In the last pic of red, the top branch broke off & I rooted it for Garnetmoth. I think now is the time to take top trellis apart & make it small enough to get in & out.
Skeet, the yellow on left was started from seed in Dec '05 by Citrus Joe. He sent it to me 1 yr ago in 2" pot-- it had 6 tiny branches growing from base - biggest was 2 inches. Last Jan I broke off 3 small ones that are now rooting, & since then, these 2 branches took off.
The small yellow & red cuttings I will plant in a hanging basket.
I bought the red in Oct-Nov '05 same size as in last pic (in clay pot). That winter (05-06) it didn't grow at all. I bet by the end of this summer, they will all be draping over the top! I think I'll leave the other 4 red ones growing up pole.
They like a 5-15-5 fert in well draining but rich soil.
SB & Jay, can't wait to see your pics! Maybe we'll even get a flower this year!
Off to make trellis smaller.

So they really take off in the second year-- that will help me have more patience.

if they really take off in the second year, that scares me! My DF plants grew inches a week, multiple inches... (up to 1 1/2 a day!) Unfortunatly, it got damaged... now I have about 14 plants from the one. They are really going nuts too. I took the pictures, just need to get them added to photobucket. Sure is exciting to see how they grow. Added all mine into hanging baskets today (I love dollar stores!!!) to save up on room as I'm moving into a smaller place

I cant wait till mine get up to the flowering stage... but for the plant to be 10+ pounds.. I have a wait.

Well, I shortened trellis by 4 1/2 inches & it is 30 wide instead of 36". There should be no problem getting it in or out.
Skeet, I bet yours will really take off this summer....they all grow fast in summer. Maybe start planning a trellis now?

Skeet, when did you plant your FD seeds? My yellow was planted in Dec '05 & one yr ago (at 4-5 months old), the biggest branch (of about 7) was only 2 inches tall.

There is a nice guy named Brad who grows Yellow Pitaya successfully in Hawaii. I emailed him & said I have a yellow Pitaya grown from seed that is 1 1/2 yrs now, & almost reaching top of my almost 6 ft trellis. I mentioned I might cut it at top & hopefully branches will grow over trellis top, & how long will it take to produce flowers/fruit. Here is his response:


Hi Patty

Over here the plants usually flower within a year. It
needs full sun to flower prolifically. I'd say don't
cut the top but let it bend over the top of your
trellis if possible. New shoots will appear as soon as
it bends over the top of the trellis. You really
should not have do anything but train it upward to 6
feet and it will naturally become a "fountain" of
branches hanging down. The flowers will appear on the
ends of these hanging branches.
Good Luck
Aloha
Brad

SB, don't be discouraged. I'm sure those branches that are starting to hang over top will produce this year! This is exciting news!
I also read they like 5-15-15 or similar feeding in summer...less nitrogen, and a light 5-15-5- in winter when semi-dormant.

Thanks for the info Patty, mine were planted late last summer or early fall. One- I think the red- would be about 6" now but it got a spot that started to rot about half way up the shoot a few week ago. It now has about 3 new shoots coming from the bottom.

Should I select one to train upwards and remove the others?

No Skeet, I'd leave all to grow up trellis. I have 2 yellows growing up one post, & at least 4 red growing up the other post. The 2 posts are 2 1/2 or 3 inch pvc. I cut smallest- lowest red one off & am rooting it nearby in same pot. I may put it with other cuttings to grow in hanging basket.

Have you thought of a design for trellis? Will you grow it all yr. in a greenhouse? If so, you can do a bigger post & support so you won't have to lug it in & out.

No greenhouse anymore--- dog kennels where that used to be. As for support, I like the looks of the one Ohiojay did-- I might go a little higher . I will probably just bring it in the patio on cold nights. I may put one of them in a hanging basket and try that. The yellow one seems to be growing a lot slower than the red one, so it may go in the hanging basket.

Finally, a pic. Patty, do you recognize the figs?

Wow SB, those branches got BIG!
It's so nice to know the figs have a nice home & are being taken cared of.
I gave some plants away (NO FIGS) to friends last yr. & they let them die.

I think I brought my DF outside too soon. We've had 2 weeks of 40's - 50's & lots of clouds. It's doing just OK, but worried that soil won't dry out. I have soil covered in case of rain. Sure wish it would warm up with some sunshine.
Thanks for the pic!