Dragon Fruit

[Larry T]

Does any one in lower Puna / HPP grow dragon fruit and if so where and what do you grow it in (soil) and in full sun or shade? I need all the help I can get. Thanks

[Hotzcatz]

Isn't that a cactus fruit? If it is a cactus, then full sun would be most likely?

[allensylves]

Larry (Bill),
Full sun would be best. Good drainage is also important, since it is preferably an epiphytic cactus. Cinder or cinder/soil with a lot of cinder and organic material would be good. An organic mulch will give better growth. Then the roots can spread out in the soil/mulch interface.

Allen
Baton Rouge, LA & HPP

[Larry T]

I was thinking of growing them in 1/2 55 gal. drum a mix of 1/3 cinder-soil-mulch, but you think more cinder? What do you think the mix should be? I also plan to grow on a trellis so if they don't like full sun I can move them. Any other ideas, I like the one about the fabric baggies. Allen - How long before my cuttings fruit?

[wyatt]

Seen it at The Garden Exchange Hilo. Night blooming Cereus is what I was told.Love the fruit.

Wyatt

[allensylves]

Bill,
I started some cuttings April of 2006 and a few of them flowered and just had fruit. My plants were in 6 inch pots until this spring, when I moved them to 3 gallon pots. They also do not grow much here over winter. I expect if they are 'happy' you might get a few flowers next year. You should get some for sure in 2009.
You want a very well drained mix in a pot, even down near the shore where you are. I do not have any soil at all in my pots - just pine bark, perlite and sand. Unless the soil is very sandy or the cinder is very coarse, I would not use any soil. Otherwise, maybe 1/5 to 1/6 soil. My dragonfruits are quite happy sending escaped roots up into coarse pine bark chunks from the soil/bark interface.


Allen
Baton Rouge, LA & HPP

[jerry]

I have quite a few here in Orchidland (600') in full sun on a trellis. A neighbor has a huge one growing up an ironwood.

To flower and fruit they need to hang down. Many commercial growers grow them up poles to a wagon wheel where they spread out, hang down and flower.

There is a big patch in Hilo growing like this off Kilauea (don't remember the nearest cross street.)

There is also a substantial commercial grower in Kapoho.

I started mine in cinder then planted them out. They are growing slowly but none have died. These are the white variety. Anyone know where I can get some red?

Jerry
Art and Orchids B&B
http://www.artandorchids.com

[Larry T]

Allen-- Do you think I should plant in the lite soil / cinder mix and put the mulch on top, or mix the mulch with the cinder?
Jerry--I am at 37'. Is your cinder red or black? I understand black has more "grow power". I think Allen gave me some white and red but it will be a while before i have cuttings, and Allen has gone home.

I want to thank ever one for the help, until a few weeks ago I never heard of Dragon fruit. Of course now that I have tasted it I have to have some.

[allensylves]

I am guessing the mulch is only slightly decomposed, if at all. If it is fresh and particularly if it is in large part wood (rather than bark=slow to decompose)it should go on the surface. Mixing it in will cause the decomposers to compete for nitrogen and the plant will lose and grow poorly. As it breaks down on the surface it will slowly release nutrients to the roots.
With the rainy climate, slow release fertilizer (Nutricote, Osmocote, etc.)or organic fertilizer (cottonseed meal, blood meal, etc.) would be good for the dragonfruit. They definitely seem to like fertilizer, as long is it not too strong so it burns the roots.
For future reference: the fruits take a little over a month after the flowers are pollinated to get ripe. I take a Sharpie and write the date I pollinated the flower on the stem on a shady side.

Allen
Baton Rouge, LA & HPP

[mella l]

Would someone tell me what dragon fruit look like and how do they taste? They sound intriguing to me too!

mella l