My dragonfruit fowers but doesn't set fruit

Mariem starts with ...
My dragonfruit plants flower profusely. I see bees pollinating them. But it is NOT producing the fruit. What could be the cause? Thanks! Mariem

sternus1 says...
All dragon fruit benefit from cross pollination. No one variety should ever be planted out by itself on one tellis. Two is the minimum.

Hand pollination will increase fruit set and size. Buy another variety-- Colombian red if you can get it, and plant this out next to the one you have.

Anthony says...
If you can get your hands on a Vietnamese White dragonfruit, your pollination problems will be over. This variety, along with the Columbian, will pollinate any variety with great success. It is a must have for pollen production.

JohnMc1 says...
Interesting times ahead, I've been offered some exotic cv's in the past few years, will probably hand pollinate half of each when the time comes to see what needs pollination and what doesn't for future reference.

Mariem says...
Hi friends JohnMc1, Sternus1, Mike Tr, and Anthony who have contributed to assist me. I live in Puerto Rico, an island in the Caribbean, zone 9. Five years ago I bought an hylocereous undatus red with white flesh which in its second year set two fruits. Also I got a yellow selecinerous megalanthus which also set two fruits. Since then they have flowered a lot but although I have tried hand pollination NO fruits have been set at all. My other plants are indeed growing but are still too young and have not flowered yet. From what I get from all of you I will add some different varieties in each trellis, i.e. Vietnamese white, David Bowie, Colombian red, Makisupasa and given time see what happens. Now I will have homework searching online for these varieties from a source willing to send this to me. I am willing to pay whatever it takes. Any new comment? Thanks! Mariem

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Mariem says...
Thanks so much, Anthony. Appreciate your relply! Mariem

S t a r l i n g says...
do you mean there was no pollen on the stigma?

Anyway, there's really only three factors that will result in fruit not setting:

A) lack of successful pollination
B) Too much water during flowering
C) Excessive heat during flowering.

Generally, the cause for flower drop is A, but in your case, your problem is also that you have only planted out one variety. You really need another to get a decent rate of fruit set. Do not water excessively while fruit are developing or during flowering at all.

MIke T1 says...
I ditched all those needing x pollination and now have handsome crops from many varieties including hybrids.No,white for me,only a token yellow and the only red is Colombian.Aztec gem,H.occamponis,Oscars orange and few others are good enough for me.My friends condors were very good this season as wee a few other Californian hybrids.What is self pollinating,won't set due to heat or rain is probably different in different climes. Humidity is a big thing and a 37c with 1000% humidity is different from a 40c in Briz with low humidity.

S t a r l i n g says...
Excessive water during flower anthesis will cause them to drop.

All fruit will be considerably larger, and better quality, if cross pollinated. You want to hit them with a low nitrogen fertilizer every six months or so, 2-10-10 is generally what the pros use. Phosphorous and calcium treatments are very effective also. Too much nitrogen and you'll get a huge vine that doesn't produce. Bone meal is about the best thing you can mix in to the soil for dragons. Cow manure is good, but fowl manure is probably better if applied at the right time in the right amount as this is similar to bird guano (well, it is bird guano but you know what I mean
) which is their natural nitrogen source if you're talking about H. Costaricensis/polyrhizus/undatus/ occamponis/guatemalensis. Selenicereus hybrids require less nitrogen, less light, and more calcium. And less water. They are not as good IMO.