Dragon Fruit

[sunfish]

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=46320&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=46320&ppuser=2868)


Down the street

[sunfish]

Goodbye Dragon Fruit


http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=46436&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=46436&ppuser=2868)

[palmtree]

I just bought some dragon fruit from the store last week. It tasted very good! I really think they are so unique, and the flavor is very similar to kiwi.

[sunfish]

I just bought some dragon fruit from the store last week. It tasted very good! I really think they are so unique, and the flavor is very similar to kiwi.
:bananas_b

[caliboy1994]

I'm thinking about planting some next season. Does dragonfruit do well in containers? If so, can it still produce good fruit in containers? Should I plant it in the ground or in a container given I have limited space?

[sunfish]

I'm thinking about planting some next season. Does dragonfruit do well in containers? If so, can it still produce good fruit in containers? Should I plant it in the ground or in a container given I have limited space?

Either way works:nanadrink:

[caliboy1994]

Does this look like a good spot for dragon fruit? It's a planter about 10 feet long and 1.5 feet wide. The wall behind it is facing northwest. Would I be able to get away with planting dragon fruit here, and if so, how many individual plants would be able to fit here?

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=46653&size=1

[harveyc]

Yes, that looks good, as long as you don't mind some thorny branches branching out a little ways into the patio area. They may come out about 4 feet from the center of your planter. Some varieties sunburn more easily than others and it would be best if you built a shade structure (i.e., pergola) over them but some can take full sun okay. I think you probably could fit 3 plants in their nicely.

[caliboy1994]

Thanks. Do you think it would be necessary to put up a trellis? My dad is against it because he says it wouldn't look good there. Maybe a shorter one?

[harveyc]

You need to provide it with a post to grow up on and it would be good if that post had some cross-arms of some type at the top to support growth as they arch out away.

If you're able to design a nice-looking pergola, your dad may go for it. Take a look at this one Hayward Dragon fruit.. (http://www.cloudforest.com/cafe/forum/59357.html)

[caliboy1994]

I'll see what I can do. I'm not planning on getting them until next spring anyways.

[Worm_Farmer]

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=46320&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=46320&ppuser=2868)


Down the street

Man, thats totally awesome!

Why did you kill off your dragon fruit?
I dont have to every worry about having to kill mine, as they die every winter. LoL

[sunfish]

Man, thats totally awesome!

Why did you kill off your dragon fruit?
I dont have to every worry about having to kill mine, as they die every winter. LoL

Just making room for more passion vines. I also have 6 or seven more varieties of DF I've never planted in ground for lack of room. Just to many plants not enough land

[harveyc]

Just making room for more passion vines. I also have 6 or seven more varieties of DF I've never planted in ground for lack of room. Just to many plants not enough land

Did you keep some of them? Can't you build a high pergola over your driveway for more PF or DF?

We had heavy frost last night so I started pruning my DF at 10:30pm. I also picked my last two fruits which had been ripe for a while already. One Condor and one Physical Graffiti.

[sunfish]

Did you keep some of them? Can't you build a high pergola over your driveway for more PF or DF?

We had heavy frost last night so I started pruning my DF at 10:30pm. I also picked my last two fruits which had been ripe for a while already. One Condor and one Physical Graffiti.

I still have some df.I'll keep two varieties.Any extra space I'll plant Passion vines. :woohoonaner:

[harveyc]

You sure are passionate about passion fruit.

[Richard]

This weekend I provided about a 1/2 acres worth of H. guatemalensis plants (aka American Beauty) to a north county farmer. He sells to independent outlets and farmers markets. I expect in 1.5 years he will have an enviable harvest.

[sunfish]

You sure are passionate about passion fruit.

I like growing them because I can see actually see something happening ,new growth,flowers fruit. Not much to see going on with a cactus. :ha:

[harveyc]

I like growing them because I can see actually see something happening ,new growth,flowers fruit. Not much to see going on with a cactus. :ha:

But pitaya are much easier to control and, IMO, the flowers are much more impressive than passionfruit. I can smell pitaya flowers for 30' or more away (which is a good thing).

I have 34 varieties at this point so I'm about as crazy about pitaya as you are with passionfruit.

[sunfish]

But pitaya are much easier to control and, IMO, the flowers are much more impressive than passionfruit. I can smell pitaya flowers for 30' or more away (which is a good thing).

I have 34 varieties at this point so I'm about as crazy about pitaya as you are with passionfruit.

Yes the Df have nice flowers at night for a couple weeks.The rest of the year not much to see.Passiflora incense I can smell from 31' maybe 32' away.:lurk:

[harveyc]

I think your nose must be 2'-3' longer than mine! :P

Try 8-S or Houghton. Small tasty fruit that flower over a longer period of time, maybe May to October. I'm not really sure about the flowering habit of Houghton but it's one of the parents of 8-S and the fruit is outstanding. Thin skins means you'll have to pack carefully when you mail me fruit. ;)

[sunfish]

I think your nose must be 2'-3' longer than mine! :P

Try 8-S or Houghton. Small tasty fruit that flower over a longer period of time, maybe May to October. I'm not really sure about the flowering habit of Houghton but it's one of the parents of 8-S and the fruit is outstanding. Thin skins means you'll have to pack carefully when you mail me fruit. ;)

I want to see some change when I go in my yard.The DF look the same for ten months out of the year like watching paint dry.:woohoonaner:

I need action

[Richard]

I like growing them because I can see actually see something happening ,new growth,flowers fruit. Not much to see going on with a cactus. :ha:

Tony, do you know Bob Holzinger? He collects passiflora from all over the world. Occassionally he attends the monthly CRFG meetings at Balboa Park.

[harveyc]

Tony, maybe I mentioned Bob to you when I was down there in April. He was part of our white sapote expedition. WhiteSapote.com (http://www.whitesapote.com/)

[sunfish]

Tony, do you know Bob Holzinger? He collects passiflora from all over the world. Occassionally he attends the monthly CRFG meetings at Balboa Park.

I don't know Bob and haven't seen him post on any of the forums

[sunfish]

Tony, maybe I mentioned Bob to you when I was down there in April. He was part of our white sapote expedition. WhiteSapote.com (http://www.whitesapote.com/)

Yes you did . I need to get in touch with him ,somehow

[harveyc]

Yes you did . I need to get in touch with him ,somehow

Check your e-mail. BTW, I sent him a link to the Passiflora journal which he was unaware of and highly appreciative of. He knows the folks behind it very well.

[sunfish]

Check your e-mail. BTW, I sent him a link to the Passiflora journal which he was unaware of and highly appreciative of. He knows the folks behind it very well.

Thanks. That would be great,if nothing else we could trade seed.

[momoese]

Here is the plant I spoke of earlier. It used to be trained up the side of the two story house. Now it's just on the fence. Nice plant either way!

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m161/momoese/dragon.jpg

[harveyc]

Mitchel: Do you grow any dragon fruit? I wish I had your climate much of the time as this weather here is rough for them.

[momoese]

Not yet, I've avoided it because of the dogs. Thorns and dogs not so good! I do love the fruit though.

[harveyc]

I think you should grow one like S-8 or Houghton. The thorns aren't too bad and you can train them up a pergola away from the dogs and just protect the main stem (trunk). The flowers have a very nice scent besides being beautiful. These varieties are very self-fertilze and produce very tasty fruit, albeit small. http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSprkt-cUALhHTIEABl14YOEj4oIMIOlhGJ7OVLFIh8T55d_AUgEopU3Ur3AQ

[momoese]

I think you should grow one like S-8 or Houghton. The thorns aren't too bad and you can train them up a pergola away from the dogs and just protect the main stem (trunk). The flowers have a very nice scent besides being beautiful. These varieties are very self-fertilze and produce very tasty fruit, albeit small. http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSprkt-cUALhHTIEABl14YOEj4oIMIOlhGJ7OVLFIh8T55d_AUgEopU3Ur3AQ

Sounds interesting. We have something like a pergola on the front patio and the look of the plant does fit into the theme we already in place there. Hmm

[harveyc]

Mitchel, the thorns aren't really very bad on most dragon fruit. The Nicaraguan ones are some of the worst as they are longer and stronger.

[Richard]

Sounds interesting. We have something like a pergola on the front patio and the look of the plant does fit into the theme we already in place there. Hmm

I'm partial to American Beauty (H. guatemalensis). A self-fertile species with tiny thorns and exceptional fruit.

http://www.plantsthatproduce.com/image_gallery/H_guatemalensis_flower_400x300.jpg

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

[harveyc]

I've had American Beauty a few times but like 8-S better, though it has a think skin and will split easily so it can't be shipped very well. Of the ones at the Irvine tasting last year, I thought Halley's Comet was easily the best (8-S) wasn't included and Physical Graffiti was bland, though it was nice when I tried it previously. American Beauty was about on par with Paul Thomson's Delight, IIRC.

American Beauty was originally Quang Ong's selection (called Quang Ong Self Fertile, thus QOSF is in Pine Island's link) and he and I traded some cuttings in August and I'm hoping for some good things from some of his others. It's a pretty insane thing for me to keep adding like I have. I'm up to 34 varieties.

[harveyc]

A friend from Chula Vista brought a single fruit of 'Houghton' to the festival and shared it with a few of us, including Edgar Valdivia. I liked it a lot and Edgar sad "wow!". :)

[Richard]

... American Beauty was originally Quang Ong's selection (called Quang Ong Self Fertile, thus QOSF is in Pine Island's link) and he and I traded some cuttings in August and I'm hoping for some good things from some of his others.

For the two years that I attended the meetings in Irvine, there were discussions about whether American Beauty (growing on the test plot) was any different from Hylocereus guatemalensis (also on the test plot). One of the collectors down here said he was the first to bring cuttings to the CRFG in San Diego from Nicaragua and all plants were simply cuttings of same. Maybe Ong grew out some seeds from a fruit -- I don't know. This is the first time I've heard the story about QOSF. One thing is for certain, the first year I went no one could differentiate between the fruits.

It's a pretty insane thing for me to keep adding like I have. I'm up to 34 varieties.

Ha ha. I know that problem. However, with respect to Dragon fruit I'm finally in the winnowing stage. I will continue to grow Paul Thomson's white -- mainly because he handed that cutting to me. I believe it is the best tasting of the H. undatus. But the H. guatemalensis and the H. ocamponis are far superior. The latter is too thorny for most farms and casual gardeners -- its best for us mad people who grow Kei Apple for the fruit!

