How to grow dragon fruit details
1. Fill a pot with well-drained, sandy cactus soil.
2. Plant cuttings and seeds flush with the soil line. Cover seeds with a thin layer of soil. 3. Fertilize every 2 months with a slow-time release, low-nitrogen cactus fertilizer. 4. Water when the soil is mostly dry. Don't overwater. 5. Prune the plant when necessary.
Part 1
Choosing the Right Set-Up
1 Choose between dragon fruit seeds or cuttings from an already developing plant. Which one you choose all depends on time. If you're growing dragon fruit from seeds, it could be two years or so before your plant bears any fruit. If you grow from the cuttings of a stem, it could take much less time (depending on how large your cutting is).Growing from seed isnt harder, for the record. It just takes more time.Professional growers sell dragon fruit plants that are ready to be transplanted to your garden. Just be careful as youre taking them out of the pot, to ensure that you don't damage the seedlings.
2 Determine whether you're going to grow the plant outdoors or indoors, openly or in a container. Believe it or not, dragon fruit can grow just fine in containers. If you do use a container, use one thats 15 to a 24 in diameter, and at least 10 deep, fitted with a climbing pole. However, the plant will likely eventually grow to a point that it needs a bigger pot, so be prepared to transplant it when that happens.If your plant is going to be outside (whether it's in a container or not), choose a place that's at least partly sunny. The roots can be in the shade, but the tips of the plant need to be in the sun to bloom.If you live in a warm area with a long, warm growing season, this plant could sustain being outside. They can generally handle a very light frost, but thats it. If your area has a decent winter, bring it inside.
3 Use well drained, sandy cactus soil. After all, technically this plant is a cactus. The last thing you want to use is a wet, mucky soil. They are light feeders that dont need a lot of nutrient love. Plant them in an area of your garden where water doesn't tend to pool. If you get a lot of rainfall in your area, plant the dragon fruit plant on a hill or mound, so that the water drains away.If you're planting in a container, grab a large one with drainage holes at the bottom. If you dont have cactus soil available, you can come up with your own by using a mixture of sand, potting soil, and compost. Fill it up a few inches (7cm) away from the brim of the pot.
Part 2
Planting and Caring for Your Dragon Fruit
1 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. This will allow the wound to heal and prevent infection once it is planted.
2 Plant in full sun. The leaves of the plant should be exposed to full sun for best results. Make sure it's still getting adequate sunlight as it grows.
3 Plant flush with the soil line. If you're using cuttings or a farm ordered plant from a box, take it carefully from its container and replant it flush with its new soil line. If you're using seeds, sprinkle a few into each container and cover lightly with soil.
As for seeds, youll have to wait and see which ones take. In a few weeks, you'll have sprouts and they'll likely need separated. If not, they may not reach their full potential.
Consider mixing a small amount of slow time release fertilizer into the lower level of the soil before planting; this may help your plant grow faster.
4 Fertilize only occasionally. Even a cutting will take up to four months to get a good, strong root system going. However, when it comes to fertilizers, be wary: too much can easily kill your plant. For best results, feed them a little slow time release, low nitrogen cactus fertilizer only about once every two months. You may be tempted to do more to see more immediate growth, but it wont help
5 Water the dragon fruit plant in the same manner as a tropical cactus. In other words, only give it a little water when its practically dry. If your plant is large enough by now to have a climbing pole, keep the climbing pole moist. A dripper would be useful in this situation.
Overwatering is possibly the most common reason plants die. Dont be tempted; they don't need it. If youre using a pot, keep in mind how it drains. If there are no drain holes, it needs even less; otherwise the water will just stay in the bottom and lead to rot and decay.
Part 3
Harvesting the Fruit
1 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 in a week. When it does start developing, you may want to use a climbing pole to give it structure. This can help it reach its full potential without it breaking or weighing itself down.
If you've planted your dragon fruit plant from seeds and they're now visibly growing, separate them into their own pots. They need their own turf to grow and flourish.
You'll notice a bloom start to develop over the course of many weeks. However, it will only actually bloom for one night (yep, its nocturnal) so you'll likely miss it in its full glory. Many are self pollinating (if its not you can try hand-pollination; brush the pistils natural pollen down into the inside of the flower). If a fruit is going to develop, you'll notice the flower wither and the base of the bloom begin to swell.
2 Prune the plant. 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. Less weight may actually get it stronger, concentrate the nutrients, and encourage it to flower.
You dont necessarily have to throw the branches away! You can either repot them yourself and grow another plant (they will take root virtually effortlessly) or give them away as a gift.
3 Pick the fruit in the latter half of the year. Dragon fruit usually produces ripe fruit in late summer or fall, but can fruit at almost any time of year if it receives enough water and warmth. You can tell that a dragon fruit is ripe when the skin turns red or yellow, depending on variety. The skin will also feel slightly soft when squeezed, but not mushy
4 Eat up. You've been waiting years for this moment, so savor it. You can cut the fruit into quarters and tear off the rind or just dig into it with a spoon. Its sweet and has a texture that resembles kiwifruit but its a little crunchier.
Once in full production, you could see four to six fruit bearing cycles per year. They amp up eventually; it just takes them a little while to get there. So dont think your first fruit will be your last. Youve waited patiently and now abundance is your reward.
