How do you take care of a dragon fruit seedling? Only water the plant when the top of the soil is dry to the touch, and do not allow the plant to sit in water. The soil needs to be moist, not soaked.
When to plant dragon fruit?
Dragon fruit is a tropical plant through and through, and needs to remain in temperatures about 40 degrees F, with an ideal temperature between 60 and 80 degrees F. In USDA zones 9-11, dragon fruit can perhaps survive outdoors all year.
How to grow dragon fruit at home?
Part 3 Part 3 of 3: Harvesting the Fruit
- Watch the dragon fruit plant grow. While your plant may take a couple of years to get fully going, some hit giant spurts where they can grow a foot ...
- Prune the plant. Dragon fruit plants can get quite large; some varieties can even reach upwards of 20 feet (6.1 m).
- Pick the fruit in the later half of the year. ...
How do you grow dragon fruit?
To grow dragon fruit from seed, slice a dragon fruit in half and use a spoon to scrape out some seeds. Rinse the seeds. Pulp will cling to the seeds, and it’s fine to plant with it attached. Fill a cup or small pot with sterile seed starter or cactus soil mix. Moisten the soil but avoid saturating it with water.
How to plant dragon fruit cuttings?
Part 2 Part 2 of 3: Planting and Caring for Your Dragon Fruit
- Let cuttings dry before planting. If you obtain a fresh cutting, it is best to let it dry in a cool, shady spot for about a week.
- Plant in full sun. The leaves of the plant should be exposed to full sun for best results. ...
- Plant flush with the soil line. ...
- Fertilize only occasionally. ...
- Water the dragon fruit plant in the same manner as a tropical cactus. ...
How do you look after dragon fruit seedlings?
Feed dragon fruit in spring and summer with Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser. Water weekly during summer. During the cooler months, reduce watering to once every two-to-three weeks. Take care not to over water, as dragon fruit will not tolerate wet feet.
How often should I water my dragon fruit seedlings?
2:164:09How can you tell if you're over watering your dragon fruit - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo if you overwater this will this is what happens if you overwater it. So it's better to underwaterMoreSo if you overwater this will this is what happens if you overwater it. So it's better to underwater than overwater your dragon food since they're cactuses plus I've seen like cuttings that had no
How long do dragon fruit seedlings take to grow?
If dragon fruit has intrigued you, the small seeds scattered throughout its flesh can be sprouted easily and grown into a dragon fruit plant of your own. Plants can begin flowering in as little as six to eight months, although container-grown plants may take up to two years to bear fruit.
How do you take care of a baby dragon fruit?
Dragon FruitPlace in a light shaded to bright environment. Avoid direct sunlight.Water more frequently than other cacti (approximately once every 2 weeks). Allow soil to dry between waterings. ... 12-27ºC (54-80ºF). Keep indoors, except USDA zones 10a to 11b. ... The fruit borne by mature plants is edible.
Can dragon fruit grow in pots?
How to grow dragon fruit in a container. Choose a container that is at least 10 inches deep and 24 inches wide. This equates to about a 10-gallon pot. Dragon fruit, also known as Pitaya, is a vining cactus, so you will need to provide a sturdy support in your container.
Does dragon fruit need a lot of sun?
Although dragon fruit plants enjoy warm weather and are often planted in full sunlight, too much intense sun in dry or especially hot regions can cause stem damage. If temperatures in your area are frequently near 100 degrees Fahrenheit, it's best to plant your cactus in a spot that boasts partial shade.
What kind of soil do dragon fruit like?
sandyUnlike most cactus, dragon fruit likes to have its soil on the slightly moist side. Plant your dragon fruit in fast draining potting soil formulated for cactuses, or if planted in the ground, make sure your soil is sandy and slightly acidic. Dragon fruit is a vining cactus and likes to climb.
How do you grow dragon fruit indoors?
The ideal room temperature is between 65 and 85 F. The plant does not tolerate temperatures over 100 F and should not be kept in rooms that get overly hot during the summer. The dragon fruit cactus is not frost-tolerant. During winter, keep it away from cold windows.