:woohoonaner:

[momoese]

its best for us mad people who grow Kei Apple for the fruit!



Harvey shared some with me on his way back north a few years ago. Since then I've had more and really love it! Why are the fruits so hard to find? You'd think they would easy to find at our farmers markets.

[harveyc]

The Nicaraguan varieties are not H. guatemalanisis. They are all dark red-fleshed fruits with little sweetness and very thorn stems.

I wrote about the QOSF in the other dragon fruit thread about a year ago. Sven Merten (sp?) took several cuttings to Florida some years ago and he did some research as to the synonyms. Some are pretty obvious base don looking at Pine Island's pages. Physican Graffiti is 1-S, Cosmic Charlie is 2-S, Purple Haze = 5-S, Voodoo Child is 8-S (but not 100% certain on this one), Dark Star (aka Arizona Red) = 9-S, American Beauty = QOSF, Bloody Mary = Ben Poirier Polyrhizus.

You need one more undatus. Leo says 'Orton', named for the late Orton Englehart, inventor of the impact (Rainbird) sprinkler, is his favorite undatus. That's despite Leo's close friendship with Paul. I'm giving it a try.

[harveyc]

Oh, and Ramiro did bring 4 or 5 cuttings of different varieties from Nicaragua himself, but they were seized as he had import permits but not an import permit for endangered species as required by CITES. The authorities are required to turn them over to some public collection so that they are not destroyed. Although Irvine was the obvious best choice, they wouldn't do that since they'd be handing them right back to Ramiro. I know some other cuttings have been turned over to Huntington (unless I've got my botanical gardens mixed up) so maybe he eventually got them from there as well. Quang is a CDFA (or USDA) inspector and gets word of where some of these get sent to.

Mitchel, you sure don't want to grow kei apple if you're concerned with thorns! There are a pair plants growing in the front yard at Papaya Tree nursery that you might want to check out some time. That's where Bryan and I got some.

[Richard]

The Nicaraguan varieties are not H. guatemalanisis. They are all dark red-fleshed fruits with little sweetness and very thorn stems.

Although I agree with what you are saying, the H. guatemalensis is cultivated in Nicaragua where the cuttings were obtained. The H. guatemalensis at the test plot and the plants I've propagated from it are definitely not very thorny.

On the otherhand, the H. ocamponis which I searched for, obtained, and gave Leo his first cutting is definitely a thorny plant. From that cutting, I see that many CRFG members in L.A. county now grow and sell it.

... You need one more undatus. Leo says 'Orton', named for the late Orton Englehart, inventor of the impact (Rainbird) sprinkler, is his favorite undatus. That's despite Leo's close friendship with Paul. I'm giving it a try.

I'm only growing H. undatus for sentimental reasons. I will stop selling it this year and may stop Physical Graffiti as well. The anticipation around here are for fruits of "Guatemalan pitahaya" and "Pitahaya roja" (Cornucopia II, p.64). I have hundreds of varieties of fruiting plants and only room for a few specimens of each.

[Richard]

Oh, and Ramiro did bring 4 or 5 cuttings of different varieties from Nicaragua himself, but they were seized as he had import permits but not an import permit for endangered species as required by CITES. might want to check out some time. That's where Bryan and I got some.

Yes, but it was a different individual (I'll have a look in my contacts) who brought these and other plants back prior to the start of Ramiro's project.

[harveyc]

One reason I suggest 8-S and Houghton are because they have a longer fruiting season than others and are self-fertile. I believe having a few different ones is good to have a variety (sure don't need 34), but these are nice individual varieties.

I wish I had met Paul in person. I would have probably taken the initiative if I had made my first trip down to Nicaragua a few years earlier.

What has amazed me on my trips there is that very few people have gardens. I saw a single pitaya plant in the garden of a the retreat house where we've stayed and also solitary plants at two private residences, but most people don't seem to be interested in gardening. I wish I could grow them so easy as they can but also wish they took advantage of their opportunities.

I met the guy that started up Pitaya Plus at last year's festival and hope to visit the plant in Nicaragua some day. Here is a nice video of their work: Pitaya Plus: A Superfruit on a Social Mission on Vimeo (http://vimeo.com/33620759)

[momoese]

I met the guy that started up Pitaya Plus at last year's festival and hope to visit the plant in Nicaragua some day. Here is a nice video of their work: Pitaya Plus: A Superfruit on a Social Mission on Vimeo (http://vimeo.com/33620759)

Nice work on those videos!

[harveyc]

Anybody here have flowers on their pitaya yet? A friend from San Luis Obispo had his first flower of the year last night.

[caliboy1994]

How do they handle the cold in zone 9b, Harvey?

[harveyc]

I had 24 varieties unprotected outside. About 6 did well, 6 died, and the rest had moderate damage. This was a colder than normalwinter, getting down to 22F one night and having 35 mornings with frost. I'm probably going to be building a cold frame to protect my plants.

[oakshadows]

Yes, but it was a different individual (I'll have a look in my contacts) who brought these and other plants back prior to the start of Ramiro's project.

Can seeds be shipped out of California to Florida. We are interested in these,
8-S and Houghton. If not do you know where they might be available?
Thanks

[sunfish]

Can seeds be shipped out of California to Florida. We are interested in these,
8-S and Houghton. If not do you know where they might be available?
Thanks

No problems shipping seed

[oakshadows]

Do you know where we can obtain any of those two varieties? Thanks

[Yug]

Ever see a dragon climb a tree?

I always wondered how these would grow if left alone. Now I know.
<a href=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=48752><img src=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=48752&size=1 border=0></a>


This one is about 8 ft up, and still climbing.
<a href=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=48753><img src=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=48753&size=1 border=0></a>

[harveyc]

Do you know where we can obtain any of those two varieties? Thanks

Write Linda at Dragonfruit (http://www.devonsaustraliancattledogs.com/Dragonfruit) for 8-S (also called S-8 much of the time, but it's listed as 8-S in Paul Thomson's book and he's the one that bred it). Houghton is less common and very similar to 8-S and was one of it's parents when bred. The best dragon fruit I've tasted has been Houghton but S-8 are also very good and differences might be mostly due to growing conditions.

[GoAngels]

I picked up a Haley's Comet dragon fruit from Home Depot last week. There were quite a few. This is the first time I'd ever seen a named DF cultivar at any retail location and, the best part, it was under $7. Now, I just have to hope that it actually is Haley's Comet...these were very prominently labeled with large hang tags.

[Richard]

Can seeds be shipped out of California to Florida. We are interested in these,
8-S and Houghton. If not do you know where they might be available?
Thanks

The pods can be shipped out of California to Florida. Make sure there is zero soil.

[harveyc]

Richard, is a snail certificate required? That's how I understand it.

[Richard]

Richard, is a snail certificate required? That's how I understand it.

Not for rootless, soilless Cacti cuttings.

[caliboy1994]

Just recieved a bunch of DF cuttings from Richard (Thank you!) Does anyone know if they would do well if planted in a compost-perlite mix? How long would I be able to safely wait before planting them? If I put them in the ground, how much spacing is needed?

[harveyc]

Just recieved a bunch of DF cuttings from Richard (Thank you!) Does anyone know if they would do well if planted in a compost-perlite mix? How long would I be able to safely wait before planting them? If I put them in the ground, how much spacing is needed?

Your mix is fine. Don't plant them more than a couple of inches and support them with a stake. Don't plant them in a pot larger than 1 gallon, 4" pot is even better (that's what Ramiro Lobo and his crew use at the South Coast Research Station). Wait until you start seeing a fair amount of growth which can be in 1-3 months (depending on the cutting and conditions) and then transplant them. Gray Martin, a commercial grower who has planted hundreds (or thousands) of plants uses 1 gallon pots but cuts out the bottoms and plants those pots directly rather than disturb the roots. Good luck!

[sunfish]

At the Zoo

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=11332 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=11332&perpage=12&ppuser=2868)

[harveyc]

From my good friend, an email notice today:

Dear Pitahaya/Dragon Fruit Lovers,

I know you are looking forward to our next Dragon /Pitahaya Fruit Festival. This year the Festival will be organized by UC SouthCoast Extension under the direction of Ramiro Lobo. The location is at the South Coast Field Station -7601 Irvine Boulevard

Irvine, CA 92618

The dates for this great festival are: Friday August 24th, Saturday, August 25th and Sunday the 26th.

Friday there will be lectures geared mostly to the serious growers and enthusiasts. Saturday will be more for the public in general (as always) with lectures, field trips and fruit tastings. Sunday there will be tours of the ranches of growers willing to open their doors to us.

As usual there will be charge to the attendants for this program. Remember these charges are to cover the cost and help to maintain the pitahaya/dragon fruit collection.

This is just a brief explanation of what is to come so that you may set aside these dates. We don’t want anyone to miss this wonderful event.

The program and more information will be posted by Ramiro Lobo in the future. If you would like to open your garden for tours or have any information to share get in touch with Ramiro- [edit out email address to help avoid bots from spamming him]

Thanks so much,

Edgar Valdivia

[Dalmatiansoap]

I lost all but one cutting due fungal infection :( Still have some from seeds but they are pretty slow.

[harveyc]

I lost all but one cutting due fungal infection :( Still have some from seeds but they are pretty slow.

While I don't believe there is any treatment available with a registered product in the USA. some copper sprays can be helpful in preventing such problems.

[Dean W.]

I lost all but one cutting due fungal infection :( Still have some from seeds but they are pretty slow.
I had the same thing happen last season.
While I don't believe there is any treatment available with a registered product in the USA. some copper sprays can be helpful in preventing such problems.
Really? Looks like I'm starting to get some again this year.

[Dean W.]

This is what I'm dealing with. Some survive others do not.
http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee185/Dean_Wil/SDC11012.jpg
http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee185/Dean_Wil/SDC11013.jpg
http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee185/Dean_Wil/SDC11014.jpg
http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee185/Dean_Wil/SDC11016.jpg

[2woodensticks]

not rare..by any sence of the word...i have seen farms in costa rica and nicaragua...they train them up at first..then they hang like vines...i have cereus costa rica myself....also a type of night blooming cactus....i belive all are cereus speices

[Dean W.]

not rare..by any sence of the word...i have seen farms in costa rica and nicaragua...they train them up at first..then they hang like vines...i have cereus costa rica myself....also a type of night blooming cactus....i belive all are cereus speices

You're right I have some night blooming Cerus as well.:bananas_b

[caliboy1994]

Got my cuttings potted today :08:

[Richard]

This is what I'm dealing with. Some survive others do not.

