The dragon fruit plant makes a wonderful ornamental or edible treat. It can be grown easily from seeds or cuttings and produces an abundance of juicy fruit.
Dragon fruit plants have an exotic appeal and make great ornamentals or edible treats. They’re easy to grow from seeds or cuttings and produce plenty of juicy fruits.
Three- to 4-year-old plants may produce about 220 lb (100 kg) of fruit per year, while the plant’s estimated life span is 20 years.
These tropical plants thrive best in warm temperatures and well-draining soil, but can also thrive indoors in containers if brought indoors when temperatures drop.
Propagation
Propagation is the practice of starting plants from seeds or cuttings. This method has proven highly successful, producing fruit-bearing plants within one year; however, it’s not as reliable as stem cuttings which may take up to seven years before producing an adult plant.
Before you begin, prepare the soil bed by spreading potting soil that is rich in organic matter and well-draining. Additionally, you will require either a humidity dome or resealable plastic bag to maintain humidity within the growing medium.
To propagate dragon fruit, trim a six-inch section of the mother plant’s growth with pruning snips, leaving all three ridges of its stem exposed (the fibrous middle). Next, use a bamboo stake as guidance while planting it in its intended direction.
Place the cactus segment in a pot filled with potting soil and some grit or sand mix for drainage if needed. Water the soil evenly, continuing to water it regularly as your cutting grows roots.
Once your cutting has taken root, transplant it into a larger pot or garden bed that offers the ideal climate and conditions for growth. After your plant has established itself, prune back its crown once every few years for maintenance.
Once your plant is healthy, it will produce fruit that is bright yellow or red in hue. Inside each fruit are tiny seeds similar to kiwi fruit seeds; when ripe they can be eaten or dried for energy; alternatively they make delicious and nutritious jam.
Native to tropical and subtropical regions of the world, dragon fruit plants can thrive indoors given enough sun exposure and regular watering.
Care
The dragon fruit plant, commonly referred to as pitaya, produces an incredible flower. This giant bloom boasts one of the world’s biggest petals and its fragrance is delightfully fruity.
Not only is it stunningly beautiful to observe but only blooms once a year!
When planting your dragon fruit plant, select an area with plenty of sunlight. Although it’s hardy to light frosts, its ideal temperature ranges are 70-85degF with a minimum temperature of 55degF.
If growing indoors, consider using grow lights for increased sun tolerance.
You should select a potting soil that has excellent drainage but is rich in organic matter, as dragon fruits require slightly more water than other cacti.
Once you have selected an ideal planting site, prepare the seed bed by mixing sterile seed starter or cactus soil mix into a pot or cup that is about 1/4″ deep. Finally, sprinkle dragon fruit seeds over top of the soil.
Keep the potting soil evenly moistened through watering or misting, but avoid overwatering. When seedlings emerge from their small pots, carefully transplant them into a larger one for additional support and growth.
Rotating your dragon fruit plant regularly ensures each stem receives even light exposure, helping the section grow to the same length and avoiding having a plant that is too tall for its container.
If your dragon fruit plant becomes too heavy or wilting, bamboo stakes can serve as support poles to help it remain upright. You can also train the stems to grow upward by cutting strips of cloth and attaching them to a bamboo stake for support.
During the growing season, you can fertilize your dragon fruit plant to provide it with essential nutrients. Doing this will keep the plant healthy and boost its chances of producing delicious fruit!
You can propagate your dragon fruit plant from stems that you cut at the end. Be sure to make the cut at a joint and prune away any deformed or diseased parts of the stem.
Harvesting
Dragon fruits are an irresistible summer treat. Their sweet, kiwi-like taste is both nutritious and visually stunning, coming in an array of colors such as red, yellow, or white.
Of all the dragon fruits, the yellow pitahaya (hylocereus megalanthus) is the most popular.
They’re easy to cultivate, too. Not much watering or fertilizing is necessary and they can thrive in hot and dry locations – generally USDA zones 10 through 11. You may even grow them indoors!
Start your new dragon fruit plant with just a few supplies and some patience. Choose an area that gets plenty of sun but is protected from intense heat; ideally, your location should also provide some shade.
Next, prepare the soil. A mixture consisting of 2 parts vegetable potting mix and 3 parts cactus soil is ideal; this will give more nutrients for your dragon fruit while helping it drain better and prevent moisture problems.
You may want to add some fertilizer at this stage but not too much as not to overtax it.
Cut your cuttings one to two inches deep and plant them in the same direction as your original dragon fruit plant. Bury the end nearest the base of the original branch in soil; poke out any tips nearer to the tip with your fingernail.
Once your cuttings have grown a little, you can transplant them into a container. Keep them at a temperature between 32 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit for optimal growth.
Once they reach about one foot in height, reduce them in half. It is recommended to do this at least twice a year so as not to lose too many of the fruits on the plant.
After that, your dragon fruit plant will continue to produce a limited number of fruits. On average, you’ll get between 20-60 pounds of produce per mature plant.
Harvesting dragon fruit can be an enjoyable and rewarding hobby, provided you put in the effort to take care of your plants. Plus, it’s a great way to save money!
Storage
Dragon fruit plants require special consideration when it comes to storage.
As they are highly susceptible to rotting and should be kept out of direct sunlight, dragon fruit plants need extra precautions against insects, fungi, and diseases – so make sure the plant you purchase is in optimal health before storing it away from these conditions.
If you live in a warm climate, you can store dragon fruit in your refrigerator to help slow the ripening process and ensure it stays fresh longer.
To do this, wrap the fruit tightly in plastic and seal it shut so air cannot enter; this will keep it fresh up to several months.
Dragon fruit can also be frozen. Though these fruits will stay good in the freezer for several months, fresh pitaya will taste much better than frozen.
You can save the seeds of a dragon fruit and grow new plants from them. This requires several steps, but is an effortless way to make something new from an individual pitaya.
Start by picking out all seeds from your fruit then rinse them thoroughly using a tea strainer to separate them from its flesh.
Once the seeds have been separated from their pulp, place them in a small pot filled with sterile seed starter or cactus soil mix. Mist the surface of the soil with water before covering with plastic bag or clear food wrap to prevent drying out.
Dragon fruit thrives in light, well-draining soil with a pH level around 6-7. You may add some granular fertilizer during the green growth phase for extra support.
Depending on the cultivar you are growing, it may take up to two years for dragon fruit to mature and begin bearing fruit. On average, each plant produces 20-60 pounds of fruit per year.
Fruit can be enjoyed as a refreshing snack or added to sweet and savory dishes such as smoothies, puddings, popsicles, sorbets, and jams. It may even be dried and used to create natural dyes.
[…] Dragon fruit plants are tropical succulents and require lots of light and well-draining soil. Dragon fruit plants should be watered only when the soil is nearly dry. […]
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