Dragon Fruit - Page 3

Richard · 10-10-2008, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClapOnKyle

I am trying to grow a plant from a cutting right now, and after a month or so it just seems to have sprouted roots at the tip. The cutting was a tip piece, but I still feel stumped, since some cuttings branch off, which I would much rather have preferred, but I cant find much information on this.

Expect adventurous air roots from just about anywhere on the plant. Cuttings prefer soil like your bananas have, or Citrus potting mix is also a good choice. It is not a desert cactus, so don't plant it in cactus mix. Instead, you are growing a vine that is native to Central America.

ClapOnKyle · 10-12-2008, 11:01 PM

Maybe I should transplant it into some better soil. I just have it in some Florida sand right now.

Patty in Wisc · 10-15-2008, 05:28 PM

I have Yellow & Vietnamese Jaina D.F. They got HUGE this year but no flowers yet. I will gladly give cuttings for P&H. Or, stop by for them...I live in Milwaukee on east side.

D_&_T · 10-19-2008, 12:02 PM

updated Photo

Patty in Wisc · 10-20-2008, 02:32 AM

Hard to make a trellis for DF & yet be able to cart it in & out. This one is over 6ft tall & very heavy. Yellow is growing up one side & red on the other. They are only supposed to flower on the part that hangs over the top, so maybe next year.
I should start thinking of getting this into a bigger pot - somehow. It's getting top heavy. I used pvc because it is lightweight & sturdy.
Taken today just before it went in S.Rm. for winter.
That's not-so-pretty pink & yellow caution tape I used when I wanted to hurry & tie up to post. It's sturdy but flexible. I don't know HOW I will get this into a bigger pot!!

taken April '07

An experimental hanger. Big one is Red - rooted this year from a 5 inch leg, & the small bushy one at top is yellow.

Richard · 10-20-2008, 11:18 AM

Patty, that pot is almost the right size. If it is plastic, an easy way to transplant is to place the whole thing, pot-and-all into a small half-barrel planter and then cut the plastic pot away.

Also, dragon fruit vines can be pinched back to force multiple stems at almost any height. Next spring, consider taking one or two of the pods from the top and replanting them into a system like this:

Patty in Wisc · 10-20-2008, 05:38 PM

Thanks Richard. That would be the ONLY way to transplant it - cut the old one away after setting it in new planter. Hard part will be lifting it into new pot! EEEEEK
Should I snip all the tips off at top to make more branching? Hopefully, that is where the new growth will be instead of the bottom.
I've had it 3 years now & if I don't get a flower next year, I'm going to chuck it.
BTW, the posts are wrapped w/ canvas only cuz I couldn't find burlap.

Richard · 10-20-2008, 06:59 PM

Patty,
In your environment the plant needs bloom formula from spring onwards to compensate for the winter sheltering.

If you are comfortable with the height of the plant, I wouldn't prune the growth on top, but let the pods droop down on the sides from their own weight.

My suggestion from the previous post was simply to start a new plant but train it to be shorter. Also, after your big plant has bloomed and produced fruit, you can safely "cut it down to size" -- resulting in something like 6 plants: two from the existing base, and 4 more from the existing upper structure.

In case you haven't seen this picture before -- here's what I hope your plant looks like next September!

Patty in Wisc · 10-20-2008, 07:17 PM

I'm smiling with wishful thinking

10-12-2008, 11:01 PM	#42 (permalink)
ClapOnKyle Forager Location: Lake Worth, FL Zone: 10a Name: Kyle Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 4 BananaBucks : 173 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Welcomes: 0	Re: Dragon Fruit Maybe I should transplant it into some better soil. I just have it in some Florida sand right now.

