Dragon fruit complete care and guide
The Dragon fruit (Hylocereus Undatus) is easy to grow and care for indoors or outdoors in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate climates. Follow the tips below to help you get your dragon fruit from seed to fruit, and be sure to share your own tips in the comments below!
Actually a cactus of the species Hylocereus, dragon fruit or strawberry pears are indigenous to Mexico and Central America. It is frequently available in specialty stores that sell exotic fruits or even in your neighbourhood Asian grocery store. In the last ten years, dragon fruit has gained enormous popularity in both the United States and Europe. It has an incredibly sweet flavour and a soft texture when ripe.
Dragon fruit, also known as pitaya in Spanish, can be found on 25-foot-tall shrubs and trees. It comes from Central America, Mexico, and South America, but since it was originally imported in the United States in 1910, it has been grown in tropical areas all over the world. It takes the plant a few years to bear fruit because of its slow growth, but once it does, it can continue to produce up to 50–60 fruits year
Sunlight
Dragonfruit plants require a lot of sunlight. Ideally, the plant would receive at least 8 hours a day. If you live in an area with less than 8 hours of sunlight, you may want to invest in artificial lighting or supplement the plant’s natural light with grow lamps. In order to achieve its most optimal growth, it is also recommended that dragon fruit be grown near a window that has filtered UV rays during wintertime months. A good way to tell if your dragonfruit is getting enough sunlight is by looking at the leaves on your plant.
Soil
Dragonfruit plants need a soil that drains well. They will not tolerate wet or waterlogged soil, as it will cause root rot. The soil must be well-draining yet still hold enough moisture to provide adequate water to the plant in periods of drought. To ensure a suitable climate for the plant, use a potting mix that is low in peat moss and other organic matter, such as bark chips or compost.
Watering
Water the plant only when the soil feels dry to the touch. Soil should be kept moist, but not wet, at all times. Watering in the morning is ideal because it allows any excess moisture to evaporate in the warm sun throughout the day. The Dragon Fruit Plant does well with a balanced watering schedule, which means watering once every other week for the first three months of growth, then increasing to once every week for the next six months and finally twice per week until harvest.
Start by removing any dead or dying leaves from your plant before moving on to trimming off new growth that has been damaged by frost or pests.
Fertilizing
Many people new to growing dragonfruit have questions about fertilizing their plants. While there are a variety of fertilizers, the most common is ordinary household ammonia. The idea behind using ammonia is that it will release nitrogen in the soil which helps promote healthy plant growth. Ammonia should be applied with an eye dropper or pipette, and then watered in.
Pruning
Here are some helpful tips for pruning:
- Cut as close to the main branch as possible without damaging any new growth. – Prune away any branches that cross or rub each other. – Remove dead branches by cutting them off completely. Make sure you remove any suckers (new shoots) growing at ground level; these will take all of your plant’s energy. Make sure you keep an eye out for pests, especially whiteflies, mealybugs, aphids, beetles and thrips!
Pollination
There are two ways to pollinate the dragonfruit plant: cross-pollination and self-pollination. Cross-pollination is when you put pollen from one flower on the stigma (the tip of a pistil) of another flower. Self-pollination is when pollen from one flower is transferred to the stigma of a different flower on the same plant. You can tell if you have cross pollinated or self-pollinated your dragonfruit by looking for flowers with both male and female parts.
Pests and Diseases
The most common pest for dragonfruit are aphids. Aphids will suck the sap from the plant, causing leaves to dry up. The best way to get rid of aphids is to use a strong spray of water. For more information on how to properly treat your dragonfruit, please contact your local nursery or garden center. They can help you decide what plants might work best with your climate conditions
They can also tell you about any available classes or workshops that could teach you about caring for other tropical plants in addition to dragonfruit
And they’ll be able to provide an appropriate list of all necessary gardening supplies.
you might also like this
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitaya
https://freeplantscare.com/how-to-care-for-your-cactus-and-succulent-plants/