Dragon Fruit Flowers Drop Off (forum)

Danny starts with ...
Why does my dragon plant after flowering for 3 days drop off? Is there anybody who can give me tips... thanks
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Time: 9th August 2007 12:00pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Danny
Sarawak, MALAY
#UserID: 212
Posts: 4
View All Danny's Edible Fruit Trees

Kath says...
It could well be a pollination issue. Some pitayas are self pollinating and some require pollen from another pitaya to set fruit. Try growing another plant nearby and see if this helps.

Time: 10th August 2007 11:11am

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Kath
Cawongla
#UserID: 2
Posts: 363
View All Kath's Edible Fruit Trees

Danny says...
Dear Kath
Thank you very much for your advice,my tree all the time has flowers and i did the hand pollination,and sometime l exchanged the pollin from the flowers on the same tree yet also failed, is it true because of the spice can't bear fruit? What type of fertilizer good for the tree

Time: 13th August 2007 11:49am

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Danny
Sarawak, MALAY
#UserID: 212
Posts: 4
View All Danny's Edible Fruit Trees

Kath says...
You will need to get the pollen from a different plant and not from your pitaya. Your pitaya requires cross pollination meaning the pollen from a different plant in order to set fruit. Nutrients can be given as a foliar spray or in slow release granuals.

Time: 13th August 2007 3:39pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Kath
Cawongla
#UserID: 2
Posts: 363
View All Kath's Edible Fruit Trees

Danny says...
Dear Kath
Thanks a lot for your information, l will try to get pollen from other plant and will let you know the result. Another question why sometimes the flower buds before flowering it drop off ?How to plant a good and healthy Dragon tree? What the best fertilizer for it? How to maintain the tree?Thanks
Regards
Danny

Time: 16th August 2007 9:38am

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Danny
Sarawak, MALAY
#UserID: 212
Posts: 4
View All Danny's Edible Fruit Trees

Kath says...
They grow best in semi humid climates in rich organic soils. Growth and yields are improved if they are given some moisture during the growing season, too much rain or moisture results in flower drop and fruit rot. Keep them dry until the fruits have set and then they can be watered. They respond well to liquid fertilizer or slow release fertilizer. Prune it back once it has finished fruit to encourage a multi stemmed plant.

Time: 16th August 2007 2:38pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Kath
Cawongla
#UserID: 2
Posts: 363
View All Kath's Edible Fruit Trees

Danny says...
Dear Kath

What glade of NPK should l use if it is a liquid feterlizer? Thanks a lot Kath

Regards
Danny


Time: 18th August 2007 9:42pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Danny
Sarawak, MALAY
#UserID: 212
Posts: 4
View All Danny's Edible Fruit Trees

Kath says...
A fertilizer with a balance of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. Liquid fertilizers like fish emulsion are also very good products to use.

Time: 20th August 2007 3:57pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Kath
Cawongla
#UserID: 2
Posts: 363
View All Kath's Edible Fruit Trees

TONY says...
Hi Kath

I have few dragon fruit but it's not sweet. What fertilizer would you recomment.

Regard
Tony


Time: 28th August 2007 11:55am

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author TONY4
ca, usa
#UserID: 271
Posts: 1
View All TONY4's Edible Fruit Trees

Scott G says...
Danny,
Are you sure you have a Dragon Fruit or could it be another type of night-flowering cactus that looks very similar? I have seen some cacti that are remarkably similar to Dragon Fruit (and I mistakenly grew one once).


Time: 24th September 2007 12:34pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Scott G
Gold Coast
#UserID: 44
Posts: 117
View All Scott G's Edible Fruit Trees

loki says...
i have never eaten a dragon fruit and
i am wanting to know what the tase like. my comasary is carring them now but they are kind of pricy.

Time: 16th October 2007 9:48am

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author loki
 
#UserID: 366
Posts: 1
View All loki's Edible Fruit Trees

Kath says...
I think they are a little like a delicate kiwi fruit flavour, the yellow one has the most flavour of all of them.