10-15-2008, 05:28 PM	#43 (permalink)
Patty in Wisc Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 109 BananaBucks : 1,157 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 10 Thanked 41 Times in 31 Posts Welcomes: 0	Re: Dragon Fruit I have Yellow & Vietnamese Jaina D.F. They got HUGE this year but no flowers yet. I will gladly give cuttings for P&H. Or, stop by for them...I live in Milwaukee on east side. __________________ Patty Z5

10-19-2008, 12:02 PM	#44 (permalink)
D_&_T 2nd winter growing indoor D_&_T's Photo Gallery Location: Northern Indiana Find me on the map! Zone: 5-6 Name: Dan and Tara Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 706 BananaBucks : 3,018 Feedback: 1 / 67% Thanks: 511 Thanked 106 Times in 94 Posts Welcomes: 180	Re: Dragon Fruit updated Photo __________________ Dan & Tara in need of greenhouse

10-20-2008, 02:32 AM	#45 (permalink)
Patty in Wisc Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 109 BananaBucks : 1,157 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 10 Thanked 41 Times in 31 Posts Welcomes: 0	Re: Dragon Fruit Hard to make a trellis for DF & yet be able to cart it in & out. This one is over 6ft tall & very heavy. Yellow is growing up one side & red on the other. They are only supposed to flower on the part that hangs over the top, so maybe next year. I should start thinking of getting this into a bigger pot - somehow. It's getting top heavy. I used pvc because it is lightweight & sturdy. Taken today just before it went in S.Rm. for winter. That's not-so-pretty pink & yellow caution tape I used when I wanted to hurry & tie up to post. It's sturdy but flexible. I don't know HOW I will get this into a bigger pot!! taken April '07 An experimental hanger. Big one is Red - rooted this year from a 5 inch leg, & the small bushy one at top is yellow. __________________ Patty Z5

10-20-2008, 11:18 AM	#46 (permalink)
Richard Hermitian Operator Richard's Photo Gallery Location: NW San Diego, CA Find me on the map! Zone: 9+ / 10- Name: Richard Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 2,419 BananaBucks : 759 Feedback: 4 / 100% Thanks: 361 Thanked 582 Times in 384 Posts Welcomes: 624	Re: Dragon Fruit Patty, that pot is almost the right size. If it is plastic, an easy way to transplant is to place the whole thing, pot-and-all into a small half-barrel planter and then cut the plastic pot away. Also, dragon fruit vines can be pinched back to force multiple stems at almost any height. Next spring, consider taking one or two of the pods from the top and replanting them into a system like this: __________________ . . . http://www.plantsthatproduce.com

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10-20-2008, 05:38 PM	#47 (permalink)
Patty in Wisc Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 109 BananaBucks : 1,157 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 10 Thanked 41 Times in 31 Posts Welcomes: 0	Re: Dragon Fruit Thanks Richard. That would be the ONLY way to transplant it - cut the old one away after setting it in new planter. Hard part will be lifting it into new pot! EEEEEK Should I snip all the tips off at top to make more branching? Hopefully, that is where the new growth will be instead of the bottom. I've had it 3 years now & if I don't get a flower next year, I'm going to chuck it. BTW, the posts are wrapped w/ canvas only cuz I couldn't find burlap. __________________ Patty Z5

10-20-2008, 06:59 PM	#48 (permalink)
Richard Hermitian Operator Richard's Photo Gallery Location: NW San Diego, CA Find me on the map! Zone: 9+ / 10- Name: Richard Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 2,419 BananaBucks : 759 Feedback: 4 / 100% Thanks: 361 Thanked 582 Times in 384 Posts Welcomes: 624	Re: Dragon Fruit Patty, In your environment the plant needs bloom formula from spring onwards to compensate for the winter sheltering. If you are comfortable with the height of the plant, I wouldn't prune the growth on top, but let the pods droop down on the sides from their own weight. My suggestion from the previous post was simply to start a new plant but train it to be shorter. Also, after your big plant has bloomed and produced fruit, you can safely "cut it down to size" -- resulting in something like 6 plants: two from the existing base, and 4 more from the existing upper structure. In case you haven't seen this picture before -- here's what I hope your plant looks like next September! __________________ . . . http://www.plantsthatproduce.com

10-20-2008, 07:17 PM	#49 (permalink)
Patty in Wisc Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 109 BananaBucks : 1,157 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 10 Thanked 41 Times in 31 Posts Welcomes: 0	Re: Dragon Fruit I'm smiling with wishful thinking __________________ Patty Z5

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