How do you take care of a dragon fruit plant?
3:2515:485 Dragon Fruit Growing Mistakes to Avoid - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBasically i need to put out new stem pieces a lot of new stem. Pieces. That are going to actuallyMoreBasically i need to put out new stem pieces a lot of new stem. Pieces. That are going to actually make their way upwards towards the sun. Because this one's just not doing its job.
Is dragon fruit easy to grow?
While dragon fruit may look a little strange, it tastes great in tropical fruit salads, is brimming with wonderful nutrients and is easy to grow in most regions of Australia - provided you plant it in a spot that receives at least six hours of sunlight per day.
What are the stages of dragon fruit?
Seven principal growth stages, viz., bud development (0), shoot development (1), vegetatively propagated organ development (4), reproductive development (5), flowering (6), fruit development (7) and fruit maturation (8) have been described.
How long does it take a dragon fruit cutting to produce fruit?
If you started it in a pot first, you can transplant it into the soil after half a month. From a cutting, dragon fruit takes fourteen months to fruit in tropical climates from cuttings. Rooted dragon fruit.
How can you pollinate an indoor Dragon Fruit plant?
If your Dragon Fruit plant is not self-pollinating, you will perform hand pollination. Collect the pollen from the flowers using a paintbrush or co...
Until when can you keep the dragon fruit?
If the fruit is unpeeled, it will last for several days in the kitchen. It's also possible to store it in the ref for a maximum time of two weeks.
What happens if you grow the Dragon Fruit plant in the shade?
This is a sun-loving plant that needs full sun to grow properly. If you try growing it in a shaded spot, the quality and size of the fruit will be...
What size pot should be used for a mature Dragon Fruit plant?
A mature Dragon Fruit plant should be grown in a 15-20 gallon pot.
How long will the Dragon Fruit seeds take for germination?
The germination occurs in 10 to 15 days from the sowing date. If it takes longer, you should consider revising the care schedule of the seeds.
The Different Types of Dragon Fruit
Dragon fruit or pitayas are extremely unique plants that come in three different types that you can enjoy.
How to Grow Dragon Fruit Plants
Unlike most cactus plants, this one is a climbing plant that needs a bit of support to grow properly. It is a sub tropical plant that needs a lot of heat and humidity, so here is a breakdown of the information that you will need to nurture and grow dragon fruit.
How to Grow Dragon Fruit in Pots
Since dragon fruit does not like to grow in colder climates, having it planted in a pot can be a great idea. It allows you to easily move the plant indoors when the weather starts getting cold. Large pots are best; typically they should be at least 15 gallons.
Dragon Fruit Pollination
Moths, bats, and bees pollinate dragon fruit, but there are some varieties that do not self pollinate at all. This is where hand pollination comes into play. You will need to collect the pollen from two different dragon fruit plants, and gently use a cotton swab to paint it onto the stigma of the opposite plant to cross pollinate.
Pests and Diseases
Mealybugs and aphids can be a common problem for a dragon fruit. They are sap sucking pests that basically feed on the sweet sap of the plant. Aphids also attract ants, who will then feed on the plant as well. Mites and thrips can also be a hindrance; they will not kill the plant, but they are not good for the overall health of the plant.
Health Benefits
Not many people are aware that eating the fruit from a dragon fruit plant is actually very beneficial to your health. Here are some of the benefits that you can experience when you have your own fruit bearing plant:
Dragon Fruit Cactus Care
To successfully grow your own dragon fruit plant, you'll need to live in a warm and sunny region and have ample space in your garden—this is a heavy cactus, with a spreading habit and long stems. Make sure it's planted far enough away from your home, electrical lines, and any other hazardous objects it could interact with.
Pruning a Dragon Fruit Cactus
If you neglect to prune your dragon fruit cactus, the chances of fungal disease and insect infestation will increase. It can also result in poor light penetration for the tangled center stems, which can impact fruit production.