"Skeletonization" of lower pods is normal.

[Richard]

not rare..by any sence of the word...i have seen farms in costa rica and nicaragua...they train them up at first..then they hang like vines...i have cereus costa rica myself....also a type of night blooming cactus....i belive all are cereus speices

The floral species are in genus Cereus, while the "Dragon Fruit" species are in genus Hylocereus.

[Dean W.]

"Skeletonization" of lower pods is normal.

Really? Thanks Richard! How about when it happens towards the top of the plant? Just cut the infected areas off?

[Neone]

Hi everyone! I just went thru all the pages in this thread and i felt compelled to chime in. Ive been growing cactus plants for about 6 months. Initially i just wanted to grow nopales/cactus pears but i ended up ADD'ing with dragon fruits.
I purchased a yellow dragon plant from Pineisland for 35 bucks but was told it would take at least a year to grow some fruit. Later that week i called a local nursery and the person in charge told me they had 1 year old dragon fruit plants for 15 dollars so i purchased another "yellow dragon" and a "large Vietnamese white" plant. The plants i purchased needed some "training" the Vietnamese white is so huge it broke the trellis and started to drag on the ground. The yellow dragon was a little easier to train. Soil wise im using perlite, sand, organic compost, cow manure and some mulch. I have two of my yellow plants setup Vietnamese style in 28 gallon container (i think) with a untreated fence post wrapped in burlap. I had some sort of fungus infection on my yellow dragon that was giving the vines some rust colored dots i treated it with coppercide hoping it might help, let see. I have cuttings im willing to trade i would also appreciate some advice on getting my dragons on tip top shape and ready to bloom. Here you have my efforts at planting dragon fruit here in sunny south Florida.

Yellow Dragon fruit tree
http://i46.tinypic.com/2vd38jn.jpg

My guard dogs making sure nothing disturbs the lady of the night.
http://i49.tinypic.com/2nls6r9.jpg

The yellow DF i purchased for 35 dollars at pine island. :/
http://i45.tinypic.com/35k05kz.jpg

Here are the other two DF i purchased.
http://i47.tinypic.com/2ptdipz.jpg

[oakshadows]

These are new to us and we only have a few cuttings in pots. From what I've read your trelles might be a bit slight for these vines. Ours will be located next to a pair of 8" caliper pine trees so they may not need anything else to cling and climb on. Hoping to stop them at 6 to 8 foot of height with a cross brace. Good luck and thanks.

[caliboy1994]

Right now I have one 'American Beauty' and a Hylocereus Ocamponis rooting in pots. The rest are curing.

[Westwood]

My red Dragons are in bloom Yippy . Anyone have others to trade mine are all Potted and rooted Nicely in 2 g pots

[caliboy1994]

I've been having trouble getting my cuttings to root. I have one American Beauty and one H. ocamponis that are both putting out roots, but the others are showing no signs of it. The rest haven't put out any roots yet. The two Paul Thompsons are starting to become shriveled up. I do have some rooting hormone. Any tips?

[harveyc]

I've been having trouble getting my cuttings to root. I have one American Beauty and one H. ocamponis that are both putting out roots, but the others are showing no signs of it. The rest haven't put out any roots yet. The two Paul Thompsons are starting to become shriveled up. I do have some rooting hormone. Any tips?

Rooting hormone isn't believed to help, mostly because the core from which the roots form don't get reached by the hormone since it's surrounded by the flesh material. I sometimes have problems like that if the cuttings are a bit immature but I think every cutting I've tried to root has been successful (maybe 75 cuttings +/-). It's best not to water them very much and to avoid direct sunlight until they are growing. A warm humid greenhouse is helpful. Good luck!

[caliboy1994]

I'll place them into shade then. Right now they receive partial sun for most of the day and full sun for maybe 2 hours.

[caliboy1994]

8 out of 9 of them are rooting now! :D

[harveyc]

Okay, where will you be planting these pitaya? Have you thought up a trellis system yet? All of them will yield more fruit in full sun but some such as the guatemalanesis can sunburn fairly easily and are best under some light (15%) shade cloth or some other shading material (Surround and PurShade are two commercial calcium-based shading spray materials).

[caliboy1994]

I will probably be keeping four of them (Physical Graffiti, H. guatemalensis/American Beauty, H. megalanthus, and H. ocamponis). I might be able to train them to climb up an overhang in our backyard that gets full sun if my dad lets me. Also, would they be able to climb on a wall? Also, I could just as easily make a little trellis system.

[caliboy1994]

Two of my cuttings are already putting out new shoots: H. ocamponis and American Beauty.

American Beauty

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=49240&size=1

H. ocamponis

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=49239&size=1

To me the shoot coming off of the H. ocamponis cutting looks more like a flower bud forming.

[harveyc]

I would suggest not having them climb on the home's wall as they might damage it (forcing roots into cracks, etc.).

Is it right that you're only 79F now???

[caliboy1994]

It is, the weather has been mild lately. Just a few days ago it was over 90 degrees.

[harveyc]

We almost hit 100 today so I figured you'd be up there too

[caliboy1994]

California is weird :ha:

[harveyc]

By the way, there was a Federal rule published a couple of months ago that will be permitting pitaya from Central America to be imported into the USA. Some U.S. growers worry that this will result in lower prices. It will be interesting to see what the quality of imported fruit will be like.

[caliboy1994]

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=49239&size=1

So is this a flower bud coming off of it or what? :ha:

[Yug]

California is weird :ha:

Ain't that the truth!! (not just weather)

[oakshadows]

Our plants are growing slowly, those not being used for cuttings, and we hope to see a bloom sometime this fall. Wish us luck. Intend to leave in pots and protect this winter but will have many in the ground which will get protection also. There are times I wish we were growing rocks instead. Not as tasty but a whole lot less labor.

[harveyc]

So is this a flower bud coming off of it or what? :ha:

Yes, that's a flower bud. You might want to ask Richard if that species is self-fertile.

[caliboy1994]

Would I want to cut off the flower bud since it's on a cutting? I'm not sure if the cutting would be able to support a flower, and it's still in the process of rooting.

[sunfish]

Would I want to cut off the flower bud since it's on a cutting? I'm not sure if the cutting would be able to support a flower, and it's still in the process of rooting.

The bud won't hurt anything. If the plant can't support it the bud will drop

[SOCALROCKER]

Here are some new pic's from my Dragonfruit garden.

<a href="http://s633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/SOCALROCKER64/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_2315.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/SOCALROCKER64/IMG_2315.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/SOCALROCKER64/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_2313.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/SOCALROCKER64/IMG_2313.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/SOCALROCKER64/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_2317.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/SOCALROCKER64/IMG_2317.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/SOCALROCKER64/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_2311.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/SOCALROCKER64/IMG_2311.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[momoese]

Looking good Mitch!

Give me a ring one of these days :)

[SOCALROCKER]

Thank's Mitchel,

These are all cuttings I had recieved from Edgar V.

This is what I had started growing first.

<a href="http://s633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/SOCALROCKER64/?action=view&amp;current=DRAGONFRUIT01.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/SOCALROCKER64/DRAGONFRUIT01.jpg" border="0" alt="Dragonfruit mix"></a>


Now

<a href="http://s633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/SOCALROCKER64/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_2313.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/SOCALROCKER64/IMG_2313.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[Neone]

Socalrocker What kinds of dragon fruit are you growing?

[SOCALROCKER]

Socalrocker What kinds of dragon fruit are you growing?

I am growing 4 types. Yellow,Red,Pink,and White.

[Neone]

No sepcific names?

[SOCALROCKER]

No sepcific names?

Hylocereus undatus

Hylocereus costaricensis

Hylocereus megalanthus

[SOCALROCKER]

Socalrocker What kinds of dragon fruit are you growing?

I call it a mix buffet of dragonfruit growing all together.:08:

[Neone]

Hylocereus costaricensis im guessing is red? can you hook a brother up with a some cuttings of the Hylocereus undatus and costaricensis?

[SOCALROCKER]

Hylocereus costaricensis im guessing is red? can you hook a brother up with a some cuttings of the Hylocereus undatus and costaricensis?

Sorry not right now.I am still waiting for more vegetation from all my plants still.My plants are still really young.I can't wait till they have all yielded maximum growth to start pushing out more flowers so they can fruit.I only had one white flesh fruit last year.I hope that this season I see more than 1 tasty delicious dragonfruit.

[Neone]

No problem I understand thanks any way, Here is an update on my dragons:

Natural Mystic.
http://i50.tinypic.com/20kaj35.jpg

New growth.
http://i45.tinypic.com/2chnu2q.jpg

Physical Graffitti.
http://i47.tinypic.com/3509aps.jpg

American Beauty.
http://i46.tinypic.com/2iazaxg.jpg

Yellow Dragon.
http://i46.tinypic.com/2v8mjyu.jpg
New growth.
http://i48.tinypic.com/jt9tly.jpg
Fruit.
http://i50.tinypic.com/208xyit.jpg
Vietnamese jaina.
http://i45.tinypic.com/rsg8l3.jpg
New growth.
http://i45.tinypic.com/2hguzw1.jpg
Haleys comet.
http://i47.tinypic.com/2zxqxhx.jpg
http://i47.tinypic.com/bjajpw.jpg
Healthy Haleys comet Cuttings.
http://i46.tinypic.com/azcpvt.jpg
http://i50.tinypic.com/k9jr0i.jpg
Seedlings in mini green house
http://i48.tinypic.com/2a5aqgy.jpg
Can some one help me identify these cuttings?
http://i45.tinypic.com/5v85k2.jpg
http://i48.tinypic.com/29w8ftf.jpg
Wifeys pet cacti's
http://i46.tinypic.com/s6pw5k.jpg
I'm looking to expand my collection if anyone wants to trade cuttings LMK.

[caliboy1994]

All of mine have rooted so far except for my yellow dragon fruit. I hope that one survives because it's one of the cuttings I want to keep!

