Growing Dragon Fruit: Yearning for fresh, exotic dragon fruit? With the right cuttings and a sturdy trellis, you can enjoy the succulent sweetness of this fascinating cactus right from your own garden. Garden specialist Logan Hailey provides a detailed guide for beginners on how to successfully grow dragon fruit.

Tropical fruits can seem like a mystery to gardeners accustomed to temperate climates. While you might see their vivid hues in stores, growing them in your own garden feels like a different world. Dragon fruit, a distinct subtropical cactus, is notably rare in the U.S. Cultivating it yourself guarantees the freshest, sweetest fruits. It’s feasible to grow dragon fruit outdoors in USDA zones 10-11, but gardeners in cooler regions can use containers to bring their plants indoors during winter.

Kevin, the founder of Epic, has been nurturing dragon fruit at the Epic Homestead in San Diego for five years. His success is largely due to the guidance of master dragon fruit grower Richard Lee of @graftingdragonfruit. This guide will walk you through the essentials of growing this fascinating cactus and maximizing its robust growth.

Dive into everything you need to get started with dragon fruit, even if you’re a complete novice.

About Dragon Fruit

Dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus) is a subtropical cactus that yields vibrant fuchsia-pink fruits with tiny black seeds. The frost-tender plants are native to Mexico, Central America, and South America but can be cultivated in USDA zones 10-11.

Sometimes called pitahaya, these cacti have intriguing vine-like leaves filled with spikes that yield stunning, brightly colored oval-shaped fruit. In spite of the intimidating spikes and wild appearance, they are easier to grow than you think.

How to Cultivate Dragon Fruit: 13 Easy Steps for Growing Dragon Fruit

Dragon fruit stands out because once picked, its fruits cease to ripen further. Unlike bananas or tomatoes, which continue to ripen off the plant, dragon fruit’s flavor and sweetness peak only when it is harvested fully ripe. Consequently, store-bought dragon fruit often lacks the rich taste of freshly picked fruit. To truly savor the exceptional flavor of this tropical delicacy, it’s best to harvest it directly from your garden when it’s fully ripe.

Here’s a guide to help you start growing your own dragon fruit:

How to Pick the Perfect Dragon Fruit Type

Understanding Dragon Fruit Varieties

Big box stores often categorize dragon fruit as simply “red” or “white,” but this oversimplification doesn’t capture the diversity of this cactus plant. To truly appreciate dragon fruit, it’s important to recognize the different flower and fruit types these plants produce. When evaluating a particular cultivar, it’s essential to distinguish between three main types:

• Self-fertile varieties don’t require cross-pollination to produce fruit. They can thrive as single plants, capable of setting fruit on their own, though they might need some human assistance to move pollen within their flowers.
• Self-sterile varieties, on the other hand, require cross-pollination with another variety to set fruit. These types are more suitable for experienced gardeners due to the extra care needed.
• Self-pollinating varieties do not require any human intervention to pollinate and set fruit.

Two excellent beginner varieties include ‘Vietnam White’ and ‘Sugar Dragon.’ These self-fertile plants still benefit from hand pollination, which helps them produce the delicious fruits rarely found in stores. Self-fertile means the plant can pollinate itself, but you must transfer the pollen between flowers manually. Don’t worry—this process is simple, and we’ll cover it in detail below.

Starting Your Dragon Fruit Journey: Cuttings vs. Seeds

When beginning your journey with dragon fruit, it’s best to start with cuttings rather than seeds. Cuttings are more reliable because they involve vegetative (cloning) propagation, ensuring that the fruit you harvest will be identical to the parent plant. Seeds, however, result from sexual propagation, so there’s no guarantee that the fruit will taste the same as the original. Cross-pollination may result in variations in flavor and shape, which can be disappointing after all the effort invested in growing the plant. To avoid this, start with cuttings.

Despite the exotic appearance of the cactus, growing dragon fruit from cuttings is much like propagating any other plant in your garden. From a gardener’s perspective, the pitahaya cactus stem can be rooted just like any other cactus. The cutting will develop roots and grow into a new plant identical to the mother, sharing the same genetics. The only difference is that this cactus has more fleshy growth and spines.

Cuttings also allow for faster fruit production. While a cutting can begin fruiting within one to two years, starting from seeds may take five years or more before maturity.

