How I Keep PESTS Away From My Dragon Fruit Plants. Nature's Pesticide

[@GraftingDragonFruit]

What issues do you have that I can make a video to help with?

[@old1299]

My dragon fruit plant are soo squishy and skinny why pls hellp and why are they not growing 😔

[@GraftingDragonFruit]

@@old1299 Have you tried tipping the branches?

[@vikashyadav0195]

in my plant many side branches came but now they are not growing any longer......the branches have ony 2 stems on them.....some of them only have 1 stem......what could be done to make them grow longer......i have applied vermicompost and fungicide till now but not helping. p.s. i wanna pick those oranges behind you so badly 😄

[@GraftingDragonFruit]

Hi Santian, there could be a few reasons why your dragon fruit is doing this. Are they in heat for consecutive days? Is your pot sitting on soil or concrete? Also, when fruiting the plant will take up lots of water from the branches to help with its ripening process. Provide shade if you haven’t already on the hottest days. I use an beach umbrella or 30% shade cloth over them. Elevate your pots so it’s not sitting on direct concrete. I have mine on grass/native soil.

[@953546774]

Lot of slugs and small snail eating tip of branches help me out sir

[@lydiae.robles7580]

Thanks for posting this video. Excellent tip on how to allow the spiders residing on your dragon fruit plants do their job.

[@GraftingDragonFruit]

You're welcome! Glad it was helpful :)

[@MrEiht]

When hovering I am always extra careful. I need my spiders. They protect me from fruit flies and the like.

[@GraftingDragonFruit]

@@MrEihtthey’re the best!

[@shamrockgirl804]

Here in Texas, I have a problem with Cactus Bugs (Chelinidea Vittiger) biting my dragon fruits. They cause light green circular marks on the plants because they suck the chlorophyll from the plant. I noticed that spraying the bugs and nymphs with soapy water (plus essential oils like orange oil) kills them. I don’t know what I can spray or use to prevent them. But I make it a habit to hunt for the bugs when working on my plants! 😊

[@GraftingDragonFruit]

Have to stay vigilant on those bugs. The dragon fruits are too precious

[@joshpatterson5959]

Thank you for the tip. I just purchased a very healthy Natural Mystic cutting about 3 weeks ago and a couple of day ago I noticed 2 flower buds. Should I remove them or is it ok to flower? I haven't look for developing roots yet. Thanks.

[@GraftingDragonFruit]

Since it was a cutting and only been 3 weeks, I would remove them to let the plant focus on solidifying its growth.

[@badasseditor5448]

Thanks Richard! Will no longer kill the black and brown widows that are on my dragon fruit plant. Let them kill the pests! This has been helpful!

[@GraftingDragonFruit]

Well if it's a black and brown widows, probably will be best to kill them. You don't want to get bit by one of those

[@omegoa]

Yep. I always leave them. Spiders, ladybugs, and lizards are your friends. I like your organic approach. Thanks for posting this.

[@GraftingDragonFruit]

Nice! Your dragon fruit plants are well protected!

[@technoraptor7778]

I love the lizards..they eat the kadydids.

[@MrEiht]

I have Physalis and Passionfruit backing up the main army of Peppers and Tomato and little Dragons :) Most are not native to Europe, so bugs&pest always ask me for instructions...and since they grow fastet than anything I would need a balcony goat. No bugs can eat that much :)

[@GraftingDragonFruit]

Nice. Sounds like you have a perfect defense

[@MrEiht]

@@GraftingDragonFruit obviously there is bug A eating bug B (I am nominsect identification expert) to keep them in check. But all plants seem happy, even if "someone" is chilling on them. And if I really see to many bug A guys I use e.g. neem oil. But only inside, for baby plants.

[@joelphow6314]

Did you proceed to the new house already? In that case, I carry to say Congrats on your new resident! Live influential and retain a nice cares One! Best wishes

[@GraftingDragonFruit]

Yes I did! Check out the tour of my new garden kzbin.info/www/bejne/hoC0qXh6bZWUaLs Thank you so much

[@l.goodman2134]

Good to know! I hadn't thought about it that way. I have spiders and had wondered if I should hose them off because of the webs. Now I know to leave them in peace and maybe salute them when I water and feed my DF.

[@GraftingDragonFruit]

They'll be your best buddies

[@kristinapham3082]

Thanks for the great video Richard.❤ Do you have advice for squirrels?

[@GraftingDragonFruit]

Ooh that's a tough one as I haven't had that issue yet, but I also have a cat running around out in the back that has probably taken care of creatures like that.

