Re: Dragon Fruit
 

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.

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

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

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.

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

updated Photo

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.

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:

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.

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!

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

I'm smiling with wishful thinking :woohoonaner:

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

I got some from Richard and some from sunfish when I visited San Diego. The plants are in the greenhouse now, but I hope to have them flower next year. I have a nice big wall for them to climb, so I just need to determine which direction to expose them. Due to the sun intensity here in summer, I am curious whether south-facing will be too intense?

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

I have a three-foot tall Dark Star variety that is in a pot. Had it in my backyard against the south-facing wall of the house. After a few weeks of South Florida sun, there was a noticeable yellowing of most of the stems. Just last week I moved the plant to the west-facing side of the house and it has started greening back up.

Dunno if the yellowing was necessarily "bad" though. Hopefully someone can chime in on that. But, I'd recommend you move the pots around the yard until you find a spot where they appear to be most happy.

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

I think I read somewhere that they can get too much sun - esp in Thailand & Vietnam where it is hot. I s'pose Arizona would be about the same with the intense summer sun & heat.

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

They're going to need protection from the sun in many locations - esp. at Scot's place in Las Vegas. Used window screen or the cheepo replacement screen would work great.

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

Im planting 5 acres of pitaya in Homestead FL. Im currently working on Hylocereus undatus and Hylocereus polyrhizus. I got my cuttings from Pine Island. Is Physical Graffiti a good choice to grow?

Let me know if you're interested in trading for any other plant.

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

For a commercial plantation, I would not grow H. undatus or H. polyrhizus, but plant it all with H. guatemalensis. It is an outstanding tasting species. The award-winning selection 'American Beauty' is an example. 'Physical Grafitti' is consistantly 2nd place in taste tests. It is H. undatus x polyrhizus.

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

Thanks Richard for your advise. Do you have H. guatemalensis and Physical Grafitti cuttings available? I dont think Pine Island have those.

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

The cultivar "American Beauty" is H. guatemalensis. I found it and Physical Graffiti listed here: Dragon Fruit Viewer - Pine Island Nursery

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

I tried to plant some seeds I got online but had no luck anyone interested in sending me some cuttings? Thanks Glenn

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

I just planted some Red (white fleshed) seeds on the 12th. If they germinate I'll let you know.

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

For commercial production most growers in S. Florida are growing H. undatus and H. polyrhizus. Does anybody know why are these in production more than the other species? Easier to grow, more fruits???