Re: Dragon Fruit
 

I Have this question that everyone probably is asking about fertilizing there Dragonfruit, Pitaya,Hylocereus undatus.What brands of food/fertlizer are you using,and what npk ratio is working for you.I have read that Tomato plant food or fruit fertilizer can help also.Whick type are you using for the vegative state or blooming stage to produce fruit to start flowering new growth.I have heard to feed them good amounts of potasium is this right and how much to start off from new cutting's after they are established.

Thank's :-) :bananas_b

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

I use water soluble 20-20-20. My plant is fairly young, so I have not seen any fruit yet.

I use the above mentioned fertilizer because that is what is used at the nursery where I purchased the plant. They sell the fruit from their plants/trees and all have been of good size and quality.

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

I went to the Asian Market to get a Dragon Fruit. Since I have five different kinds now I was curious to know what they tasted like. I was surprised at the size and weight of one fruit. The flavor of this one was mild and slightly sweet and the crunchiness of the seeds was an interesting texture in the soft flesh. Do the other colors taste differently or the same? Thanks!





~JaNan

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

I feed mine the same I use for nanas... 15-5-30. I was told they like high K (NPK). Since using it this spring, I have 3 little growths on end of one segment that is attracting black ants. Could these be the start of flowers? Ants aren't anywhere else on the very large plant... I knock them off (6ft up) & they are back in a short time. I can't tell yet if these are reg growth of new branches or start of flower.
Jana, I heard the red fleshed ones taste best.

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

JaNan, the white pitaya I've eaten have been the least flavorful (bland could be used, but might be a bit too negative) of the varieties I've eaten, though still pleasant, IMO. Dark red pitaya from Nicaragua are also a bit lacking in flavor. Red pitaya from Guatemala are very nice and yellow Colombian are often reported to be the best, though I haven't had the chance to taste one yet. There are many selection/varieties within these, as well as hybrids, and some of these are very good.

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

Without a doubt the yellow are the sweetest, once you get past the spines.
If your were looking for a burst of flavor grab a mango.
It is the uniqueness of the pitaya, the large blooms at night, the size and shape of the fruit that make it attractive.
Just another part of God's little garden we are here to enjoy.

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

Thanks Patty, Thanks Harvey, Thanks Scott (I eat Mango all the time, HA HA!)! I will have to try and find some red flesh variety. Maybe at a different market as that one only offered the one kind. ~J

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

Where do you get 20-20-20?
How often do you fertilize?
Mine are growing like crazy, but no flowers/fruits.

Thanks,

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

I am using the same fert. I use on bananas and I have buds.

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

How often do you fertilize?
Do you keep the soil moist all the time, or do you let it dry out, like for citrus?

Thanks,

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

I water twice a week with the same fert. you got from Richard. All my plants are bone dry between watering. If your Dragon fruit is growing ,then I don't think it's lacking anything. It may just need to mature more before it fruits. I bought three different varieties in summer of 08. One variety flowered in the summer of 09. This year I have two different one's flowering and the third has yet to flower.So I think it's just a matter of time before you get buds.But I could be wrong.

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

I don't think I can water just twice a week like you can, Underground Weather show you're at 77 F and I'm at 103 F! I've been watering every other day, I need to fertilize more often since they're actively growing now.

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

All my plants could use more water that's for sure. But again if your plants are actively growing I don't believe that using 10-10-10 fertilizer is going to make them flower. What you are using should be fine,there just not ready to flower yet.

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

Wait about a month after planting or until plants begin to grow to start fertilizing. Fertilization in the first year should be frequent (every 2 months) with light applications of 0.25 lb (118 g) per plant. Use a 6-6-6, 8-3-9, 8-4-12 (palm special) with 2-3% magnesium or similar

Irrigation (watering)

Although pitayas are members of the cactus family and may withstand dry periods, they have a fairly high water requirement. However, excessive soil moisture will result in the development of bacterial and fungus diseases. A dry period is required for abundant bloom induction, but once plants flower, periods of drought may result in poor production. Therefore, no watering is recommended during the spring once summer rains begin or watering is initiated since flowering will be induced.

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

Opened at 6:30pm

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

Beautiful Tony! I'm jealous.

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

Tony, are these flowers from the same plant or do you now have more than one variety that's bloomed for you?

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

From the same plant. I have buds but no blooms yet on the others

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

Hylocereus ocamponis - Pitahaya roja. The skin as well as the sweet pulp of the fruit are wine-red color. Usually eaten out of hand. Also grown as an ornamental hedge plant. [Cornucopia II, page 64. Stephan Facciola, Kampong Publications 1998].

Note: the cacti seen behind and under the bud in the photo are not H. ocamponis.

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

Hylocereus guatemalensis fruit. Eliminates any desire to grow watermelon.