Propagating a Dragon Fruit Cactus
Some dragon fruit cultivars are self-incompatible, which means you may need a few different types to ensure a better chance of fruit production through cross-pollination. Because most cultivars have a nocturnal flowering habit, you may need to hand-pollinate, as there may not be any bees or other pollinators around to do it for you.
Harvesting Dragon Fruit
You will know your dragon fruit is ready to harvest when the flaps on the pink outer skin start to develop a withered appearance. If it's ripe, you should be able to twist it from the stem with ease—any fruit that has fallen from the stem on its own tends to be overripe, so timing your harvest properly is important.
Common Pests & Diseases
Depending on where you live, wild animals could find your dragon fruit crop appealing. You may need to take measures to protect your cactus and its fruit from rats, raccoons, birds, and more. The plants are also attractive to ants, mealybugs, mites, and slugs.
Tips
A quick way to plant pitaya (dragon fruit) is to simply break or cut a bit of an existing plant. Separated branches do not wither, but rather sprout their own roots in search of new soil.
Warnings
The plants can handle temperatures up to 40°C (104°F) and very short periods of frost, but will not survive long exposure to freezing temperatures.
About This Article
This article was co-authored by Andrew Carberry, MPH. Andrew Carberry has been working in food systems since 2008. He has a Masters in Public Health Nutrition and Public Health Planning and Administration from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. This article has been viewed 476,018 times.
Starting the Seeds
To grow dragon fruit from seed, slice a dragon fruit in half and use a spoon to scrape out some seeds. Rinse the seeds. Pulp will cling to the seeds, and it’s fine to plant with it attached. Fill a cup or small pot with sterile seed starter or cactus soil mix. Moisten the soil but avoid saturating it with water.
Growing Outdoors
Dragon fruit can grow in the ground in USDA zones 9 through 11, although they must be protected from frost in zone 9. Outdoor dragon fruit thrive in sunny spots or in filtered sun in intensely hot areas. Temperatures that exceed 100 will harm the plant and cause wilt.
Growing in Containers
In cooler climates, dragon fruit are ideal for containers. They grow well in a greenhouse, sunroom or indoors placed about two feet away from a sunny south-facing window. Plant lights, such as LEDs on timers, can be used to supplement natural light if needed.
Fertilizing
Begin feeding at three months of age using a low-nitrogen cactus fertilizer or granular 8-4-12 palm fertilizer. Dragon fruit are light feeders, so apply fertilizer every two months only while the plant is actively growing. In cooler areas, the plant will become dormant in fall.
Pruning
Fall is the time to prune larger dragon fruit. Sterilize your pruning shears, then remove any decaying or dead foliage or stems. Also, trim to open up areas that are crowded to improve airflow. Left on their own, dragon fruit can grow 20 feet high, so annual pruning is a must.
Pollinating and Harvesting
When the plant begins to flower, prepare for a treat. Buds develop for several weeks, then, when ready to bloom, they open for just one night. Their showy flowers are among the largest in the plant world and release an intoxicating scent. While some dragon fruit plants are self-pollinating, others depend on bats or moths for pollination.
Our own experience with growing dragon fruit from a seedling
A few years ago we created our own dragon fruit plant from seed. We are almost three years further and the plant is almost as big as a hand. So if you want seedlings you have to be very patient. What is really fun about a seedling is that you don’t know if you’re dealing with a cross.
Easy step-by-step plan of planting a dragon fruit seed!
There are two options of planting dragon fruit, namely you can plant a seed or a dragon fruit cutting, with which you will get much faster results. Since not everybody has a cutting at its disposal, we will discuss how to get a dragon fruit plant from seed. This will not be much different than a cutting. Down below we have enumerated all the steps.
How to enjoy your dragon fruit?
When you have followed these above three steps of growing the dragon fruit plant from seed you are done. You can pick the dragon fruit and eat it just straight away. But there are many different ways you can enjoy dragon fruit. You can make a dragon fruit shake for example or make cookies out of it.
How often should you water a dragon fruit plant?