[@Cheezitnator]

BB gun. Or if you want to be nicer you could provide a feeder for them far away from what you're trying to grow. That's what I did. I put a motion activated sprinkler in front of whatever they were messing with and then a feeder at the other end of the yard close to the tree. Easy food near tree vs scary sprinkler in the open.

[@Gamer-bo9ir]

Another amazing video

[@GraftingDragonFruit]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@bethb8276]

Anytime nature will take care of it I'm happy, less work for me!

[@GraftingDragonFruit]

Absolutely! And free 😁

[@fauziamukhwana5211]

Thanks for sharing that coz the spiders that survived from my dragons were those that I didn't spot. I used to destroy them😂

[@GraftingDragonFruit]

Haha I used to do it too

[@pedromunoz4468]

Now you will see people Selling spiders 🕷😂

[@GraftingDragonFruit]

hahahaha right?! People going to be driving the price up LOL

[@technoraptor7778]

Already happens..haha

[@zacharysherry2910]

On the mean streets

[@vy3087]

Thanks for the tip! I’m terrified of spiders but I guess I’ll let them live on my plants for pest control so I get more fruits 😅👍🏼

[@pauhy5601]

Hey Richard,if you were spray something that kill them & spiders would have another perspective on staying near the branches if their existance are threathen,ha?.

[@GraftingDragonFruit]

With the spiders, there's no need to spray haha

[@Detour4it]

My dragon fruit has set fruit four times this year, and each time I'll get large beautiful flowers which die back, but then my fruits start yellowing and abort. First time I let her do her thing. Second time I attempted hand pollination and collected polin. Third time I used pollin and hand pollinated, again. Fourth time, ditto. 😖🙆‍♂️🤷‍♂️🙇‍♂️🙇‍♂️🙇‍♂️

[@GraftingDragonFruit]

Sounds like you may need to cross pollinate with another variety

[@Detour4it]

@@GraftingDragonFruit , I was thinking that... thanks, Buddy. Great videos with detail and enjoyable to watch!

[@kokilakoorganicmanjarifarm]

Thank you that's a great news

[@GraftingDragonFruit]

You're welcome!

[@iconlafoucade5289]

Nice thanks for the info my dragon plants have lot of geckos and very few spiders

[@GraftingDragonFruit]

Any time!

[@Amiri5689]

Hello, I live in Morocco, where the temperature varies between 0°C and 43°C (32°F and 109°F). What is the most suitable dragon variety for my region?

[@GraftingDragonFruit]

Most are fine. It's just a matter of making sure it's not overly exposed to direct sunlight, but some varieties are more resistant to that as well.

[@pauhy5601]

So,Richard-you sorta giving the spiders a ultamatum ,no harm goes to the dragonfruit plants& they get to survive among your area/plants with no fuss?.

[@GraftingDragonFruit]

It's a deal that had to be made LOL

[@roottrackerzbyyaira]

A huge spider in one of my DF caught a grasshopper last night. I just had 3 buds bloom and 1 more ln.

[@GraftingDragonFruit]

Nice! He did his job haha

[@roottrackerzbyyaira]

@@GraftingDragonFruit yes! The DF is a food source for Charlotte's Web 🕸

[@GraftingDragonFruit]

Absolutely!

[@Cheezitnator]

SO I been using the leave it alone technique, giving as much habitat as I can for lizards and other bug predators with one exception: Florida lubber grasshopper. One of those guys chewed through the dragonfruit limbs down to the core. Nothing eats them(except the elusive shrike which I have seen none around here) and they are so destructive and no pesticides work so when I find them, I cut them in half. Other than that I use minimal pest control and that worked great for when the ants were putting all these aphids on my loquat. The ladybugs showed up in force along with the green anoles and now them aphids and most the ants are gone. I have so many lizard friends; anoles, geckos, and blue tailed skinks, they make me happy to see.

[@GraftingDragonFruit]

You have the perfect ecosystem working there

[@SagarSharma-vk8wt]

Best pot size for dragon fruit plant

[@GraftingDragonFruit]

20-25 gallons are what I use

[@SagarSharma-vk8wt]

How many plants use in this pot

[@fauziamukhwana5211]

I was to ask does rust affect the production of the plant?

[@GraftingDragonFruit]

Yes, if it gets too much rust the plant can get sick and go into “recover mode”

[@fauziamukhwana5211]

Thanks you.

[@miakiss5891]

How’s about ants? I have them on the trellis and don’t know what 6o do

[@GraftingDragonFruit]

Use an ant bait like Terro to start targeting the colony.

