how to plant dragon fruit

Snip off a 30cm section of a dragon fruit tree and leave it to dry out for 5-6 days or until the cut end turns white. Once it has dried out simply place cut side down into sandy cacti soil and water monthly. Your plant will send out roots and make itself at home within a month and then continue to grow. Easy peasy!

How long does it take for dragon fruit 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.

What is the best time to plant dragon fruit?

The growing season of this plant takes place during the hot months of the summer. It will not grow the rest of the year, but when it does grow, it grows rapidly. Blooms will occur from July to October, but they will only bloom for one night each year. After the flowering occurs, fruit will begin to form.

Are dragon fruit plants easy to grow?

It's especially easy in warm environments, but if you have a greenhouse or sun porch, you can grow dragon fruit in colder environments. Dragon fruit is an exotic fruit, and in most of the southern US, you can grow a dragon fruit plant in pots on your patio if you're careful to protect it from cold weather.

How long does it take a dragon fruit cutting to produce fruit?

A healthy dragon fruit begins to produce fruit in as little as six months after the cutting stage.

Why is my dragon fruit plant not growing?

The most likely cause is inadequate growing conditions. The dragon fruit cactus is a tropical plant, which means it likes heat. It's also possible your dragon fruit won't develop fruit because of a lack of moisture.

Why is dragon fruit so expensive?

There's a higher demand than supply. The law of supply and demand dictates the cost of nearly every commercial good, and dragon fruit is no different. ... Organic fruits and vegetables also tend to cost more than the run-of-the-mill variety and organic dragon fruit can cost double the price.

What is the best fertilizer for dragon fruit?

For newly planted dragon fruit, don't apply fertilizer during the first month. Then apply 4 ounces of a fertilizer such as 6-6-6 or 8-3-9 every two months from the time growth starts in early spring to early fall, when growth stops for the winter.

How often should I water dragon fruit?

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. Dragon fruits usually only develop in the summer, when temperatures are high and the days are long.

What type of soil is required for dragon fruit?

Since the area to be used is sub-marginal, organic fertilizer will be applied to patch up the lacking amount of organic substances in the soil. Dragon fruit plants prefer sandy loam with high organic matter and grow well in soil having good drainage.

Does dragon fruit need full sun?

Dragon fruit needs full sun, so choose a sunny area in your garden or a sunny windowsill that gets at least six hours of sunlight a day. ... Don't use cactus soil—as tropical plants, dragon fruits like more water than other cacti and want something that retains moisture slightly better.

Can dragon fruit survive winter?

Most dragon fruit plants will make it through the winter months without a problem, as long as they are planted in USDA plant hardiness zones 10a through 11. If the weather forecast has a multi-day frost prediction, however, you may want to build a shelter for your dragon fruit.

How big do dragon fruit plants get?

Dragon fruit plants can get quite large; some varieties can even reach upwards of 20 feet (6.1 m). When it gets too large, start pruning it by cutting off some branches.

How do I increase my dragon fruit yield?

How to Induce Flowering in Dragon Fruit

Move your plant into a greenhouse. ...
Extend the length of daylight your dragon fruit plant receives. ...
Train the dragon fruit plant up a trellis. ...
Prune the tips of the plant's uppermost stems after it climbs up the trellis. ...
Prune any dying or damaged branches and stems from your dragon fruit plant.

How deep are dragon fruit roots?

Dragon fruit roots are epiphytic and shallow, and extends within 20 – 30 cm. But before the fruits are produced, the dragon fruit roots usually extend to a depth of 45 – 63 cm, which is the result of the brown stems embedded in the soil.

What month do dragon fruit flower?

This unique jungle plant typically blooms from early summer through mid-autumn. Dragon fruit cactus is a night blooming plant and the flowers last only one evening.

Can I grow dragon fruit indoors?

Dragon fruit is one of the easiest fruits to grow indoors, it is from the cactus family so prefers a dry warm environment and doesn't need much care when it is settled. Dragon fruit is perfectly suited to growing in your house or apartment as the standard household temperature is ideal for this plant.

Where do dragon fruits grow?

The Hylocereus is a vine-y cactus native to Central and South America, but is now cultivated extensively throughout Southeast Asia for sweet, bright pink pitaya, commonly referred to as dragon fruit.

Is dragon fruit worth the price?

Some varieties have yellow skin and darker flesh. Fresh, dried and canned dragon fruit can be found at some specialty markets and online. The fruits can get expensive, with some fresh imports selling for more than $10 apiece. Dragon fruit is low in calories and high in vitamin C and fiber.

Are dragon fruits rare?

The red-fleshed Dragon fruits are rarer than the yellow skinned variety, and are not nearly as widely available as the white-fleshed variety.

Is dragon fruit supposed to be refrigerated?

Once cut, you should eat your dragon fruit immediately or store it in the fridge for a day or so until it begins to brown. If you'd like to slow the ripening of an uncut dragon fruit, place it in a plastic bag and store it in the fridge.