Rob from Kuranda in Far North Queensland's favourite plant is hylocereus. He is an experienced horticulturist.
Rob is located near Cairns and has a history of growing and grafting cactus. Thank you so much for sharing and looking forward to growing with you.
What suburb and state are you located?
Kuranda, FNQ. (Near Cairns)
How long have you been an avid gardener for?
20 years.
What is your history with gardening and horticulture?
Have been a qualified horticulturist for 10 years. Working in the gardening and nursery industry on and off for 20 years. Collected plants just as long.
What drew you to Dragon fruit?
I’ve always found it interesting and tasty, but after seeing how powerful hylocereus (dragon fruit ) is as a micro graft rootstock for cacti seedlings my mind was blown! That’s when I discovered the world of how many different cultivars there are! The plant truly fascinates me, but Now it’s my favourite fruit as well.
This one is an astrophytum grafted to hylo
Can you please walk me through your history with dragon fruit?
Cultivated for root stock for 6 years (I grow cacti from seed), now collecting only for fruit! and eye candy, love watching it grow!
What was your 1st dragon fruit experience eating?
Can’t remember, as I live in FNQ, it’s always been around. It’s always fascinated me.
What was your 1st dragon fruit experience growing? Cultivating for root stock for cacti seedlings micro grafting.
What is your Favorite variety and why?
Yellow Megalanthus or Palora.
Best tip for growing dragon fruit. Definitely use a trellis, and feed them well, liquid freed regularly in warmer months.
Biggest no, no for growing dragon fruit.
Grow in full shade, don’t do it, they need sun! I get about 5hrs or 6hrs of full sun then a couple more of filtered light. It’s good so they don’t get too cooked when it’s hot.
Biggest challenge for growing dragon fruit you have had?
Having enough room to grow more cultivars 😂
How do you fertilize?
Yes! I mix 5 in 1 (dig through) through my substrate, rooster booster and seamungus top dress, regular liquid feeds of 5 in 1 (liquid) and gogo juice or popul8. Also use mycorrhiza additives.
How many varieties do you currently have?
12. Yellow meg, Palora, Aussie gold, Columbian supreme, Lucille lemonade, honey white, Connie Mayer, monocanthus, asunta, bruni, purple meg, jade red.
What soil did you pot your cutting in?
Premium potting mix 30%, 5 in 1 30%, scoria and quincan 35%, zeolite + mycorrhiza 5%