[caliboy1994]

Amazing growth on American Beauty cutting

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=49477&size=1

[Neone]

I managed to collect 5 more types of dragon fruits today
The ones i'm sure about are Cosmic Charlie, Zamorano, Vodoo Child and Darkstar.
The dude I got them from originally purchased them from pine island and has a pretty nice setup. He called one of the cuttings Tropical beauty and the other one simply white flesh, i'm not sure about these so ill just have to call him back to confirm. Anyhow here are some pics.
http://i47.tinypic.com/vaqnn.jpg

[Yug]

These little bumps were on my neighbor's red dragon fruit plants. I don't know if they will be branches or blooms. They seem to attract ants, too.

<a href=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=49481><img src=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=49481&size=1 border=0></a>

<a href=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=49483><img src=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=49483&size=1 border=0></a>

[SOCALROCKER]

I managed to collect 5 more types of dragon fruits today
The ones i'm sure about are Cosmic Charlie, Zamorano, Vodoo Child and Darkstar.
The dude I got them from originally purchased them from pine island and has a pretty nice setup. He called one of the cuttings Tropical beauty and the other one simply white flesh, i'm not sure about these so ill just have to call him back to confirm. Anyhow here are some pics.
http://i47.tinypic.com/vaqnn.jpg

Nice cutting's Good luck with them. :08:

[SOCALROCKER]

These little bumps were on my neighbor's red dragon fruit plants. I don't know if they will be branches or blooms. They seem to attract ants, too.

<a href=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=49481><img src=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=49481&size=1 border=0></a>

<a href=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=49483><img src=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=49483&size=1 border=0></a>

Those little bumps are blooms and hopefully fruit. I wonder if that type of DF is self fertile or cross polinate.I wish your neighbor the best.If you by chance get to eat one let us know how it was.:0517:

[SOCALROCKER]

This was taken from one of my neighbors yard.Nice DF Tree.

<a href="http://s633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/SOCALROCKER64/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_2324.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/SOCALROCKER64/IMG_2324.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/SOCALROCKER64/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_2323.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/SOCALROCKER64/IMG_2323.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/SOCALROCKER64/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_2321.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/SOCALROCKER64/IMG_2321.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[musaboru]

Hey guys, I found Halley's Comet at HD for only $4. The tag says its like $6.98 though which I feel that is cheap enough already lol. I haven't checked in a long time but I came across this thread trying to look for more info on this variety. Can I plant this in full sun here in the the inland valleys? Also wanted to know just how good and sweet is this particular variety. I hope this will be a huge improvement from the white-flesh varieties found at the Asian supermarkets here...

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=49516&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=49516&ppuser=5129)

[harveyc]

musaboru, Halley's Comet should do fine in full sun. It's grown in full sun at the research station in Irvine. It might get some sunburn but you can also always using a calcium based product to spray on the plant to reduce sunburn. It was my favorite tasting variety at the 2011 Pitahaya Festival but I don't know how fresh the fruit at the event was or if they were all mature.

[musaboru]

Thanks very much for the info Harvey. Glad you told me about the spray, I could use this for many other plants too that according to the tag "can take full sun". The sun here is just too harsh especially with the low humidity...

[harveyc]

I'm not sure if you have a local source for commercial products such as Surround or PurShade, but I think you can probably make a suitable homemade spray from using gypsum and adding enough water to make a spray with viscosity similar to paint diluted with 50% water.

[SOCALROCKER]

Here are some new pic's from my Dragonfruit garden.

<a href="http://s633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/SOCALROCKER64/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_2315.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/SOCALROCKER64/IMG_2315.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/SOCALROCKER64/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_2313.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/SOCALROCKER64/IMG_2313.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/SOCALROCKER64/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_2317.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/SOCALROCKER64/IMG_2317.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/SOCALROCKER64/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_2311.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/SOCALROCKER64/IMG_2311.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

I just found 8 more flower buds this morning that have just popped out.:woohoonaner:

:08:

[venturabananas]

I'm not sure if you have a local source for commercial products such as Surround or PurShade, but I think you can probably make a suitable homemade spray from using gypsum and adding enough water to make a spray with viscosity similar to paint diluted with 50% water.

You could have Surround shipped, but I don't know if it would be worth it when you factor in the cost of shipping:

Surround® WP (OG) - 25 Lb. - Johnny's Selected Seeds (http://www.johnnyseeds.com/p-7275-surround-wp-og-25-lb-.aspx)

[SOCALROCKER]

Here are 2 new pics from my DF garden.Progress is happiness.:08:

http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/SOCALROCKER64/IMG_2330.jpg

http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/SOCALROCKER64/IMG_2331.jpg


Well I have some bad news guy's.The new DF flower you see in this pic has died.If you can see in the pic it was starting to turn yellow.As it continued to grow it was turning more yellow and fell off the branch.Can anyone tell me why this may have happened.To much water or fertilizer or ?

[SOCALROCKER]

Here are 2 new pics from my DF garden.Progress is happiness.:08:

http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/SOCALROCKER64/IMG_2330.jpg

http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/SOCALROCKER64/IMG_2331.jpg


The Flower looked like this 2 days ago below.How quick it has grown from the pic above.
http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/SOCALROCKER64/IMG_2317.jpg

[2woodensticks]

how long do they take to bloom??does it depend on type

[venturabananas]

Mitch, are your DF plants all in full sun? I wish mine were growing as well as yours, but I'm starting to think they just aren't getting enough sun. No flowers here! (Except bananas!)

[SOCALROCKER]

Mitch, are your DF plants all in full sun? I wish mine were growing as well as yours, but I'm starting to think they just aren't getting enough sun. No flowers here! (Except bananas!)
My backyard is always in the sun.I have no shade at all so all my plants are in full sun everyday.Hope you get some flowers soon.

[sunfish]

Mitch, are your DF plants all in full sun? I wish mine were growing as well as yours, but I'm starting to think they just aren't getting enough sun. No flowers here! (Except bananas!)

Still early for flowers in some areas.

[SOCALROCKER]

My new DF flower has DIED... :(

[harveyc]

Mitch, have you been hand-pollinating your flowers? Most are not self-fertile, meaning you need to pollinate them with the flower of another variety. It's best to collect pollen whenever you have it and store it in the refrigerator until you have another flower that opens though it reportedly remains viable for less than a week. At the large planting in Irvine they don't do any hand pollinating and get good crops on all but one variety (due to timing of flower opening) because they have so many different varieties and either honey bees or nighttime moths take care of the pollinating. I saw a hawk moth visit a flower on one of my pitaya last year.

[SOCALROCKER]

Mitch, have you been hand-pollinating your flowers? Most are not self-fertile, meaning you need to pollinate them with the flower of another variety. It's best to collect pollen whenever you have it and store it in the refrigerator until you have another flower that opens though it reportedly remains viable for less than a week. At the large planting in Irvine they don't do any hand pollinating and get good crops on all but one variety (due to timing of flower opening) because they have so many different varieties and either honey bees or nighttime moths take care of the pollinating. I saw a hawk moth visit a flower on one of my pitaya last year.

Harvey, How ya doing?
These were many different cuttings I got from Edgar Valdivia who lives about 5 minutes from my home. He gave me so many cutting's from all his many types of Dragonfruit to get me started.I started this DF garden in July of 2010.This is the first time my plants have flowered,and I do know how the to do hand-pollinating thanks to Edgar we did it a few nights last year in his backyard.Also I know to pollinate them with the flower of another variety.I do have pollen from a flower of another variety so when I need to cross polinate I will be ready.I do have bees in my yard from all my flowers and plants in the yard. Thanks for the help.Hope your DF is growing great...

[harveyc]

Doing, good, Mitch, thanks! Edgar is a good friend and he sure is generous. He provided me with many cuttings three years ago as well and I've stayed at his home a couple of times and did pollinating at night with him. Edgar mixes all of his pollens together but I don't know how many of them actually have viable pollen and it might be the pollen from the Giant Vietnamese variety that sets most of his fruit. However, even last year when I only had one flower bloom within a 2 week period I used Physical Graffiti pollen to pollinate the very same flower and it set fruit. At least one commercial grower was very skeptical of my claim and said pollen might have come from another flower somewhere but that just isn't the case (I'm pretty sure I'm the only one with pitaya within 20 miles of here since I'm more adventuresome than most). Your plants look good and should be adequate to sustain the fruit but sometimes a smaller plant will also flower but drop its flower (that happened with my pitayo dulce last year which I also got from Edgar, but it has buds forming now and I'm hoping for success this year).

As far as my pitaya, they look very bad due to our very cold winter. Many died and most others were damaged but I had cuttings rooting in my greenhouse and I am replanting and will provide overhead protection next winter. One right next to my house in a semi-protected area behind my entryway deck and garage was unharmed even though it is the sensitive H. guatemalanesus species. It might flower later this year but is still a bit small.

Good luck!

[SOCALROCKER]

This was my first time that my DF have flowered,and I'm really happy because the waiting time can be to much stress for a grower.I had a total of eight flowers this month pop up and 5 have survived.I hope that next year I get more flowers so I can enjoy the delicious fruit.My winters here get to freezing temps and I had a few plants get really soggy branches due to frost.They have all come back to life.It was very hot and humid here for a few weeks and my DF have started to have new branch growth appear on most all my DF.I have been feeding my plants Gardeners composted chicken manure,and Lily Millers "Ultra Green" 10-10-10.So far what ever I am doing so far is working.I have had so much new branch growth since changing my feeding.My only question is I have all my DF growing in these 25 gallon pot's and since they are black do you think I should put some shade on them so they dont get to hot in the summer.Will the heat on the plastic cause any growing problems or slow down fruiting production? So far since planting them in my soil mix, the 25 gallon pots and feeding they have all grown very well.:08: I am now waiting for new buds to pop up since the summer is not over yet! The flower that died on the branch never even got to open which upset me very much. I hope for a few more buds to grow.

[harveyc]

If you have one plant planted in each 25 gallon pot, I would not worry about the pots getting too hot. If you have multiple plants, thereby some closer to the edge of the pot, you might want to whitewash them (I sprayed the Surround product I mentioned earlier on some of my potted citrus) but the darker color can be beneficial in cooler seasons. Hanging white fabric around the sunny side of the pots can also be effective. Roots of pitaya don't get very large so a plant in the center of the pot should be fine.