[@nidasOrganicGarden]

you can use Philippine made organic Fetiizer called AMO all in 1 Fertilizer and Fungicide, insecticides all organic plus growth booster plus Brix level booster. $15 only per 1 Hectare or 10,000 square meter of use.

[@GraftingDragonFruit]

Thanks!

[@nidasOrganicGarden]

AMO Organic fertilizer : AMO Plant Growth Enhancer is made from Kelp, Neem, and Limestone. It is safe and has no chemical residue on plants. What are the benefits of using AMO? 1. Increases the Brix Level of plants 2. Faster growth of fruit-bearing and flowering plants 3. Healthier and heavier yield 4. Repels insects, rats, and snails; acting as an antifeedant 5. Longer post-harvest shelf life 6. Fungicide 7. 100 grams can Fertilize 1 Hectare area.

[@farmlessfarmertv]

Ants I guess is the common problem in my dragon fruit...but they also help repel other insects, I just leave them alone. Happy Ants!

[@GraftingDragonFruit]

Have you tried using some kind of ant bait for protection?

[@volacamarena7404]

Thanks Again ! 🕸️ 🕷️

[@GraftingDragonFruit]

You’re welcome!

[@ochwopaul7388]

Hey Richard , am very curious to see your new baby . May Allah reward u with happy family. U all deserve.

[@GraftingDragonFruit]

Thank you so much

[@mauriciodiaz1310]

You know wats crazy. I been trying to kill all my spiders. Now I will leave them

[@GraftingDragonFruit]

That was usually my first instinct as well

[@debrafrederick5300]

Did you actually have monarch caterpillars on the dragons?

[@orpheusdrakos1911]

i have they ate right though the new growth. so ended up with holes in it.

[@GraftingDragonFruit]

Yes have seen caterpillars on my dragons before

[@debrafrederick5300]

Thanks for the info @@orpheusdrakos1911

[@debrafrederick5300]

Thanks for the reply! @@GraftingDragonFruit

[@rohitbhatnagar7599]

What are the best type of spiders to get?

[@justinfu2612]

Thank you

[@vajjaajaykumar7151]

Hi I am Ajay Kumar from India actually I need some sample dragon plants the types which are available in your garden each type four plants is there any possibility to send them please.

[@GraftingDragonFruit]

Not at this time. I don't ship international

[@ofeliatestrada101]

🕷️aww 😮am very allergic to spiders but would they work indoor plants

[@GraftingDragonFruit]

If you don't have a lot of pests for indoors, no need to keep the spiders

[@Aphrodite987]

What type of spiders?

[@GraftingDragonFruit]

Just typical ones in your area.

[@LesleyC]

Richard!!! OMG--spiders! I hate(d) spiders...ughhhh...even watching this video made me squirmy and itchy all over. But I feel like this year--I have had soooo many spiders on my DF plants. When I see them I usually try to kill them and I am always breaking their webs but I guess I will stop doing all of that! My DF Lover side says "Thanks so much for the tip!" My normal person side is trying to accept spiders as friends. 😝

[@GraftingDragonFruit]

hahaha it's a love hate relationship

[@LesleyC]

🤣🤣@@GraftingDragonFruit

[@Slice_of_Lizz]

Fun fact: those are daddy long legs, which are arachnids but they’re actually not spiders because spiders have a specific anatomy. But still! Natural pest control for sure! 🙌

[@GraftingDragonFruit]

Learn something new everyday. Thank you :)

[@rohitbhatnagar7599]

How do you get spiders on Dragon Fruit in the first place

[@studiohq]

Neem oil

[@GraftingDragonFruit]

Those are good too

[@studiohq]

@@GraftingDragonFruit I'm recovering from cancer so I don't use carcinogenic chemicals

[@GraftingDragonFruit]

@@studiohq Best wishes to your recovery journey

[@studiohq]

@@GraftingDragonFruit I cancer free two years this month you are one of my joys to watch, your smiles make me smile so I want to thank you for that☺Good luck with your future I can't wait to see what you create and grow😃

[@Phi.D.888]

Let hope your dragon fruit is still intact after the storm

[@GraftingDragonFruit]

They survived! How about yours?

[@Phi.D.888]

@@GraftingDragonFruit can't grow dragon fruit on northeastern climate 🤣

[@rebecagarcia7387]

Have you ever cut a arm that has flower buds?

[@GraftingDragonFruit]

no. I wait until the season is completed