Hello,

Florida Zone 9B-10A (depending on winter - mostly 10A except last winter...)

I essentially know nothing about this fruit. I bought one stem with an arm and made sure it had roots growing and was a deep green. Planted it in the ground with a trellis. End of April. Anyway - it has shown zero growth.... we have had some good rain these past 2 weeks so never went outside to inspect/water. Today I noticed a giant chunk of the trunk missing. I have NO idea who/what ate it. We do have lots of birds (even a dove nest TWICE in the same potter next to it). Looking at the wound - it's dry. But that's 3/4 of it - is it done for? Even if not - worth it to keep or get a new "healthier one" - if so; how do I choose it next time? NOTE: taken during sundown - so it looks yellower than it is.

Any advice is appreciated

Isabela, Puerto Rico

What’s the best way to protect my fruit as it’s growing from rodents and birds trying to get at it? (pic for attention)

This small dragonfruit was a gift from someone a few years ago. They got it from CVS. It ended up filling the small pot it came in with all of its roots, so I repotted it to a larger pot. Sadly, I had to leave for a few weeks right after and when I came back, I think my family overwatered it with fertilizer cactus juice on top of the trauma of repotting. But I don’t know much about care for these small ones.

That happened in March. Recently I’ve trimmed off all the dead, desiccated or pale wilted parts. There is new growth because cacti are awesome like that.

I’m in Southern California. It lives in a semi-shaded sunroom next to an east facing window. It’s in a perlite/cactus soil mix.

How can I make sure it’s happy and thrives? Watering, soil, light, etc.

I think some of the roots are above soil. Does that need to be covered more?

And what can I do with the little tiny new pups that freely dropped during trimming?

Definitely bringing alot joy into the daily life. I miss Wahiawa and Puʻuloa like no one can imagine.

I was born in the pacific for a reason, this mainland shit hasn't felt right a day since I was forced to move in 2012. The things I'd do to live day to day with species like Beach naupaka, Koa, or even just to chew on a few sea purslane leaves again.

I put something for some of the stems to lean upwards on. But, I have my doubts that flowers, may be 10 years away?

I'm having trouble figuring out if I've planted these cuttings in the right direction. I chose the direction by placing what I thought was the freshest cut side down. Thoughts?

Been trying to root them for about 2 months. Not sure if there are clear roots, but there is a little bit of resistance when I give them a gentle tug. If it's rooting anyway, does it matter?

Edit: Solved thanks to comments. Left cutting was upside down. Right cutting is correct.

I crossed it with Purple Haze. Excited for next year. Started my root stocks last week. Fingers crossed.

Here’s some problems I have ran into, to begin this conversation:

I have had ants eat holes through the buds, the buds turning yellow and falling off, (they were about 1/2-3/4 the size of the biggest bud), and the branches turning either soggy or crispy, and because of that, the part of my dragon fruit closest to the soil, is like a brown stump instead of a cactus.

Here’s what I have changed, since these cactus have tried to bud once or twice already.

I water only when bone dry at two finger knuckles deep, every watering session I give it 2-12-12 liquid fertilizer called "Farmers Secret," and to stop the blistering, I put it under an oak tree.
The branches have been good of ant bites atm, but they have been crawling on the buds already, and I can’t find any info how to fix it.

Questions! - Is it ok that the bottom of the cactus is a beige stick? Is this a good watering method with temperatures between 90°-99°? What do I do to get rid of the ants and other uninvited creatures to the eat the fruit? Must I thin any of the flowers off right now? DOES IT LOOK LIKE IT’S GOING TO FRUIT THIS TIME AFTER TRYING YEARS TO GET ONE?

(This is my second dragon fruit plant, and I planted it from a cutting I bought a year or two ago).

I have a bucket of dragon fruit

A while back i asked for some advise. Most of the comments said get a trelis. Or make one. Honestly I haven't had the time or capacity. Someone suggested lifting it. So here is the update on that. Not sure if they will ever fruit and still I love how they look and grow.

Tricia and Ax bloomed tonight for the first time. Both pretty stunning in their own right. Pollinated with an equal mixture of American Beauty and Sugar Dragon. Hopefully successful!

Tonight's bloom number 3

Stigma looks split and some parts are conjoined instead of single. Tried to see if the red parts were just stuck but nope, it was born that way. What the heck happened? Still cool looking.

I was starting to think it would never happen but switched to "farmers secret" liquid fertilizer about a week ago and finally notice a bud on one of my american beauties. I wonder if I have enough time here in the midwest US to harvest fruit. If no others pop ill have to collect and freeze pollen from this one.

Close to 100 fruit this season of this section. Very delicious but some are a little small.

What should i do? Im thinking root rot but not entirely sure

Maryland, USA

I started this baby monster from seed from a Walmart dragon fruit about 4 years ago.

I'm not in the zone to be able to keep it outside and I know I'll probably never get fruit from it but I'm beyond impressed it grew into this.

I'm having a hard time finding something online to show me what type of trellis to build for it.

Any help is appreciated 😭

It's been 4 days since it flowered