[Dangermouse01]

I've got my first ever flower bud on one of the dragon fruit plants that I planted in the ground earlier this year. Is there some approx time line to tell when a bud might bloom from the time it is noticeable? It is on my Purple Haze and is probably just about two weeks (maybe a little over two weeks, but not by much) in the photo. Or is it "it will open when it's ready" thing?
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n200/dangermouse2006/flowers%20and%20plants/Dragon%20Fruit/PurpleHaze1.jpg

Thanks.
DM

[harveyc]

It's pretty difficult to predict since it's mostly a factor of the vigor of your plant and weather, etc. In the morning of or on the day before it opens you will begin to see some white of the flower. It will be much larger and longer than it is now.

[Dangermouse01]

It's pretty difficult to predict since it's mostly a factor of the vigor of your plant and weather, etc. In the morning of or on the day before it opens you will begin to see some white of the flower. It will be much larger and longer than it is now.

Thanks Harvey; I knew that the bud would get much larger in size before it will bloom, but looking for the white is a good clue. First DF bloom and would really like to see it when it's open.
Judging by how fast the bud grew over the last week, seems that they have the same growth habit as some of the branches.

DM

[Dangermouse01]

Here it is a week later, 4.25 inches long, growing over .25 inches a day.
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n200/dangermouse2006/flowers%20and%20plants/Dragon%20Fruit/PurpleHaze2.jpg

DM

[SOCALROCKER]

Here are some new pictures from my Dragonfruit that have flowered.They are Hylocereus Undatus. :0517:

http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/SOCALROCKER64/HylocereusUndatus08.jpg
http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/SOCALROCKER64/HylocereusUndatus07.jpg
http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/SOCALROCKER64/HylocereusUndatus06.jpg
http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/SOCALROCKER64/HylocereusUndatus05.jpg
http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/SOCALROCKER64/HylocereusUndatus04.jpg
http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/SOCALROCKER64/HylocereusUndatus03.jpg
http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/SOCALROCKER64/HylocereusUndatus02.jpg

:08:

[harveyc]

The details of annual pitahaya/dragon fruit festival held in Irvine was announced last week. I haven't decided yet if I will make the trip again due to the distance involved and my tight schedule, but I highly recommend it. http://cesandiego.ucdavis.edu/files/149685.pdf

[sunfish]

2012 Pitahaya/Dragon Fruit Festival - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuoXmGaVaeI)

[harveyc]

I couldn't go to the festival due to farm chore scheduling but a friend did pick up a cutting of a variety I wanted. :)

[SOCALROCKER]

2012 Pitahaya/Dragon Fruit Festival - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuoXmGaVaeI)

I hear Edgar narrating on the video.

[harveyc]

Another video:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Hjrq_vvO62M" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[caliboy1994]

'American Beauty,' 'Physical Graffiti,' 'Paul Thompson,' and Hylocereus ocamponis repotted and ready to grow! :D

http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t464/musamaniac/Dragon%20fruit/a5452eae.jpg

[harveyc]

Looking good Andreas. I see a little problem, though.... there is no "p" in Paul's surname. :) It's a common mistake and I even made it once!

Pine Island has Nursery it messed up also. Besides renaming many of Paul's creations they renamed the man as well! ;)

[sandy0225]

What's the craziest place you've ever heard of someone growing dragon fruit? Maybe Indiana? mine is getting ready to bloom. It's crawling up the side of the greenhouse wall, I'll have to move it or it will get too cold there this winter. I'll post a picture later. Also, I only have one flower on one variety. It does have a distinctive looking bud I think. Maybe someone can id this? I guess my chances of getting fruit are somewhere between slim and none, right?

I also had only seen them on big stakes, I didn't know they climb on their own naturally.


http://inlinethumb31.webshots.com/51742/2110487020058549380S600x600Q85.jpg (http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2110487020058549380ePnFVM)

http://inlinethumb30.webshots.com/51293/2572058930058549380S600x600Q85.jpg (http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2572058930058549380PqLluc)

[sunfish]

What's the craziest place you've ever heard of someone growing dragon fruit? Maybe Indiana? mine is getting ready to bloom. It's crawling up the side of the greenhouse wall, I'll have to move it or it will get too cold there this winter. I'll post a picture later. Also, I only have one flower on one variety. It does have a distinctive looking bud I think. Maybe someone can id this? I guess my chances of getting fruit are somewhere between slim and none, right?

I also had only seen them on big stakes, I didn't know they climb on their own naturally.


http://inlinethumb31.webshots.com/51742/2110487020058549380S600x600Q85.jpg (http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2110487020058549380ePnFVM)

http://inlinethumb30.webshots.com/51293/2572058930058549380S600x600Q85.jpg (http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2572058930058549380PqLluc)

Looks like the yellow DF.

[caliboy1994]

I have a few questions about caring for dragon fruit plants:

What is the typical part of the year (as in from what month to what month) that dragon fruit actively grow in Southern California (I'm San Fernando Valley area)?

What would be a good fertilizing regime for me to use with dragon fruit plants? I have Banana Fuel 20-5-30 and Gro More 20-20-20. My plants are still young, but are growing.

If (God forbid) I get a frost this winter and my plants are damaged by the frost, what do I do? Cut off all the dead parts?

Should I keep the soil moist during the off season, or let it dry out?

[Worm_Farmer]

Look whats in my area! This lady told me that 1 fruit will usually cure her cold, or fever. IDK about that but im going on Tuesday!

Dragonfruit (http://spacecoast.craigslist.org/grd/3255788790.html)

[Dangermouse01]

Look whats in my area! This lady told me that 1 fruit will usually cure her cold, or fever. IDK about that but im going on Tuesday!

Dragonfruit (http://spacecoast.craigslist.org/grd/3255788790.html)

So did you make it out there?
I saw the article in the paper about her place, but hadn't had a chance to go by.

DM

[Worm_Farmer]

So did you make it out there?
I saw the article in the paper about her place, but hadn't had a chance to go by.

DM

I was about to go out there when she called me and said that bird have attached her crop and she lost to many. This Saturday should be good again for her fruits. I will not be able to make it out there now because work has started to pick up. I would still like to get some fruits from her. I should ask her if she is selling cuttings, as I have a palce to grow them now I am seeking dragon fruit cuttings. :)

[Dangermouse01]

I was about to go out there when she called me and said that bird have attached her crop and she lost to many. This Saturday should be good again for her fruits. I will not be able to make it out there now because work has started to pick up. I would still like to get some fruits from her. I should ask her if she is selling cuttings, as I have a palce to grow them now I am seeking dragon fruit cuttings. :)

Worm_Farmer check your PM's.

DM

[caliboy1994]

My plants as of 10/20/2012

Potted up and growing ones ('American Beauty,' 'Physical Graffiti,' 'Paul Thomson,' Hylocereus ocamponis):

http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t464/musamaniac/Dragon%20fruit/2012-10-20102810_zpsc121a1cc.jpg

Aerial roots on Paul Thomson:

http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t464/musamaniac/Dragon%20fruit/2012-10-20102906_zpsbf2685c2.jpg

Yellow dragon fruit finally rooting and getting started:

http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t464/musamaniac/Dragon%20fruit/2012-10-20102944_zps6156f1f2.jpg

[sunfish]

<a href="http://s950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/?action=view&amp;current=006Stitch.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/006Stitch.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[harveyc]

Congrats. Do you know what kind this is? Is this a current photo?

[sunfish]

Congrats. Do you know what kind this is? Is this a current photo?

Not current.I don't even have this plant anymore,:). :08:

[sunfish]

<a href="http://s950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/?action=view&amp;current=001-46.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/001-46.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[harveyc]

bummer. silly guy!

[flaflowerfloozie]

Pine Island at least points out that some need a Pollenator. Mine came from a mail-order nursery that didn't. For yrs I thought it was my fault that it wouldn't produce. 'Course, it still doesn't since I can't afford to buy another plant but at least I know it's not my fault;>! Besides, the blossoms are pretty...
Cheers,
Pat

If you come to Titusville on any travels I'll make sure you get some of this...then you will have fruit!

[sunfish]

This is one of the best tasting there is.

<a href="http://s950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/?action=view&amp;current=001-47.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/001-47.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[harveyc]

Self-proclaimed expert, eh? ;) Tony, how many varieties have you tasted?

[sunfish]

Self-proclaimed expert, eh? ;) Tony, how many varieties have you tasted?

Someone somewhere said this was the best:08:

[sunfish]

Dragon Fruit Tasting Yellow and Red Variety DaleysFruit.com.au - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IM0JZpH4rZE)

[sunfish]

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:ilFN4but_3UJ:crfgsandiego.org/Presentations/PITAYA%2520PRESENTATION.pdf+&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESgjmAQ68jEDJ1bfUTCy0riCvQexNisO0XRh9D55ZNghZkkEPl_tfv 7rbtAjFmfjO9IqNwXpEnw2nT3SZ1iZuRXlIoFR-j9cluF7KlXA3A8Ven4TgnO91V5wYCaR15NHaopJ8yfS&sig=AHIEtbRphExhjvtLvkTMSaUMbjfD9B5KFw

[harveyc]

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:ilFN4but_3UJ:crfgsandiego.org/Presentations/PITAYA%2520PRESENTATION.pdf+&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESgjmAQ68jEDJ1bfUTCy0riCvQexNisO0XRh9D55ZNghZkkEPl_tfv 7rbtAjFmfjO9IqNwXpEnw2nT3SZ1iZuRXlIoFR-j9cluF7KlXA3A8Ven4TgnO91V5wYCaR15NHaopJ8yfS&sig=AHIEtbRphExhjvtLvkTMSaUMbjfD9B5KFw

Wow, some nursery lifted some of Edgar's presentation materials. Who would have guessed. :/

I've had some fruits that tasted much better one season or from one location than from another. Seems there are many "best" varieties. I wish I could grow H. megalanthus to try here. Need a bigger greenhouse some day.

[caliboy1994]

I'm going to give H. Megalanthus a shot in inland Southern California. Let's see how it does. How will H. guatamalensis do up here in the bay area? I have an extra cutting of that one which I plan on bringing up.

[harveyc]

I'm growing several selections of H. guatemalanesus. Last winter was a cold one and many had serious damage but one planted in a corner exposed to the SE was completely undamaged. I think just a little bit of overhead protection would be best in most winters up here.

