Here are our best tips for those of you who want to grow this tropical fruit at home.
Dragon fruit, Selenicereus undatus, formerly called Hylocereus undatus, has its natural range from Mexico to Honduras, where it has been cultivated by indigenous peoples for thousands of years! There it is still called Pitahaya or Pitaya, a collective name for large, tall fruit-producing cacti.
It was introduced to other parts of the world by explorers and colonizers and is now grown commercially in countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, Israel and Australia.
1. Start with a cutting (seriously, save yourself a few years)
Sure, you can grow dragon fruit from seed. But it's a bit like planting an apple core and waiting for apples. It takes time, and you won't get fruit for very long. That's why we highly recommend starting with a cutting or a small plant.
You can buy a dragon fruit plant here!
Dragon fruit grows on a climbing cactus that requires support, so from the start it is a good idea to have a stable pot and perhaps a stake or trellis ready.
2. Give the cactus a good home, with extra light
Dragon fruit needs a lot of light, and preferably warmth. In Sweden, it does well indoors if you supplement it with a grow light. A simple LED grow light makes a big difference and increases the chances that the plant will both grow and one day bloom.
Check out our plant lighting here.
Plant the dragon fruit in cactus soil with good drainage. If you want to pamper it, you can mix in some worm compost or other nutrition, dragon fruit is voracious and appreciates extra fertilization.
We grow dragon fruit in our peat-free soil!
3. Water sparingly
Dragon fruit, like most cacti, hates to be wet. Let the soil dry out completely between waterings, especially during the winter months when growth stops. Better a little too dry than too wet.
Tip: If the stems start to look rotten and mushy, you've probably watered too much. Then just cut off the damaged part and start over with the healthy part that remains.
4. What happens next?
When the plant is healthy, it will start to branch and grow taller. It will eventually need support, such as a trellis, as it likes to climb. If you are patient, the adult dragon fruit cactus can actually bloom with large, white, night-blooming flowers that look like they belong in a sci-fi movie.
Getting fruit indoors in Sweden is difficult, but not impossible. At best it will bloom after a couple of years and then you can try to pollinate the flowers yourself with a paintbrush to get fruit.
Dragon fruit is one of the easiest tropical plants to grow, but getting it to bear fruit in Sweden is even more difficult. It can be seen as a tropical science project in the window. Whether you get fruit or not, the plant is a topic of conversation in itself.
Frequently asked questions/FAQ:
Can you take cuttings from dragon fruit?
It is absolutely possible to grow dragon fruit from cuttings. The cactus has natural tapered sections at its branches where you can easily twist off a piece. Then let the cactus cutting dry for a day and then place it with the top down in a glass of water. It is of course also possible to plant it directly into a pot with slightly moist soil!
Want to try it? We have dragon fruits ready for a new home and we are happy to help you with advice along the way! Buy a dragon fruit plant and try it for yourself!
