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Dragon Fruit
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garnetmoth
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Joined: 28 Nov 2005
Posts: 440
Location: Cincinnati, OH

Posted: Tue 20 Feb, 2007 1:44 am

Patty-
oh. nuts.

I thought you said you sent me Vietnamese Jaina? its a white fleshed.

I guess Ill know in a year or 2 huh?

I would love to get this to fruit in the near future, but I have limited space to keep a huge plant. Ive got large planters (about 10+ gal) I was planning to set one each of the red? and white cuttings in. the yellow cutting is still quite thin and will stay in its own 2+ gal pot for now.

Ramon-Tj- In another month or 2- I wouldnt want the cutting to freeze and then die. The one in my spare room is quite dormant right now, its green, but its not sending out roots or anything.
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Ohiojay
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Joined: 08 Nov 2006
Posts: 129
Location: Columbus, OH

Posted: Tue 20 Feb, 2007 12:18 pm

Patty, I actually made the bold move to plant my dragon fruit directly into the ground in my greenhouse. I put in an 8', 4"x6" post into the ground as my support post. They are growing like crazy and hoping for even more stunning results come spring.

The only reason I would suggest a larger container is for a nice, heavy base. They may not need a lot of soil but I bet they take advantage of what they are given. The larger the container, the larger and sturdier a support you can build. If you look at some of the photos of dragon fruit, they get enormous at the top. I'm willing to bet those branches weigh a freaking ton.! I've always believed in overbuilding rather than find out too late that I didn't do enough. I can't see a 5' plant, especially one that is branching, being very forgiving during repotting and such. Plus, it would be a shame to have it get so top heavy it topples over a smaller, lighter container.

I'll try and get some current pics. Here are a couple from early Jan. After these pics, I wrapped the post with a coconut fibre mat to give the aerial roots something to latch onto. I have not built the top support for the branching yet. Since these pics, the two larger plants are now about a foot and a half from the top. I also got rid of the ugly orange ties!

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BabyBlue11371
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Joined: 28 Nov 2005
Posts: 830
Location: SE Kansas

Posted: Tue 20 Feb, 2007 3:19 pm

Hey.. I just had an Idea... Idea
Patty I know you have worked with concrete planters in the past.. your cute little face thingies.. How about making a planter with a concrete mix that has moss and perilite to lighten it a bit (so it isn't TOO heavy) and you could cement a post or posts in to the pot for your dragon fruit to grow on??
Gina *BabyBlue*

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Patty_in_wisc
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Joined: 15 Nov 2005
Posts: 1842
Location: zone 5 Milwaukee, Wi

Posted: Tue 20 Feb, 2007 8:29 pm

Garnet, I was a little confused till I looked up these pics:
http://www.tropicalfruitnursery.com/dragon/

Yellow is at lower left (easy cuz it's the only yellow LOL) I got that from Citrus Joe last yr. There are 2 Jainas - one red & one white fleshed. All I know is that William told me that mine is red fleshed Jaina & from Thailand (maybe Vietnam?).
Jay, thanks for the pics. I can't believe you can grow them inground in your plant zone (6?). I will have to put them in a large cont'r so they won't topple.
Now, trying to decide to put both in one or separate them hmmmm.
Gina, that was a good idea, but even tufa (cement mixed with perlite & peat) would be too heavy to move in & out of sunroom. I made a large tufa trough & it stays outside on wheels & it's still hard to move.

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Patty
I drink wine to make other people more interesting Wink
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Millet
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Joined: 13 Nov 2005
Posts: 6657
Location: Colorado

Posted: Tue 20 Feb, 2007 10:25 pm

I have an extra Yellow Dragon Fruit plant that presently has 8 or 9 side branches that are approximately a foot long. I am going to try growing it as a large hanging basket. My greenhouse is 12 feet tall in the center, so I should have plenty of room. - Millet
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Patty_in_wisc
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Joined: 15 Nov 2005
Posts: 1842
Location: zone 5 Milwaukee, Wi

Posted: Wed 21 Feb, 2007 2:14 am

Millet, that's a GREAT idea!

