To cut or not to cut the dragonfruit when it reaches the top of the trellis?

[Kankan]

Ive been struggling with this question. Saw it posted on a dragon fruit facebook page but the responses were far from conclusive. Curious if theres any experienced DF growers here that have an opinion on this?

TIA
Kevin N.

[achetadomestica]

cut it

[Orkine]

Like he said cut it.

....  you will be happy you did.

[Daintree]

Cut it.
Mine never bloomed and was a tangled gangly mess. Got mad at it and whacked it off, and now it blooms. That'll teach it!

Carolyn

[Kankan]

Love the consistency with the answers! My posts are made of concrete, so Im in this for the long game. Id rather slow growth and have a well performing DF.

[K-Rimes]

I like tipping them about 4-6" above the trellis, they'll branch out and turn into a beautiful plant. If you leave them be, the tallest arm will fall over, and then it'll branch out, but it'll be clustered around the arm that went over first. I should get some photos, I have great examples of each strategy and will get photos.

[Kankan]

I like tipping them about 4-6" above the trellis, they'll branch out and turn into a beautiful plant. If you leave them be, the tallest arm will fall over, and then it'll branch out, but it'll be clustered around the arm that went over first. I should get some photos, I have great examples of each strategy and will get photos.

That makes sense! Would be great to see!

[MarktLee]

Here is one of mine on a tall post with rebar, I have only cut a few pieces but have not cut it back. Right now it has over 30 fruit developing.

[K-Rimes]

Tipped when young


Tipped when young


Not tipped

[sc4001992]

Kevin, when you tip cut your DF, how far above the top of the frame/support do you cut at?

[Kankan]

Tipped when young


Tipped when young


Not tipped

Looking good. Is the idea that those branches growing vertically above the trellis on the DF that are tipped when young will eventually grow heavy and hang down?

[K-Rimes]

Tipped when young


Tipped when young


Not tipped

Looking good. Is the idea that those branches growing vertically above the trellis on the DF that are tipped when young will eventually grow heavy and hang down?

All DF branches grow vertical till they get heavy enough, then gravity wins and they slowly lay over onto the trellis and hang below. I also tip branches that get low enough and that seems to aid in fruiting. You don't need to tip new branches till they are well below the trellis. The exception is the primary leader, which when tipped branches out better. If you leave your primary leader to do what it wishes, it'll eventually flop over, but you'll get a ton of new arms right beside it, as evidenced by my photo of the non-tipped plant. It was an experiment which I won't repeat.

When you top a single vertical branch coming up the trellis, it'll branch out right below where you tipped it.

[sc4001992]

ok, thanks, I got it.