[sandy0225]

I'm thinking if I want to continue growing dragonfruit, i'd probably be better off with one of the self-fruitful types since I can only get my yellow one to bloom so far, and the red and purple or white haven't bloomed for me. I bet the chances of getting them all to bloom together and pollenate would be slim for me in Indiana. So I'm going to have lots of dragonfruit cuttings available for postage if anyone wants them....in a few weeks when I can get things under control around here again.

[harveyc]

Sandy, you can actually get things under control? Give me some tips! ;)

Thomson's 8-S (aka S8) is one that I recommend for marginal areas (even mine) as it is very self-fertile. While the fruits are small (under a half pound), they are very sweet and tasty, one of my favorites. My friends at Dragonfruit (http://www.devonsaustraliancattledogs.com/Dragonfruit) sell plants and cuttings. I need to get some more from them since my plant was damaged last winter.

[sandy0225]

Well, I just THINK I might get it under control....maybe it's just because I'm not so busy...I guess as long as you think it is, then as long as you don't know any better, you're ok. Then spring hits...you know I start planting in January and I just got done repotting today. So I guess I have pretty close to one month off since I'm not making Christmas wreaths this year. Fall and spring get closer together every year !

[Hammocked Banana]

Ooops accidental post. Mods please delete

[Hammocked Banana]

DF is one of my new favourite fruits. I've been eating a couple every week. However I only have access to the white fleshed variety. Lucky for me my girlfriend found a yellow df in London, ON (she goes to law school there) and I can't wait to eat it when I go down to visit tonight!!!

[caliboy1994]

I brought an 'American Beauty' plant up to Santa Clara to try out in the climate here.

[Abnshrek]

I brought an 'American Beauty' plant up to Santa Clara to try out in the climate here.

I think they grow really well, but don't like temps in the 40's.. :^)

[sunfish]

I think it is a type of cactus

[Abnshrek]

I think it is a type of cactus

I know it is less durable to cold than yellow DF.. Pricky pear is a cactus that eats cold up.. :^)

[sunfish]

Cold weather slows down the ripening of the fruit

[2woodensticks]

do any of you dragon fruiters ever grow H Costarinsis??sorry if i spelled that wrong..just trying to find out when mine might bloom??

[sunfish]

Mine fruited in 2 yrs. from cutting

[Abnshrek]

American Beauty liking the sun.. :^)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=53028&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=53028)

[flaflowerfloozie]

Mine has already started flowering this season and set 3 fruit so far.
Maybe I will have pics of the fruit this year to share ...I lost the last pics in the magic box melt down a while back

[sunfish]

Mine had fruit last year.:08:

[venturabananas]

Mine had fruit last year.:08:

Not mine. Mine are mad that they are in the shade, so they never make flowers just to spite me. :ha:

[harveyc]

I have one fairly large plant that I'm hoping to get flowers/fruit from this year. The others froze back too much

[sunfish]

No comment

[flaflowerfloozie]

Not mine. Mine are mad that they are in the shade, so they never make flowers just to spite me. :ha:

Get a solar powered yard lamp, I also had one that wouldn't bloom. I have one pointed at the one that is in shade and it blooms for me with the extra exposure, not allot but some. Just a thought for ya

[venturabananas]

Good idea. I could see that working. But in truth, I'm not committed enough to the plant to go the effort. It was a remnant planting from the previous owner of our house.

[sunfish]

I would plant it in the sun

[venturabananas]

I would plant it in the sun

I would, too, if I had a spot in the sun didn't already have something planted there!

[harveyc]

Let it go natural and climb up a tree and the branches that reach out to the outer edges of the tree will fruit :)

[sunfish]

I would, too, if I had a spot in the sun didn't already have something planted there!

Maybe you could plant some sunflowers near it :) :08:

[venturabananas]

Good one.

[flaflowerfloozie]

Good idea. I could see that working. But in truth, I'm not committed enough to the plant to go the effort. It was a remnant planting from the previous owner of our house.

Mine was an unknown named gift from a friend, I let her decide where to put it...it's never fruited.
So I am still stumped as to exactly what type it is...It's huge! One day I'll move cuttings, maybe that is.
For me it wasn't a commitment exactly we were putting out the yard lamps, I decided I didn't like them stuck in the ground and screwed them to the soffit so they were pointing down at the dark areas. Areas that were really dark at night so we don't trip over a ghost, and it just happened to be in the dragon fruit's line, I too am light restricted for full sun, so I know what you mean.
The next year low and behold it bloomed...so see no commitment it was just in the way.

[nostodm]

Very true. The names Pitahaya or Pitaya are used by different peoples to describe fruits of different, mostly central American cacti. Of these, 'Dragon Fruit' refers to the fruits of the Hylocereus and Selenicereus species, both of which are vining tropical cacti native to Central and equatorial South America.

I have some red dragonfruit seedlings started (under 1" but showing tophairs) as well as a purple and a red working on rooting ( 7" cuttings, now starting to show new growth) I have seed for yellow that I will try to start tomorrow) will this be enough plants that they will cross pollinate ? they are in my greenhouse and seem to like it so far. any suggestions. anyone local that wants a baby or two? I ended up with over a dozen red babies, I do not have room for that many adults :( .

[caliboy1994]

Finally managed to get my trellis up!

http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t464/musamaniac/Dragon%20fruit/20130709_190450_zpsed13d1b1.jpg

'Physical Graffiti'

http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t464/musamaniac/Dragon%20fruit/20130709_190455_zps5cfe3546.jpg

Hylocereus guatemalensis

http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t464/musamaniac/Dragon%20fruit/20130709_190507_zpsb139c802.jpg

Hylocereus ocamponis

http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t464/musamaniac/Dragon%20fruit/20130709_190514_zps89bfb39e.jpg

They're really starting to take off. I'm expecting fruit next year! :D

[flaflowerfloozie]

Lookin good! You'll have happy cactus that's for sure!!

[sunfish]

Dragon fruit is so last year,-rutabaga are in this year

[Hammocked Banana]

Well this is my first year for dragon fruit so Ill skip on the rutabaga for now. A big thank you to Mike (Dangermouse01) for sending me some cuttings. They just arrived today and here they are after planting. They are temporarily loosely tied to these 3 foot stakes until they root and show signs of new growth, and then I will transplant them into their bigger trellised pots. They are protected from afternoon sun for now in my planting zone, under the roof. Thanks again Mike, these cuttings are huge and arrived in perfect condition.

Physical Graffiti on the left, Purple Haze in the back, American Beauty on the right and Vietnamese Jaina in the front
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Dragon%20Fruit/20130710_133837_zpsf6135ea0.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Dragon%20Fruit/20130710_133837_zpsf6135ea0.jpg.html)

[Dangermouse01]

Had a couple of unknown varieties of DF in pots, needed to get them attaching themselves to something other than what they were attaching to. So I built a trellis set up towards the end of my driveway, one on each side.
Barely got the last one planted before the "rest of the day rain" started (yea for rain). Still have to trim the DFs, pull the rest of the grass, put down mulch, add some ground cover plants.

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n200/dangermouse2006/flowers%20and%20plants/Dragon%20Fruit/df2_07-13-13_zps8317bbd7.jpg

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n200/dangermouse2006/flowers%20and%20plants/Dragon%20Fruit/df1_07-13-13_zps18e02e36.jpg

DM

[Lanceg]

Hello everyone, I to have an ORCHID CACTUS EPIPHYLLUM Pitaya Dragon Fruit plant. I did not know anything about this and I went ahead and bought it. LOL So long story short it is here in my plant room in a pot growing everywhere. So I need to find out more about it. As soon as I figure out how to post pictures I will. I need to replant it though as I think it is root bound. Any help would be appreciated.:08:

[Dangermouse01]

My Dark Star is flowering up a storm. Had 5 flowers open last night, another 6-7 ready to open tonight.
Also ready to open tonight is 2-3 on both the Physical Graffiti and the Purple Haze.
Dark Star.
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n200/dangermouse2006/flowers%20and%20plants/Dragon%20Fruit/df2_07-16-13_zps2e5064ad.jpg

The solo fruit (so far) on the Purple Haze just started to change color today.
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n200/dangermouse2006/flowers%20and%20plants/Dragon%20Fruit/df1_07-16-13_zps47a698cf.jpg

DM

[nostodm]

My Dark Star is flowering up a storm. Had 5 flowers open last night, another 6-7 ready to open tonight.
Also ready to open tonight is 2-3 on both the Physical Graffiti and the Purple Haze.
Dark Star.
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n200/dangermouse2006/flowers%20and%20plants/Dragon%20Fruit/df2_07-16-13_zps2e5064ad.jpg

The solo fruit (so far) on the Purple Haze just started to change color today.
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n200/dangermouse2006/flowers%20and%20plants/Dragon%20Fruit/df1_07-16-13_zps47a698cf.jpg

DM

are any of these varieties self fruitful ?

[flaflowerfloozie]

are any of these varieties self fruitful ?

The solo may be but the rest are not self pollinating...doesn't matter, you have a bunch flowering at the same time from different varieties...pray for bats...LOL

I do...:08:

[Dangermouse01]

pray for bats...

...and carry a large watercolor paint brush.

This is my first year with copious flowering (all my DF were put in the ground Feb/Mar of 2012). I go out with the paint brush and try to hand pollinate what ever flowers are open. The Purple Haze fruit showing the color change was a flower that was open the same night as some Dark Star flowers, all those flowers have set fruit, so it could be a PH fruit pollinated with PH pollen or a mix of PH/DS pollen. I also try to collect pollen in a container that I keep in the refrigerator (same container for all the plants).
I have 6 different known varieties that are in various stages of flowering, by next year I should have 10 different known varieties flowering along with my unknowns.
So I cant say if I would get pollination naturally or not, maybe next year I will just let them be and see what happens.

DM

[Dangermouse01]

Dark Star (easy to tell which ones was on the sunny side of the plant).
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n200/dangermouse2006/flowers%20and%20plants/Dragon%20Fruit/DS_7-27-13_zps34e0ef7e.jpg

The tally from the blooms from a week or two ago (fruit set from flowers):
Dark Star, 20 of 21
Physical Graffiti, 3 of 3
Purple Haze 2 of 3
Vietnamese Jaina, 1 of 1

DM

[caliboy1994]

Any recommendations for how I should be fertilizing them?