It’s also possible your dragon fruit won’t develop fruit because of a lack of moisture. Since it’s a cactus, many gardeners assume the pitaya doesn’t need much water. In fact, it likes its soil to be kept consistently moist and should be given about an inch (2.5 cm.) of water per week.
How long does it take for a dragon fruit to bear fruit?
Plants can begin flowering in as little as six to eight months, although container-grown plants may take up to two years to bear fruit. The good news is that once the plant is mature, you could see four to six fruiting cycles a year from a plant that is capable of bearing fruit for 20 to 30 years.
How do you care for an indoor dragon fruit plant?
Your dragon fruit plant needs at least 6 to 8 hours of full sun to thrive. It tolerates some shade, and it even requires it in scorching climates, but you should always keep an eye on the temperature it receives. The dragon fruit plant fares the best at temperatures ranging between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
What is the best fertilizer for dragon fruit?
Choose a fertilizer with a balanced NPK ratio. However, most experts agree that some type of balanced fertilizer, like 16-16-16 or 13-13-13, is a good choice for your dragon fruit. You can use fertilizer granules, or spread fertilizer through your irrigation system. Slow-release fertilizer is also an option.
How much sun does a dragon fruit plant need?
Dragon fruit plants can grow from a cutting of a mature plant. To grow a dragon fruit from a cutting: Prepare the soil bed. Dragon fruit needs full sun—choose a sunny area in your garden or a sunny windowsill that gets at least six hours of sunlight a day —and good drainage to avoid “wet feet.”
Can you overwater dragon fruit?
Dragon Fruit’s Water Needs It’s still a cactus, however, so too much water is as bad as too little. Dragon fruit planted outdoors may get adequate water from the rain. To avoid overwatering, use a rain gauge to measure how much water Mother Nature gave your plant and then provide more only as needed.
How do I get my dragon fruit to bloom?
In its natural environment, dragon fruit cactus grows up jungle trees. Provide a sturdy trellis for your pitaya, then remove lower stems below the point where the plant reaches the trellis. This way the plant can focus its energy into producing blooms instead of growing unnecessary stems.
How do you prepare dragon fruit seeds for planting?
Cut a ripe dragon fruit in half and scoop out the black seeds. Wash off the fruit flesh and pulp from the seeds and lay out the seeds on a moist paper towel for at least twelve hours. Plant the seeds. Sprinkle the dragon fruit seeds across the soil surface and cover with a thin layer of soil.
Do dragon fruit seeds need to be dried before planting?
First, wash the seeds and dry them overnight before planting them. Simply sow Dragon seeds in compost or potting mix the seeds should germinate within 2 weeks. Dragon fruit seeds are fairly easy to germinate but show variable germination rates.
How long does it take for a dragon fruit to grow from a seed?
If dragon fruit has intrigued you, the small seeds scattered throughout its flesh can be sprouted easily and grown into a dragon fruit plant of your own. Plants can begin flowering in as little as six to eight months, although container-grown plants may take up to two years to bear fruit.
Can you grow a dragon fruit plant indoors?
You can grow the dragon fruit plant (Hylocereus undatus) indoors if your home has a location with plenty of sunlight, such as a sunroom or a large window where the plant gets six to eight hours of sunlight. Dragon fruit cactus is a vine that can grow up to 20 feet tall.
How do you make dragon fruit grow faster?
Dragon fruit needs sun to produce fruit so plant it in a full sun spot or a place that gets at least 6 hours of sunlight a day. When situated indoors, make sure your plant is in a warm and sunny spot. Unlike most cactus, dragon fruit likes to have its soil on the slightly moist side.
How fast does dragon fruit grow?
Cuttings grow very fast (1.2 inches [3 cm] per day) and many produce fruit in 6–9 months after planting. Longer cuttings usually reach the trellis supports faster than shorter ones.
How do you take care of a dragon fruit seedling?
Only water the plant when the top of the soil is dry to the touch, and do not allow the plant to sit in water. The soil needs to be moist, not soaked. Light Requirements – The base of the plant can see a little shade, but the tips of the plant require full sun to ensure that the plant blooms properly.
