Dragon Fruit Plant is not only a beautiful, fast-growing exotic houseplant, it is also edible, producing stunning-looking and tasty, colorful fruit. Dragon fruit is a tropical fruit that has grown in incredibly popular.
Strawberry Pear is an incredible cactus that produces strange-looking fruit that looks like a magical dragon egg. It has been described as tasting a slightly sweet hybrid between a kiwi and a pear.
Dragon fruit blooms on the Honolulu queen cactus, which has flowers that only open at night. The most frequent kind has white pulp with black seeds; there is a less common form with red pulp and black seeds.
Dragon Fruit Plant
The Dragon Fruit Plant (Selenicereus undatus) has an exotic appeal with a palm-like trunk that goes up to a twisty tangle of cactus vines, making it ideal for an Asian-style garden or tropical motif. Those who live in frost-prone areas can grow it in pots indoors.
Pitahaya is grown in Peru, Mexico, South Asia, Southeast Asia, East Asia, the United States, the Caribbean, Australia, Mesoamerica, and mostly across the world’s all areas.
The Pitaya, known for its blazing pink fruit with white speckled flesh, has climbing vines that grow well in dry regions, making it little care, in tropical or subtropical locations.
Strawberry pear plant grows up to 20 feet tall and grows aerial roots that let them to cling to surfaces, in their creeping, climbing nature. It can take up to 7 years to grow fruit from seeds, but if plant a cutting; you could have fruit in 1 to 3 years.
The reason dragon fruit plants are so unique is not because of their size; it is because of the flowers only open for one night, and the aromas experience on that night are surreal and exotically fruity.
Pitahaya bushes produce some of the world’s largest blooms, known as “night-blooming cereus,” which bloom as stunning white flowers for one night only and fill the air with a distinct tropical aroma.
Plant Overview
- Botanical Name: Hylocereus undatus
- Common Name: Dragon fruit, pitahaya or pitaya, strawberry pear, Honolulu queen, moonlight cactus
- Plant Type: Cactus
- Mature Size: 10–20 ft. tall, 5–10 ft. wide
- Sun Exposure: Full sun, partial shade
- Soil Type: Sandy, well-drained
- Soil pH: Neutral to acidic
- Bloom Time: Spring, summer, fall, winter
- Flower Color: White
- Hardiness Zones: 10–12 (USDA)
- Native Area: Mexico, Central America, South America
How To Grow Dragon Fruit Plant Indoors
The dragon fruit plant may be grown if home has a position with enough sunlight, such as a sunroom or a wide window where the plant will receive six to eight hours of sunlight.
As a climber with aerial roots that grow from its branches and grab onto objects, the plant need support, such as a trellis, to grow erect. It is a subtropical plant that requires a high level of heat and humidity.
Buying a dragon fruit and planting the seeds is an easy approach to growing dragon fruit plant. However, if you start a dragon fruit plant from seed, it may take several years before it produces fruit.
Pruning
If you don’t prune dragon fruit cactus, enhance risks of fungal disease and insect infestation. It can cause poor light for the tangled core stems, affecting fruit production. Pruning regularly also promotes prolific flowering and keeps the plant from getting heavy for the trellis it is growing up.
Plan to prune any longer, damaged, knotted, or dead stems up to two or three times each year. If you’re lucky, might be able to get away with one annual pruning operation, which can be done after the fruit has been harvested.
Propagation
Pitahaya plants may be propagated from stem cuttings. Begin by taking a good-sized clip from a healthy stem. Fungicide should be applied to the cut end before planting it cut-side down in a container filled with potting soil and sand.
To propagate, take a mature plant and cut a whole piece off. This might range from 6 to 15 inches. Make a slanted incision in the open end and apply fungicide to it. Allow it to “cure” for a week in a dry, shaded area, allowing the open wound to dry and heal.
Water the cutting slightly and place the pot in a shaded area for about a week to “cure.” You may anticipate the cutting to grow swiftly and to yield fruit in less than a year.
Dragon Fruit Plant Care
The Pitahaya requires a sandy perlite soil mixture that is irrigated when the topsoil is dry. It will grow in an area that receives full sun.
To successfully grow dragon fruit plant, it must be in a warm and sunny climate and have sufficient garden space. This is a large cactus with a spreading habit and long stems.
Make sure it’s placed far away from house, electricity lines, and any other possibly harmful things. A robust trellis is normally required to support it.
Light and Soil
Pitahaya prefer warm weather and are often planted in full sun, more strong sunlight in dry or very hot areas can cause stem damage. It’s important to consider that more shade might lead to less prolific fruit production and worse harvest quality.
When it comes to soil type or pH level, dragon fruit plants are not picky. The key is that their soil be wet, organic rich, and well-draining. Mulching around the base of the plant, especially in dry areas, is advised by cactus experts to aid the soil retain moisture.
Fertilizer and Water
Strawberry pear are hungry plants that should be fed couple of months during first year with a balanced 20-20 fertilizer. Once the plants are established, they should be good with just a few fertilizer applications per year. You should plan on feeding the soil with compost or organic matter at least twice a year.
Pitahaya plants are drought tolerant, it is essential to water them regularly until harvest dragon fruit crop to create a nice fruit crop. Excessive watering can cause root rot and different fungal diseases. Allow the plant to dry out over the winter and early spring to promote prolific flowering.
Temperature and Humidity
Dragon fruit trees are not suitable for every garden. Because they are native to tropical climes, they will struggle in locations with cold weather, especially if the freeze is extended.
Temperatures ranging from 65 degree F to 80 degree Fahrenheit are said to be optimal for growing dragon fruit cacti.
Harvesting Dragon Fruit
When the flaps on the pink outer skin of the dragon fruit begin to wither, it is time to pick it. If it’s ripe, you should be able to easily twist it from the stem.
Dragon fruit is an unusual fruit that may not be to everyone’s liking. The cactus’ big, edible flowers are striking; they are usually white and have a strong aroma.
Fruit that has fallen from the stem on its own tends to be overripe, so timing harvest is important. Dragon fruit may be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Pests and Diseases
Wild animals may find dragon fruit harvest appealing depending on where reside. You may need to take actions to keep mice, raccoons, birds, and other animals away from cactus and its fruit. Ants, mealy bugs, mites, and slugs are also drawn to the plants.
Pitahaya fruit plants can suffer from stem and fruit canker and decay. Fungi, bacteria, worms, and viruses can cause a disease in stems and fruits. To avoid problems, ensure plant gets enough sun, hydration, and air circulation.
Hope you enjoyed reading the Planting guide of Dragon Fruit Plant. If you think we missed something or have a suggestion, please leave it in the comments section below.
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