[Hammocked Banana]

Yay roots!!!! Physical Graffiti at the end of July.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Dragon%20Fruit/20130804_164417_zps73ae52c1.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Dragon%20Fruit/20130804_164417_zps73ae52c1.jpg.html)

...And Growth! American Beauty.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Dragon%20Fruit/20130723_150108_zps7091394c.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Dragon%20Fruit/20130723_150108_zps7091394c.jpg.html)

I have some issues and questions though that I need some help with. My physical Graffiti has little shoots starting, they don`t look like the AB growth above, that are coming from the base of the vine. Do I want to remove these to promote the little shoot that is now starting near the top? Do I only want to train basically one singular continual "branch" to the top of the trellis and then let it branch out, or is it better to have two or three "branches" climb up to the top of the trellis? I basically want to do a smaller version of Dangermouse's trellises but in a pot, with either one or two varieties per pot. Here's the new growth on the PG:
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Dragon%20Fruit/20130812_114943_zps04a5747c.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Dragon%20Fruit/20130812_114943_zps04a5747c.jpg.html)

Also my Purple Haze has some wierd hard fungus spots on it that have not spread at all in a while. It is only on the small segment on the top so far and am not sure whether it is fine, or I should just remove the top segment before new growth starts and let it take over as central vine, or if I should leave it and spray it with copper?
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Dragon%20Fruit/20130722_191121_zps26ad7d0e.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Dragon%20Fruit/20130722_191121_zps26ad7d0e.jpg.html)

[Hammocked Banana]

Come on wheres the help from all the DF guys?!? What should I do with the piece that seems to have fungus growing on it? I would rather cut it sooner than later if I have to...here's an update from the weekend.

American Beauty
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Dragon%20Fruit/8d95d9ff-1205-4a79-83c1-d148306c88d1_zpsad6df088.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Dragon%20Fruit/8d95d9ff-1205-4a79-83c1-d148306c88d1_zpsad6df088.jpg.html)

Physical Graffiti...should I remove this from bottom and just allow one vertical vine or allow to branch now?
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Dragon%20Fruit/20e6294a-b439-4cb6-b00e-b464a20bce77_zps27f56eea.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Dragon%20Fruit/20e6294a-b439-4cb6-b00e-b464a20bce77_zps27f56eea.jpg.html)

[Dangermouse01]

Dark Star
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n200/dangermouse2006/flowers%20and%20plants/Dragon%20Fruit/DS_08-23-13_zpsedf2415c.jpg

DM

[Hammocked Banana]

Yummm. That looks amazing!

[Dangermouse01]

Also my Purple Haze has some wierd hard fungus spots on it that have not spread at all in a while. It is only on the small segment on the top so far and am not sure whether it is fine, or I should just remove the top segment before new growth starts and let it take over as central vine, or if I should leave it and spray it with copper?
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Dragon%20Fruit/20130722_191121_zps26ad7d0e.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Dragon%20Fruit/20130722_191121_zps26ad7d0e.jpg.html)
I had some of that show up on one of my newest received cuttings. I sprayed with Plant Doctor Organocide 3-in-1 garden spray.
Organic Laboratories, Inc. (http://www.organiclabs.com/Retail.html)
http://www.organiclabs.com/InfoSheets/3in1FAQ.pdf
(kinda smelly from the fish oil in it, but if your stuff is outside shouldn't matter). A few days after spraying with the 3-in-1 those spots dry up and you can kinda flick them off with a sharp knife (almost seems like that stuff is some kinda scale).
Any horticultural oil or oil/soap would probably work. Just don't spray in the heat of the day, I sprayed in the evening.

On your growth at the bottom, I would remove it, just because it is so close to the bottom (no hurry in doing it, not hurting anything).
How you let it branch out is up to you, I've seen the single stem up to the trellis, most of mine are a single stem until about 1/2 way up the pole, then they branch out to 2 (most of mine also have 2-3 plants at the bottom). Or just let it do it's own thing, my American Beauty is that way, 2 plants at the base, when it got to the top of the pole it was 9-10 branches.

DM

[Dangermouse01]

Top to bottom.
1st row: Vietnamese Jaina
2nd row: Purple Haze
3rd row: Physical Graffiti
4th row: Dark Star

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n200/dangermouse2006/flowers%20and%20plants/Dragon%20Fruit/DF_08-23-13_zpsc76dd37f.jpg

Thinking I may have gotten mis-marked cuttings, what was marked Purple Haze actually looks more like Halley's Comet to me. Will have to wait till my Halley's Comet fruits to see which it looks like. Tho the fruits we have been getting from what I have marked as Purple Haze are really good.

DM

[flaflowerfloozie]

Lucky lucky!! Everytime flowers are set to open we get a huge rain storm, so far not one fruit this year...Uggg

[Hammocked Banana]

Its getting cold here really quick unfortunately, so I've had most of the plants in a few nights that went down to 2-4C (35-40F google tells me), some minor frost. Took a pic of the DF this morn that are growing. Still no growth from the Vietnamese Jaina cutting but the American Beauty cutting has 17 inches of new growth and the growth on the physical graffiti is so fat and over 10 inches! Had to swap out the stakes for unbroken ones because they are growing so fast, hopefully they don't get too out of control over winter, they still have a couple more weeks to grow out side yet.

L to R: Physical Graffiti, Purple Haze and American Beauty.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Dragon%20Fruit/08c280ed-58ad-491d-b437-ff5a14df4032_zpse0097582.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Dragon%20Fruit/08c280ed-58ad-491d-b437-ff5a14df4032_zpse0097582.jpg.html)

[luisport]

Hi all!

[Hammocked Banana]

U got any dragon fruit down there in Portugal?

[luisport]

U got any dragon fruit down there in Portugal?

Hi my friend! I have the yellow pitaya and some cuttings of other var. on the way! I'm very exited to have some dragon var, they seam quite good!

[luisport]

My first dragon fruit (yellow Selenicereus megalanthus)! ;D
http://s23.postimg.org/oqq3fttiv/foto0292.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/oqq3fttiv/)

[luisport]

The Nicaraguan varieties are not H. guatemalanisis. They are all dark red-fleshed fruits with little sweetness and very thorn stems.

I wrote about the QOSF in the other dragon fruit thread about a year ago. Sven Merten (sp?) took several cuttings to Florida some years ago and he did some research as to the synonyms. Some are pretty obvious base don looking at Pine Island's pages. Physican Graffiti is 1-S, Cosmic Charlie is 2-S, Purple Haze = 5-S, Voodoo Child is 8-S (but not 100% certain on this one), Dark Star (aka Arizona Red) = 9-S, American Beauty = QOSF, Bloody Mary = Ben Poirier Polyrhizus.

You need one more undatus. Leo says 'Orton', named for the late Orton Englehart, inventor of the impact (Rainbird) sprinkler, is his favorite undatus. That's despite Leo's close friendship with Paul. I'm giving it a try.

Hi! Thank you by this post! Arizone red is the same that arizone purple?

[Richard]

My first dragon fruit (yellow Selenicereus megalanthus)! ;D
http://s23.postimg.org/oqq3fttiv/foto0292.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/oqq3fttiv/)

I hope it does better for you than it does here in southern CA. I'd rather eat the yellow fruits shipped in from Mexico than those grown in San Diego.

[luisport]

Purple Haze
http://s9.postimg.org/51tyk9twr/foto0324.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/51tyk9twr/)
Arizona Purple
http://s24.postimg.org/5x3vsxv75/foto0323.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/5x3vsxv75/)
American Beauty
http://s13.postimg.org/axkrqynmb/foto0322.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/axkrqynmb/)
Physical Graffiti
http://s17.postimg.org/dog273du3/foto0321.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/dog273du3/)

[Hammocked Banana]

That seems like an excellent collection u have started!

[amantedelenguaje]

Do certain characteristics indicate a certain variety of dragon fruit? For example, can the number of spines, depth of the wavy border, color of the stem, etc. indicate the variety or even the color of the fruit.

I purchased a moon cactus from Lowe's. The grafted moon cactus died long ago, but the dragon fruit root stock still thrives. I was kind of wondering what type of hylocereus it might be. Here is a picture of a cutting.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7PYntX1o-s4/UoEQc7DL8AI/AAAAAAAADVU/2YsEYC-4rLE/s1600/2013-11-11%2B12.02.49-766578.jpg

These are my dragon fruits: physical graffiti, delight, and 3 unknowns.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MtHIFXPvMj4/UoEQdineNXI/AAAAAAAADVg/3eEtYNOMabQ/s320/2013-11-11%2B12.09.24-769893.jpg

[luisport]

That seems like an excellent collection u have started!Thank you! Yes i'm very happy, just hope winter pass fast! :woohoonaner:

[Abnshrek]

I brought my American Beauty in before it gets cold.. :^)

http://i1362.photobucket.com/albums/r698/Bucko13f/AmericanBeauty111213_zps5bda6249.jpg (http://s1362.photobucket.com/user/Bucko13f/media/AmericanBeauty111213_zps5bda6249.jpg.html)

[venturabananas]

Do certain characteristics indicate a certain variety of dragon fruit? For example, can the number of spines, depth of the wavy border, color of the stem, etc. indicate the variety or even the color of the fruit.

I don't know much about dragon fruit, but I did attend an event put on by people who do know about them, including this gentleman:

Welcome to edvaldivia.com (http://www.edvaldivia.com)

I know the number and size of spines can tell you something about the variety, but that's about all I know. I'm sure you could learn a lot more from Ed Valdivia.

