limit=recent)



Agostino(Ago)

We need Harvey to answer that one.

[harveyc]

I've heard that sometimes pruning a long stem will induce flower buds. Also, more sunlight greatly increases flowering although many varieties (especially H. guatemalanesis) will sunburn in full sunlight, so it's a fine balance. I saw the Guatemalan pitaya grown under 15% shade cloth (very limited shading) and sunburn was eliminated but the plants with portions extending beyond the border of the shade had about 50% more flowers.

[harveyc]

My car mechanic came by and delayed my answer which was started before Tony posted. ;) Kinda scary.

[oakshadows]

Ago, We have just started to try this as a supplement to increase fruit production, Sulfate of potash. Google it to see if it is something that might be of interest to you. We have just started to grow dragon fruit and hope to be successful. Starting from seed will take some time but we were unable to find any cuttings locally. Also hope it will aid the other fruit crops to increase the production. Please be sure to update any findings so all can enjoy the knowledge. Thanks

[ago58]

I've heard that sometimes pruning a long stem will induce flower buds. Also, more sunlight greatly increases flowering although many varieties (especially H. guatemalanesis) will sunburn in full sunlight, so it's a fine balance. I saw the Guatemalan pitaya grown under 15% shade cloth (very limited shading) and sunburn was eliminated but the plants with portions extending beyond the border of the shade had about 50% more flowers.

Thanks Tony,

Thanks Harvey.
I had heard of this method.
I applied on a plant of 'Capistrano Valley'.
There are now 3 buds.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=45990&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=45990&ppuser=10853)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=45991&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=45991&ppuser=10853)

:woohoonaner:

Ago

[ago58]

Ago, We have just started to try this as a supplement to increase fruit production, Sulfate of potash. Google it to see if it is something that might be of interest to you. We have just started to grow dragon fruit and hope to be successful. Starting from seed will take some time but we were unable to find any cuttings locally. Also hope it will aid the other fruit crops to increase the production. Please be sure to update any findings so all can enjoy the knowledge. Thanks

Thanks Noah

Next year, I will present
also,
this suggestion.

:2738:

Ago

[ago58]

yesterday

I noticed this bud of 'Delight'.
I wanted to ask,
but
succeeds,
you think
to flourish,
or,
abort?


http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=46026&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=46026&ppuser=10853)

:2738:


Ago

[sunfish]

My Selenicereus megalanthus, yellow dragon fruit are the best

[sunfish]

Yellow Dragon

<a href=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=46154&ppuser=2868><img src=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=46154&size=1 border=0></a>

[harveyc]

Tony, are these flowers even later than the ones from last year? At this rate those again will get harvested in the spring. A grower (Steve Berger) from Huntington Beach brought immature fruits to the Pitahaya Festival in late August and I wouldn't think your timing would be too different. I wonder if he does something to encourage earlier flowering.

[sunfish]

Tony, are these flowers even later than the ones from last year? At this rate those again will get harvested in the spring. A grower (Steve Berger) from Huntington Beach brought immature fruits to the Pitahaya Festival in late August and I wouldn't think your timing would be too different. I wonder if he does something to encourage earlier flowering.

9/24/2010. I may have gotten some blooms already haven't really paid much attention

http://www.bananas.org/f13/dragon-fruit-4831-13.html#post142322

[sunfish]

Two weeks later then last year.Opened about 10am ?

<a href=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=46169&ppuser=2868><img src=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=46169&size=1 border=0></a>

[sunfish]

Yellow Dragon

<a href=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=46154&ppuser=2868><img src=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=46154&size=1 border=0></a>

I see that this flower was already open this morning:ha:

[ago58]

Who has tried to graft the Selenicereus megalanthus above the Hylocereus undatus?
What is the advantages?
Thank you.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=46179&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=46179&ppuser=10853)

Selenicereus megalanthus x Hylocereus undatus



:woohoonaner:

Ago

[sunfish]

Who has tried to graft the Selenicereus megalanthus above the Hylocereus undatus?
What is the advantages?
Thank you.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=46179&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=46179&ppuser=10853)

Selenicereus megalanthus x Hylocereus undatus



:woohoonaner:

Ago

Not me. :woohoonaner:

[oakshadows]

We started pitaya from seed and it sure is strange. The seed germinated fast but then the growth has been very slow. Fertilizing them with miracle grow, is that enough. The plant started with two leafs and then the cactus stem started. One is maybe 1 1/4" and many are still 1/2" or less. They were planted on 8-13-11 and 8-16-11. Any info that will help us?

Thanks

[sunfish]

We started pitaya from seed and it sure is strange. The seed germinated fast but then the growth has been very slow. Fertilizing them with miracle grow, is that enough. The plant started with two leafs and then the cactus stem started. One is maybe 1 1/4" and many are still 1/2" or less. They were planted on 8-13-11 and 8-16-11. Any info that will help us?

Thanks

I've read it will take 3 years from seed to fruit. Even from a cutting your talking 1 year sometimes 2. Lots of light is all I can think.I have some from seed and they do start off real slow.

[oakshadows]

Maybe I had better put them outside in more light. Thought they might take some time to mature and am still looking for cuttings but no success, will keep looking. Thanks

[sunfish]

Maybe I had better put them outside in more light. Thought they might take some time to mature and am still looking for cuttings but no success, will keep looking. Thanks

I would definitely give them all the light you can,not direct sun.:woohoonaner:

[harveyc]

ago58: it's believed that grafting onto undatus may provide a stronger plant as the megalanthus (now classified in the Hylocereus genus, by the way) has a weaker root system. I've not heard of anyone who has actually seen benefits from the grafting, though.

Noah: with optimum care, I think you can get fruit in quicker than 3 years. I saw a greenhouse of seedlings as part of a formal breeding project which I believe were maybe going to fruit in a year or maybe a little more after planting but these were being given great care because of the intensity of the project. Lots of humidity in the greenhouse and watering, fertilization, etc. was helping them move along quickly.

[sunfish]

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=46291&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=46291&ppuser=2868)

[sunfish]

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=46315&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=46315&ppuser=2868)

[sunfish]

:woohoonaner:


http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=46316&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=46316&ppuser=2868)

[oakshadows]

Beautiful plant, thanks