Thanks for the generous offer, Gordon. I have one, but I don't think I've taken proper care of it. Behind the flower, you can partially see mine. It was a fat 6" cutting I received a few years ago. It has since grown long, skinny, floppy arms. I don't think I give it enough light. After reading about them, I will move it to a sunnier location and hope for the best. I don't know what color the fruit would be. It's never bloomed.

Do these plants thrive in doors? I ask because I can manage taking care of house plants but once plants wind up in my year, they are on their own because I usually get stuck in my own yard and have to be rescued. Wheelchairs manual and powered get stuck; I use both usually my power wheelchair ut either way tending and caring for outside plants unless my yard gets a wheelchair friendly make over is not possible at this time. If any of these plants do well as house plant6s and are looking for a home, I volunteer to give a home to as many which need a place to live and thrive.

the dragon fruit plants are so very sun hungry.. they only thrive in lots of sun... mine do OK inside in the winter ... but it's thin stringy growth .. figureing if it can only grow up some there will be some more sun for it... not the case inside... as it goes outside in the spring... these fill out and there's some real growth with it... outside I have to keep rotating mine around... as in full sun it really only develops on the sunny side...

GordonHawk , thank you for letting me know. I could grow these plants outside on the porch from sprint til fall or at least leave them outside until they need to come inside for oh, perhaps 4 to 5 months is my guess. I do use artificial lighting when needed, however I'm not certain how this would work for these plants. Who knows, maybe one will find its' way to my house and I can give it a try. If the plant fails to thrive, then I would try to find it a much better situation if possible. Perhaps in the future I may ave a better situation for this plant and similar ligh loving plants.

OH.. I can let yu have a bit of it... there's likely bits of it that should come off... I have it on a trellis I made and then weve it back into the mass of growth as it looks to stick out and catch you... it has tiny almost invisable spines on it... but sure reach out and puncture you on a moments notice... got one with a red fruit inside.. and a white one... doesn't make much difference I don't guess.. as if they are difficult to fruit in the Yucatan.. it might be more difficult where you are ... and just where is it that you are... send me an address...

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

After many years waiting for my dragon fruit cactus to flower....it finally did!


This one was sent to me a few years ago with the name "Exotica" but just like the banana trees I grow, it took threatening it it a severe haircut to make it bloom. I didn't expect it to do anything, just told it it was taking up way to much room and it was going to get cut, that evening, it produced a flower...I would not believe that if it hadn't happened to me. Now there is a small fruit growing! I'm so happy!

That's wonderful! Such a pretty flower, and a fruit to come. Hope you share pics of the fruit once it grows.

It flowered before you cut it...with just the threat....mmm. I think I might just do that...stand around it with my clippers..and talk to it about getting trimmed ...a three year old should be able to understand

The only problem was when saying this to the banana and the dragon fruit cactus was I meant it and cannot explain it but I'm positive it knew I meant it. lol I've tried just threatening it before and nothing...it was being dead serious that made the difference. Let me know ok, I am convinced there is something to this as crazy as it sounds.

I once told a visiting plant enthusiast that I "beat my Meyer's Lemon with a stick" to make it bloom. It was in full bloom. I told her I saw someone post it on a garden site, so i tried it. She was very upset that I believed that beating my plants would make them perk up. She was very serious. I was not. 'Wish I knew where she went to. I'd love to show her your post!

So far this only has happened to 2 tropical plants, don't know if it works with other plants or not.

My dragon fruit this fall...

Rather than threaten mine I gave it some fruit I tided onto it... Just to show it how nice some fruit might be hanging on it... The streets here are full of the fruit... I got mine from a big cart on the street..piled high with them...nothing but dragon fruit on the cart... They said they came from FL... No flowers on mine yet.. I'm sure it weighs more than 10 pounds

Interesting thread!!
We had a very interesting "encounter" with the yellowish Dragon fruit in Ecuador this July. I posted my story here as part of my trip report. See how they are growing over these large boulders.
Only one word: Delicious!! :smily:! There was just no comparison to the red one we can buy here, but one has to consider that the red ones have to travel before they hit the store here. Ripened right on the plant and eaten on the spot, yum!
http://garden.org/thread/view_...

I've really enjoyed this thread a lot. I am now more then ever compelled to work with and give my Dragon Fruit extra TLC!

Thanks for sharing!

i love dragonfruit, wish i had cuttings

Gordon, you had me for a minute!! I was amazed that you could ripen fruit on pitahaya on a rooftop in Brooklyn. This is the second flush of the pitahaya season here, they are again on every corner and I have another fruit ripening on my vine. I smooshed some of the fruit from before into a pot of dirt I wasn't using in the garden. A lot of tiny seedlings came up but the heavy rains have washed many of them away. I still see about 15 that are survivors, I'll try and save them and plant them on the roof.

Well..Jonna.". One day I'm have some fruit ripening on the DF here,..just give me a little more time...yours should do real well on your roof... To say we are envious of your conditions there is an understatement

With your gardening talent, you would have a real paradise here. My roof is not as lush or full as yours but I am enjoying it, it is nice to have a spot in full sun and there seem to be fewer bugs too.