Preparing Cuttings

To start, choose a healthy, mature stem from an established cactus. Stem cuttings are the easiest to root because they already have a woody base, reducing the risk of rot. Look for a stem with a woody nub at its base—this nub acts as a natural, dry stem and doesn’t need to callous over like other succulents.

Use sharp, sanitized shears to cut at the base of the nub, ensuring the cutting is about seven to eight inches long. This cutting will be an exact clone of the mother plant. Don’t forget to clean and sanitize your shears between cuts and sharpen them regularly. Next, gather the necessary materials to plant and root your cutting.

You’ll need:

• A medium-sized pot, around 5 gallons
• An 18-inch-long bamboo stake
• Extra well-drained soil, such as a cactus or succulent mix
• Garden tape
• A pen for labeling the dragon fruit (more on this later)

Planting the Cutting

When planting, bury your eight-inch-long cuttings about one inch deep in well-drained soil. Secure them upright with garden tape to prevent them from toppling over. It’s crucial to use soil that is rich in organic matter and drains well. If the soil retains too much moisture, it can cause the cutting to rot before it develops roots.

Plant the cutting about an inch deep, but not too deep, as this can make the flesh vulnerable to bacteria and fungi. Since the cutting won’t stand up on its own with just an inch buried, use the bamboo stake and tape to keep it stable.

As the cactus grows and its stems reach the top of the trellis, prune the tips to promote bushy growth. In one to two years, the cactus will start developing flower buds that turn into fruit within 35-70 days.

Staking Your Dragon Fruit

To ensure your cutting stays upright and protected from the wind, dig the stake deep into the pot next to the cutting and bind them together tightly with garden tape. This will prevent the plant from falling over.

Label the variety directly on the plant with a marker. This helps keep track of the different varieties, especially since dragon fruit can grow quite vigorously. The ink won’t harm your cactus or affect the fruits.

Water the cutting lightly, keeping it in the shade for 2-4 weeks. While it may seem counterintuitive, shade is crucial during this stage as the cutting focuses on growing new roots. Though dragon fruit is a sun-loving plant, too much sun during the rooting phase can delay growth or scorch the plant.

Recognizing Rooted Dragon Fruit Cuttings

After 2-4 weeks in the shade, you should see small, whitish-green nodes emerging from the leaves. These nodes, which resemble tiny warts, are where thorns and flower buds will eventually grow.

If you gently tug the cutting and it resists, this indicates that roots have formed. You may even see roots growing out of the large drainage hole at the bottom of your pot. At this point, the cactus is ready to be transplanted into a larger pot or directly into the ground.

Preparing a Container and Trellis

Dragon fruit is unique because it prefers to vine rather than grow upright. A sturdy trellis or large wooden post is essential to keep the heavy plant stable. But first, you need to decide where to plant your cuttings.

This perennial evergreen cactus can live for over ten years, and its roots grow thick and fibrous. Choosing the right location and trellis is crucial for years of successful growth and fruit production.

Should You Grow Dragon Fruit in the Ground or in a Container?

If you live in USDA zones 10-11, it’s best to grow dragon fruit outdoors in the ground or a raised bed. However, for most climates, beginners should start with containers. Even in areas where dragon fruit is hardy, growing in containers offers flexibility.

In colder climates (USDA zone 9 or below), it’s essential to grow dragon fruit in a pot to move it indoors during winter or heavy rain. A container also makes it easier to manage the soil conditions and protect the plant from harsh weather.

Use a sturdy, 20-35 gallon pot, ideally wider than it is tall. The wide base supports stable growth and a larger root zone. Alternatively, you can use a metal raised bed like the Birdies Short Metal Raised Garden Bed.

Creating the Trellis

Dragon fruit isn’t a compact plant—it grows robust roots and long, heavy stems. To support this growth, a strong trellis is necessary. The best method is to use a 4×4 wooden post about 4-6 feet long, ideally made from untreated hardwood like cedar or redwood. Avoid pressure-treated wood as it can release harmful chemicals.

Secure the post in a concrete pier, ideally one shaped like a tetrahedron, which you can find at your local hardware store. These often come with holes or stakes to support a 4×4 post. Once the post is secured, prepare your hole or container.