[Dangermouse01]

Vietnamese Jaina, 1.25 LBs, last one of the season (except for all the yellows)
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n200/dangermouse2006/flowers%20and%20plants/Dragon%20Fruit/VJ-3_13-11-12_zps741f90e8.jpg

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n200/dangermouse2006/flowers%20and%20plants/Dragon%20Fruit/VJ-1_13-11-12_zps1aa19e9a.jpg

DM

[Snookie]

I brought my American Beauty in before it gets cold.. :^)

http://i1362.photobucket.com/albums/r698/Bucko13f/AmericanBeauty111213_zps5bda6249.jpg (http://s1362.photobucket.com/user/Bucko13f/media/AmericanBeauty111213_zps5bda6249.jpg.html)

Cool Michael

It should do well in that PINK room also......Nice:}:08:

[Abnshrek]

Cool Michael

It should do well in that PINK room also......Nice:}:08:

Its not pink, its Tan but looks that way from the Banana Lighting.. :^)

[Snookie]

Its not pink, its Tan but looks that way from the Banana Lighting.. :^)

Oh yea Ok:}

[luisport]

Hi everyone! I just try for the first time a dragonfruit! I buy it as a red vietnamese pitaya (but was white inside). It was very expensive (21,99E/Kg) with a weight of 352g. I like it! Not a great flavour but very fresh and mildly sweet... Just hope to try the really red ones! ::)
http://s17.postimg.org/90uw1h9pn/foto0333.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/90uw1h9pn/)

http://s22.postimg.org/teuafuvjx/foto0334.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/teuafuvjx/)

[luisport]

After i heat my first dragonfruit i let the outer shell dry for one day and made an excelente tea! I love it, with a nice pink colour and a mild flavour of cactus that we can join other tea or spices... :P
http://s11.postimg.org/4u12yh20v/foto0335.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/4u12yh20v/)

http://s18.postimg.org/8v0j7v1z9/foto0336.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/8v0j7v1z9/)

[luisport]

My new cutts that a friend gently send me!!! ;D Neon
http://s18.postimg.org/h4z8k6xnp/foto0340.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/h4z8k6xnp/)
Frankies red
http://s21.postimg.org/gsou582qr/foto0341.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/gsou582qr/)
Halley's Comet
http://s27.postimg.org/47aan2otr/foto0337.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/47aan2otr/)
Zamorano
http://s16.postimg.org/xjxphiglt/foto0338.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/xjxphiglt/)
Phisical Graffiti
http://s22.postimg.org/t1cmaaa8t/foto0339.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/t1cmaaa8t/)
G1
http://s9.postimg.org/524nwfz8r/foto0342.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/524nwfz8r/)
Nicuragua
http://s30.postimg.org/ty9kibarx/foto0343.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/ty9kibarx/)

[Snookie]

Looking Good

I need to do dat myself with my Dragon Fruit

I moved in the big plants, left some in the ground and got cuttings curing:}

Thanks for reminding me:08:

[kubali]

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=55343&size=1http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=55345&size=1
my dragon fruit are getting to the top of the trellis.........

[luisport]

Just get a new one, a Bloody Mary dragon! I have 12 diferent var already!
http://s23.postimg.org/x1ae8nnc7/foto0351.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/x1ae8nnc7/)

[Hammocked Banana]

Its getting cold here really quick unfortunately, so I've had most of the plants in a few nights that went down to 2-4C (35-40F google tells me), some minor frost. Took a pic of the DF this morn that are growing. Still no growth from the Vietnamese Jaina cutting but the American Beauty cutting has 17 inches of new growth and the growth on the physical graffiti is so fat and over 10 inches! Had to swap out the stakes for unbroken ones because they are growing so fast, hopefully they don't get too out of control over winter, they still have a couple more weeks to grow out side yet.

L to R: Physical Graffiti, Purple Haze and American Beauty.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Dragon%20Fruit/08c280ed-58ad-491d-b437-ff5a14df4032_zpse0097582.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Dragon%20Fruit/08c280ed-58ad-491d-b437-ff5a14df4032_zpse0097582.jpg.html)

Plants are really wanting to get into their final big pots and trellis and outside in some stronger sun. Lots of skinny growth getting out of control. Do you guys that overwinter indoors cut this skinny growth off in spring or just let new fat growth come out from this skinnier growth? Does channeling all the nutrients through the skinny growth make the plant weaker/decrease yield?

Feb 4, 2014 - L to R: Purple Haze, Vietnamese Jiana, American Beauty, Physical Graffiti
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140204_174658_zpskz48s6pm.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140204_174658_zpskz48s6pm.jpg.html)

March 4, 2014 - First plant reached 6' tall (American Beauty)
L to R: Physical Graffiti, American Beauty, Purple Haze
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140304_194426_zpsu7sydy71.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140304_194426_zpsu7sydy71.jpg.html)

[I_GROWER]

This guy finally woke up

http://i.imgur.com/UOXXghP.jpg

Got a few more still dorment

[I_GROWER]

Ok so I ran into a wild dragon fruit patch growing on a few large mango trees

http://i.imgur.com/mwf2EDs.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/EFsBm6m.jpg

Some cuttings "fell into my truck bed"
http://i.imgur.com/eW8FIBk.jpg

I named her "American graffiti"
http://i.imgur.com/F8eutfO.jpg

[I_GROWER]

His first chest hairs
http://i.imgur.com/JOvFx8V.jpg

/Proud dad smile

[Hammocked Banana]

Haha looks like a silly little man!

[Hammocked Banana]

So I was going to build my DF trellises in their final resting pots today and ran into an issue. I am going to use two 6' cedar 2x4s nailed together to make the central post, with a top support made of 1x1s. I'm going to screw the post through the bottom of the pot with washers to hold it down, and screw 4 more pieces of 1x1 to each side of the post to brace it to the side of the pot. These pieces will be under the soil level and will not be seen, but will hold the post up plum. These might rot away eventually but after many years the roots in the pot should help hold up the post (or I will make a new trellis pot by then). I'm also probably going to either wrap the post in burlap or 1" rope to give the roots something to hold on to.

I am worried about the cedar post rotting in the soil if it stays moist. I initially went with cedar because I know it naturally resists rot and because it will look decent when in the house all winter. Should I be worried about it rotting? Can I treat it with something that is ok (non-toxic) to be in the soil? I would probably then also treat the 1x1s under the soil. Any other advice on my plans?

[Richard]

So I was going to build my DF trellises in their final resting pots today and ran into an issue. I am going to use two 6' cedar 2x4s nailed together to make the central post, with a top support made of 1x1s. I'm going to screw the post through the bottom of the pot with washers to hold it down, and screw 4 more pieces of 1x1 to each side of the post to brace it to the side of the pot. These pieces will be under the soil level and will not be seen, but will hold the post up plum. These might rot away eventually but after many years the roots in the pot should help hold up the post (or I will make a new trellis pot by then). I'm also probably going to either wrap the post in burlap or 1" rope to give the roots something to hold on to.

I am worried about the cedar post rotting in the soil if it stays moist. I initially went with cedar because I know it naturally resists rot and because it will look decent when in the house all winter. Should I be worried about it rotting? Can I treat it with something that is ok (non-toxic) to be in the soil? I would probably then also treat the 1x1s under the soil. Any other advice on my plans?

You can use a standard copper treatment and after it dries, place it in the ground.

I'm more concerned about your location. These plants will not tolerate a freeze -- in the air or in the ground.

[Hammocked Banana]

Yup thats why the trellises are in pots and not in the ground. I will be lugging them indoors in the winter much like Abnshrek. Is there any copper treatment that is "safe" for use in a pot like this? My research seems to point towards that there is not.

[Richard]

Yup thats why the trellises are in pots and not in the ground. I will be lugging them indoors in the winter much like Abnshrek. Is there any copper treatment that is "safe" for use in a pot like this? My research seems to point towards that there is not.

Don't anchor the trellis in the soil. Instead, affix it to the outside of the pot.

In fact, affix the pot and the trellis to a "garbage can" dolly to make the whole thing portable at a moments notice.

[Hammocked Banana]

Physical Graffiti and American Beauty on their new trellis.

http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140513_200825_zpsuvv1gu1d.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140513_200825_zpsuvv1gu1d.jpg.html)

[Dangermouse01]

And so it starts...
Dark Star has 18 flowers opening tonight.
About a week and a half ago, I started counting flower buds on the DS, gave up counting at 52.
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n200/dangermouse2006/flowers%20and%20plants/Dragon%20Fruit/DS_05-29-2014_zps261f41e5.jpg

Physical Graffiti has 12 flowers opening tonight.
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n200/dangermouse2006/flowers%20and%20plants/Dragon%20Fruit/PG_05-29-2014_zps09663c14.jpg

Purple Haze has 7 flowers opening tonight.
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n200/dangermouse2006/flowers%20and%20plants/Dragon%20Fruit/PH_05-29-2014_zpsf589fef2.jpg

DM

[Richard]

And so it starts...

Those photos of your trellises are great examples for every novice grower of dragon fruit. Just outstanding!

[Funkthulhu]

And so it starts...
Dark Star has 18 flowers opening tonight.
About a week and a half ago, I started counting flower buds on the DS, gave up counting at 52.
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n200/dangermouse2006/flowers%20and%20plants/Dragon%20Fruit/DS_05-29-2014_zps261f41e5.jpg

Physical Graffiti has 12 flowers opening tonight.
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n200/dangermouse2006/flowers%20and%20plants/Dragon%20Fruit/PG_05-29-2014_zps09663c14.jpg

Purple Haze has 7 flowers opening tonight.
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n200/dangermouse2006/flowers%20and%20plants/Dragon%20Fruit/PH_05-29-2014_zpsf589fef2.jpg

DM

Y'know, I bet if I made it look all snazzy like this with a good solid trellis, someone would let me have it in the house. (or at least the basement...)

[Dangermouse01]

Dark Star this morning.
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n200/dangermouse2006/flowers%20and%20plants/Dragon%20Fruit/DS_05-30-2014_zps9e43c44c.jpg

DM

[merce3]

very nice! what are the details in terms of the soil and fertilizer you use? i have a few varieties i need to repot/plant

[Hammocked Banana]

Stunning!

[Dangermouse01]

very nice! what are the details in terms of the soil and fertilizer you use? i have a few varieties i need to repot/plant

When I take them from the pot they were in for rooting, I just dig a hole larger than the pot, removed the pot, put the DF in the hole. Instead of back filling with the dirt I dug out, I mix up about 50/50 bagged top soil & mulch (usually pine bark), and back fill with that (that is what I use for rooting them also). Then mulch the area (not so heavy around the base of the the DF and the tellis) with stuff that will break down (leaves, grass clippings). Re-mulch about as needed, I mostly use chopped up banana trunks because I have them available and they break down good and fast. Once a year I top dress the area with compost & cow manure (Black Kow). When I fertilize I use Vigoro citrus & avacodo and sometimes spray with kelp, fish emulsion and Southern AG citrus nutritional spray (making sure to spray the burlap around the trellis post good with the mix).

DM

[Snookie]

Groovy....

I'm thinking about planting mine in the ground:}

How cold does it get in NE Florida?

I'm afraid I would loose them if it gets as cold as last year if I did:[