Not only is dragon fruit stunning inside, but it’s also packed with several benefits for your health. Why not consider growing it in your own backyard? It’s not as difficult as you’d imagine, and it’s explained below!
Using this guide, you will find that it is simple to grow, even if you are not an experienced gardener!
See the benefits and characteristics of pitaya
Did you know that the fruit originally came from Latin America? The tree grows extremely well because the climate of the nations of this continent is very friendly: the pitaya tree adores receiving plenty of sunlight. The plant is part of the cactus family — the tree itself is actually a large cactus which flowers and is laden with fruit!
Health gains are numerous. The fruit carries minerals like phosphorus, calcium and iron along with vitamins B1, B2, B3 and C. This is another wonderful motive to learn about how to plant dragon fruit and have it when you need or want it, isn’t that right?
It absorbs all these vitamins and minerals to reduce cholesterol and weight, avoid diabetes and anemia, and boost immunity.
How to plant dragon fruit?
To understand how to plant dragon fruit, you need to learn how to grow seedlings. There are two main ways. We’ll explain them in detail below to ensure you have a delicious harvest.
Cuttings or seeds can be used to grow seedlings. They can be planted directly in the ground or in pots — the important thing is to have suitable soil. Check out the step-by-step instructions below.
Using seeds
Simply take the seeds from a mature fruit and rinse them with water to get rid of any pulp before planting dragon fruit utilizing seeds. After that, put them in a planter, a container, or the ground.
To learn how to plant dragon fruit in the ground or in a pot, pay attention to the soil preparation. Use a specific substrate for seedlings, a product that encourages healthy growth. After inserting the seeds into the soil, take other precautions to encourage germination.
Place the pot in a location protected from direct sunlight, but with plenty of natural light. The pitaya seedling needs water every day, but in small quantities. The soil should always be moist, but not soaked.
After this process, germination should occur in 8 to 12 days. However, it still takes longer to replant the seedlings in a deeper space. Generally, it is necessary to wait around 5 months to transplant.
Using stakes
If you want to learn how to plant dragon fruit using cuttings, you will see that it is not difficult either. You need to use an adult mother plant, which already has fully developed structures.
Choose a healthy stem from the cactus, quite rigid and with a bright color, without signs of dryness. The cutting should be around 40 cm long and have at least 3 nodes (which are the points where the leaves grow).
Make sure the substrate is well-aerated and drained, as no cactus likes waterlogged soil. Water as instructed above, reducing the frequency as soon as the shoots appear.
Ideal place for cultivation
It is best to always grow dragon fruit outdoors. If this is not possible, choose a well-ventilated and well-lit location. These conditions promote the plant’s robust development.
Be careful to leave enough space above the plant , as it can grow to over 1 m in height. The adult tree is very showy! The flowers are beautiful, and the fruits make the branches heavy and point towards the ground, forming a unique design.
Is it possible to plant dragon fruit on a wall ? Yes! There’s no secret to it: just place the seedling aligned with a vertical surface. It will grow by leaning against it. You can direct the plant however you like to create a beautiful landscape.
Flower pollination
Pollination occurs naturally in nature. It is done by pollinators , such as bees and nectar-eating bats. However, it can also be done artificially by humans.
Simply take a soft brush and brush the pollen from the dragon fruit flower, then rub it onto another flower. Pollination encourages fruit production. In the case of dragon fruit, pollination should be done at night, as soon as the flowers open.