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Patty
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Patty_in_wisc
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Joined: 15 Nov 2005
Posts: 1842
Location: zone 5 Milwaukee, Wi

Posted: Fri 02 Mar, 2007 2:37 pm

Garnetmoth, MY APOLOGIES! Turns out I have a WHITE fleshed Vietnamese Jaina which is what I sent you. The label is barely readable, but I can see that part. Embarassed

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Patty
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garnetmoth
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Joined: 28 Nov 2005
Posts: 440
Location: Cincinnati, OH

Posted: Sat 03 Mar, 2007 12:34 pm

thats OK hon!

I e-bayed some cheap Red cuttings after thinking you were sending me a White. Im glad I have a white, red, and yellow for comparison!

I am going to the Lawn and Garden show today, might shop for containers! the Yellow has a lil support, but the Red and White need tall column support buckets or something.....
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Ohiojay
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Joined: 08 Nov 2006
Posts: 129
Location: Columbus, OH

Posted: Sat 03 Mar, 2007 10:14 pm

I just finished with putting the top supports onto the main post for my dragon fruit plants. Here's a couple of photos.





Total height now is about 6'. The cut ends of the 2x2's are right at scalp level. I have a feeling I will forget and end up loosing some skin, hair, and blood before long! At least this little project didn't cost me any blood or bruises...as normally happens during a project.
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Patty_in_wisc
Citrus Angel


Joined: 15 Nov 2005
Posts: 1842
Location: zone 5 Milwaukee, Wi

Posted: Wed 07 Mar, 2007 10:35 pm

Thanks for the pics Jay. You wrapped the post with choir & then tied the branches onto it to grow upward thru center, & then to hang over top?
Nice carpentry job BTW!
I still have ideas running thru my head. I think Iwill plant both in one big pot, but I'm still thinking to keep the pvc. Maybe two 2 1/2 inch main posts up to 7 - 8 ft high & then fittings to make canopy. I'll wrap the posts with canvas or something. Still thinking pvc cuz it won't rot & it's really strong stuff. Hmmm I better get crackin!
Can I ask what soil mix you used?

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Patty
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Ohiojay
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Joined: 08 Nov 2006
Posts: 129
Location: Columbus, OH

Posted: Thu 08 Mar, 2007 9:58 pm

I planted these directly into the ground inside the greenhouse. I dug out a bunch of the clay and then emended what was left with lots of peat moss, top soil, compost, and such. We're are finally getting a bit of warm weather and sunny days. The dragon fruit are really popping now.
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stressbaby
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Joined: 22 Nov 2005
Posts: 199
Location: Missouri

Posted: Fri 09 Mar, 2007 12:40 am

I topped 24" off of my DF and today's inspection revealed lateral growth at no less than 5 points on the top of the DF plant. Will post picks on Sunday.

Mine seems to be growing like a weed in a coarse mix of grit:bark:perlite:promix.
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Patty_in_wisc
Citrus Angel


Joined: 15 Nov 2005
Posts: 1842
Location: zone 5 Milwaukee, Wi

Posted: Fri 09 Mar, 2007 2:27 am

SB, glad you are getting those lateral growths! I hope you are rooting that 2 footer you lopped off --maybe in same pot?
Can't wait for pics.
I may go to Box stores to get mix & pvc this wkend. I'll post pics when I get it all together.
At the rate you guys are growing, you should at least get blooms this year!
I have a small yellow rooted cutting that I might do what Millet is doing... hang from ceiling in planter near skylites Wink
Mine will really take off IF SUMMER EVER GETS HERE Evil or Very Mad . My yard looks like mid Jan...covered w/ snow!

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Patty
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Ohiojay
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Joined: 08 Nov 2006
Posts: 129
Location: Columbus, OH

Posted: Fri 09 Mar, 2007 11:09 am

Hey Stress, at what height did you cut yours? I'm trying to figure out when I should cut mine...before the upper supports or after it has gone thru the grid. 5 branches? Wow! That's pretty awesome. Definitely show some pics.
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stressbaby
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Joined: 22 Nov 2005
Posts: 199
Location: Missouri

Posted: Sat 10 Mar, 2007 11:39 pm

Jay, I cut mine at 4.5-5' from the level of the container medium, about 6 feet from the floor. I cut just above the level of the top support...I don't know if this is best or not.

I have new growth at seven points around the top. Patty, yes, I am attempting to root the 2 foot section I cut off.
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