Very well thought out and considered Marin. You're good to go for quite a while. Eventually, the only problematic issue I foresee for this set up is the amount of weight that the plastic lattice can hold. It is difficult to really tell from the picture how sturdy this is. When I first glanced at the picture, before I read your description, I was immediately of the opinion that you used wood lattice. While the plant would love that, the wood would be expected to break down and not hold the weight of the plant once it gets large enough. It is amazing how heavy these things can get. In nature, I have heard of a huge plant virtually engulfing a tree and which then, under the shear weight of the dragonfruit, snapped the tree. I have planted a bunch of dragonfruit on dead trees. The dragonfruit love it. But in almost every case, the dead tree has rotted to a point that it could not hold the plant. The good news is that where ever the plant lands, once it hits the ground, is a perfect place for the plant to keep growing. My plan is to just add some wood mulch around the fallen area and let them keep growing right on the ground, allowing the rotten dead tree to remain until it totally disintegrates. In your situation, you will have some time before this becomes an issue. You can always ad support to your horizontal lattice structure as may be needed later. Of course, keep us posted. Best of luck with this. I'll look forward to the day that you have an over abundance of plant growth and way too may dragonfruit to eat!

Harry

Nice job, I need to work on constructing a Dragon Fruit trellis. I currently only have a regular cross pattern wood trellis from HD stuck in the pot.

I was thinking of using (4) sturdy smaller width stakes in, 1 in each corner. Then joining the tops together with nails/staples on a 6"x6" wood square. From the wood square could staple gun 3' wood stakes in a cross section pattern.

I just put one in the ground inside the GH. I used a 6x6 and I've got 'David Bowie' and 'American Beauty.'

How important is the burlap? I grew these earlier on just bare wood support, I was hoping to do the same this time.

The burlap is useful to hold mositure but is not required.....except if you are using pressure treated or even some painted wood. The aerial roots put out by a dragonfruit will not long adhere to a pressure treated wood surface....even if you don't mind the flavor of the creosode in your fruits.

Harry

Harry, It may not be visible in the photo unless you zoom it in but the gavanized steel mesh that I started with is under the lattice to support it and the rebar crossbars are tied to all of it . I latched it to the lattice with zip ties. This way it provides support without plant actually laying on the metal. I sprayed the rebar and support mesh with a rust/ corrosian preventative primer. PS I thought it was 'beautiful' but my kids asked me if it was staying on te front yard and waited for my answer to tell me how ugly it was LOL. No one here appreciates my hobby.

Ahhh.....I see the rebar now and mesh in addition? Good job. I think it is lovely....tell your kids they don't know beautiful artwork when they see it. Tell them to go take a class in modern art.

Harry

@ Harry, I tried that they laughed at me :)My daughter thought I built in in the front and planned to drag it out to the back yard until she found out over a foot of the post was buried in the ground under the LOL.

@ Nullzero, I could help you construct one like I made and it wasn't break the bank expensive. I still have a a lot left from the big roll of burlap I can donate to you. Or I could email you a step by step instruction list with a supply list.

@ Stressbaby, I used a pressure treated 4x4 that's why I used the burlap...plus I can saturate the burlap with MG liquid for the attaching roots to absorb

Marinfla,

That is so generous of you, I may take you up on that (can send some interesting fruit/vegetable seeds/plants to you). I was looking at repotting two dragon fruit plants soon. I wanted to get around to making the dragon fruit trellis.

Looks good. I have one question though...why not plant it directly into the ground?

Many DF orchards in Thailand now have stopped using any type of top working support. They just put a post into the ground and allow the plant to hang on its own. Also keeping the posts at about 4 feet max. Saves a lot of labor on constructing and maintaining of the support structures as well as labor for picking.

Warren and I were both skeptical over this until we started seeing more mature plantings. After being pruned, they formed a natural waterfall of branches that supported themselves very well. But I also believe this application is more suited to the orchards versus home plantings... unless space is a consideration.

I guess I need to find some burlap. Thanks guys.

Home Depot has burlap here in Florida, at least.

Harry

Ohiojay... I thought about planting it into the ground. I decided not to for a couple of reasons. 1. the plant could be more mobile and easily relocated if needed. 2. It would not be damaged by the landscapers that high up off the ground.