Time: 18th October 2007 9:50am

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Kath
Cawongla
#UserID: 2
Posts: 363
View All Kath's Edible Fruit Trees

phil says...
Nurseries in sydney have started selling dragon fruit plants but I'm concerned that it may not be warm enough to get them to fruit here. Any comments?

Time: 18th October 2007 5:36pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author phil6
sydney
#UserID: 373
Posts: 2
View All phil6's Edible Fruit Trees

Kath says...
This could well be the case, if you have a warm protected space they would be worth trying though.

Time: 19th October 2007 6:20am

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Kath
Cawongla
#UserID: 2
Posts: 363
View All Kath's Edible Fruit Trees

phil says...
thanks Kath, may give it a go.

Time: 19th October 2007 5:35pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author phil6
sydney
#UserID: 373
Posts: 2
View All phil6's Edible Fruit Trees

Sam says...
My dragon Fruit plants (3 off) are 3 years old. Each time it flowers either flowers drop off or once the fruit droped off. This time also only one plant has flowers growing on it. Why does the flowers drop off?
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Time: 24th June 2009 1:04am

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Sam4
Singapore
#UserID: 2492
Posts: 2
View All Sam4's Edible Fruit Trees

Dekka says...
After recently tasting Yellow Dragon Fruit and liking it, I tried germinating some of the seeds on some wet cotton wool and was surprised how readily they germinated. This made me wonder about their weed potential so I went looking on the net. Hmmm...

http://www.saveourwaterwaysnow.com.au/01_cms/details_pop.asp?ID=785

Time: 1st July 2009 8:40am

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Dekka
Newcastle
#UserID: 102
Posts: 219
View All Dekka's Edible Fruit Trees

Sam says...

Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Time: 9th July 2009 6:16pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Sam4
Singapore
#UserID: 2492
Posts: 2
View All Sam4's Edible Fruit Trees

sasha says...
Hello Kath. I have been reading your messages on the forum about dragon fruit, you seem to know alot about it. I want to grow a dragon fruit and want to make sure I plant the one with nicest taste. Would you happen to know, which variety of the dragon fruit is nicest for eating red or white flesh with red skin, or yellow ones? I would like to grow a dragon fruit and want to make sure that i am going to put all the effort into a plant that will give nicest eating fruits. My nursery sells all types, and they could not advise me which one is the best for eating and I also could not find it on the internet. I would kindly appreciate if you could let me know if you know. Thank you in advance. Regards, Sasha

Time: 12th October 2011 11:14am

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author sasha
sydney
#UserID: 5960
Posts: 3
View All sasha's Edible Fruit Trees

BJ says...
Taste is highly personal. Having said that, most who've tried them all will say Yellow is the best. But it is also the smallest and is very spiky like a cactus. The large reds with white flesh, which I think need hand pollination, are my next pick, then the red/pinks, red/reds, followed by the self pollinating red/whites. I've not yet tried the white skinned white fleshed (as sold by diggers) dfs yet.

Time: 12th October 2011 12:44pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Theposterformerlyknownas
Brisbane
#UserID: 3270
Posts: 1552
View All Theposterformerlyknownas's Edible Fruit Trees

Michael says...
Sasha,

Dragon fruit grows really well in Sydney. I live in the Fairfield area and almost every second asian house is now planting them . Mine is pink with white flesh and is extremley sweet . Much more sweeter than the shops . My neighbour is also pink with white flesh but is very bland. There is a giant yellow skin variety close to 1 kg each sold at the local shops when in season . You can purchase it and use the seeds for something different .

Time: 12th October 2011 1:35pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Michael D
Wakeley
#UserID: 1938
Posts: 116
View All Michael D's Edible Fruit Trees

Nick says...
I was recently on a Thai Airlines flight and was excited to see dragon fruit in their fruit salads!

Time: 12th October 2011 9:46pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Nick T
Altona, VIC
#UserID: 2663
Posts: 727
View All Nick T's Edible Fruit Trees

Pete says...
This is a rather tropical island at 13 degrees north. I am just starting to plant from cuttings. These are red/red and red/white from Thailand. The soil drains well and I plan to use cow manure on them.

I have also thought to use a hair blower to pollinate. The 80 plants are spaced about 8 feet apart.

Any advice to improve this thought process would be welcomed.

Time: 11th December 2011 4:40pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author Pete12
Island of Saipajn
#UserID: 6232
Posts: 1
View All Pete12's Edible Fruit Trees

emz says...
hello,, i just want to know how to prevent the dropping of flowers of my dragon fruit,, thanks

Time: 26th May 2012 3:24pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author emz
philippines
#UserID: 6975
Posts: 1
View All emz's Edible Fruit Trees

John Mc says...
It could be a pollination issue.
I was trying to think of a way to describe how I hand pollinate mine, other than describing how I fondle the flower, here's a link I found on youtube that shows exactly how I do it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWKolO3YyZE

Time: 26th May 2012 7:32pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(1) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
People who Like this Answer: syd

About the Author JohnMc1
Warnervale NSW
#UserID: 2743
Posts: 2043
View All JohnMc1's Edible Fruit Trees

Gene-63 says...
I have been growing Dragon Fruit in Lexington, KY for 5 years now and I have the red ones with the white centers and they have a sweet taste to them. I pick them just before or just after they split and then chill them in the fridge overnight before eating.

Time: 7th July 2015 6:01am

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author Gene-63
Lexington, KY
#UserID: 11993
Posts: 1
View All Gene-63's Edible Fruit Trees

Maurice M says...
Hi There, my first flower from a Dragonfruit plant opened up last night. I have 3 plants all with 2 flowers each. Should I do anything about cross pollinating?

Time: 29th January 2018 9:12am

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author Maurice M
Port Vila
#UserID: 17811
Posts: 1
View All Maurice M's Edible Fruit Trees

Fruitylicious1 says...
Hi Maurice

Some dragon fruits are self pollinating especially the red and purple fleshed varieties. But to increase your chance of having a better yield you need to hand pollinate.

There is plenty of you tube video tutorials on how to hand pollinate dragon fruit flowers. Videos speaks a thousand words more than the printed version.

DF flowers are fleeting thou they only last for one night so better be quick.

Some people found a shortcut to pollinate their DF. They don't need to stay late at night to hand pollinate their DF blossoms. What they do is spray the plant especially the flowering stems with a mixture of honey and water. This brew will attract the ants unwittingly pollinating the flowers as they trudge their way around the plant and into the flowers. After harvest you can eliminate the ants.

As Always....Happy Gardening :-)

Note: picture of flower with ants
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Time: 29th January 2018 8:23pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
Original Post was last edited: 29th January 2018 8:39pm

About the Author Fruitylicious1
TAMWORTH,2340,NSW
#UserID: 16885
Posts: 709
View All Fruitylicious1's Edible Fruit Trees

Arielle says...
Love my Dragon fruit first time in fruit just awesome an the perfume was so sweet. Not for South Coast of Australia
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1
Picture: 2

Time: 29th March 2018 10:06am

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author Arielle
Mount Saint Thomas
#UserID: 18181
Posts: 1
View All Arielle's Edible Fruit Trees

Fruitylicious1 says...
Hi Arielle

I love the way you recycled an old bmx pushbike wheel. Just be watchful because the spokes might slowly cut and damage the branches of your DF as they grow bigger and heavier. I hope you have plenty more success with your lovely pitaya.

Happy gardening :-)

Time: 29th March 2018 7:53pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
Original Post was last edited: 29th March 2018 7:58pm

About the Author Fruitylicious1
TAMWORTH,2340,NSW
#UserID: 16885
Posts: 709
View All Fruitylicious1's Edible Fruit Trees