If planting in the ground, dig a hole deep enough to bury the trellis post 10-12 inches below the surface. For container growing, use a t-post, wooden stake, or another sturdy trellis secured to the bottom of the container, like a large terracotta pot.

Adding a Frame to the Trellis Top

Dragon fruit naturally grows straight up in its first year, then starts to vine outward and downward, resembling a tree with a wild head of hair. To support this growth, build a square-shaped frame at the top of your trellis using 2×4 framing lumber. Secure the open box to the post’s top, and your trellis is complete!

Choosing the Right Planting Location

Select a sunny spot with well-draining soil for your dragon fruit. Ensure that no buildings or trees cast shadows over the area. While dragon fruit tolerates some afternoon shade in very hot climates, most gardeners need six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily to produce fruit.

Fast-draining soil is crucial as this plant is adapted to tropical conditions. In the tropics, the soil drains quickly after heavy rains, and dragon fruit should never sit in waterlogged soil.

However, unlike many succulents, dragon fruit also needs soil rich in organic matter. If your native soil is heavy in clay or low in organic content, you’ll need to amend it with compost, horticultural sand, perlite, or vermiculite. Growing in a raised bed or pot simplifies this process since you can control the soil mix.

Planting Multiple Cuttings Per Trellis

Once your container or raised bed and trellis are ready, it’s time to transplant your rooted cuttings into the garden. There’s no need to harden them off like other seedlings since you’ll protect them from extreme weather once they’re in the soil.

Generally, you can plant four cuttings per trellis, with each cutting growing on one side of the post. This maximizes space and increases fruit production. You can plant multiple varieties around a single trellis or several cuttings of the same type.

Pay attention to the sun’s direction when planting. Place the largest cuttings on the sunniest side, as they can handle more UV rays without dehydrating. Smaller cuttings should go on the shadier side to allow them to adapt and grow over time.

Planting Depth and Orientation

Plant each cutting one to two inches deep, with the flattest side against the post. Position the cutting close to the trellis, ensuring it points straight up. The goal is for

the plant to naturally start climbing the trellis as it grows.

Secure each cutting to the trellis post with garden tape to prevent it from falling over. As the cactus grows, train the main stem to wrap around the post. It will eventually grow up and reach the top of the trellis.

Watering Dragon Fruit

Water the plant thoroughly, letting the soil dry out between waterings. Once established, dragon fruit is drought-tolerant and only needs watering every 10-14 days. Water deeply to encourage the roots to grow deeper.

After transplanting, keep the plant in a slightly shaded area for 2-3 weeks to avoid transplant shock. Protect it from intense sun and water sparingly during this period.

Once the plant adapts and begins growing, move it to a sunnier location. Dragon fruit thrives in full sun, but too much sun during the early growth stage can delay development.

Growing Dragon Fruit in Pots

For container growing, choose a large, wide pot to support the trellis and the plant’s heavy weight. As the cactus grows, add more soil to cover exposed roots, but don’t bury the stem too deeply. This ensures the roots stay healthy and well-aerated.

Add extra soil and mulch to the pot, then let the plant adapt in a shaded spot for 2-3 weeks. After this period, you can move the pot to full sun.

Caring for Dragon Fruit Cactus Plants

Despite their exotic appearance, dragon fruit cacti are easy to care for. With the right trellis and soil, they can thrive in various climates. They are heavy feeders, so keep the soil well-fed with organic matter and fertilizer.

Dragon fruit cacti benefit from a balanced fertilizer, but avoid using one high in nitrogen, which can cause the plant to produce more stems at the expense of fruit. If using a granular fertilizer, lightly scratch it into the top few inches of soil, avoiding direct contact with the roots.

In dry climates, mulch is essential to prevent soil from drying out. Water deeply but infrequently, allowing the soil to dry between watering sessions.

Hand Pollination for Fruit Production

Most varieties of dragon fruit require hand pollination to produce fruit. While self-fertile varieties can set fruit on their own, hand pollination ensures a higher yield.

During blooming, dragon fruit flowers open at night and are typically pollinated by bats or moths. However, hand pollination can help if these creatures aren’t present.

To hand-pollinate, use a small brush to transfer pollen from the stamens (male part) to the pistil (female part) of the flower. This simple process increases the chances of fruiting.

Pruning for a Healthy Plant

Pruning is crucial for managing dragon fruit’s growth and ensuring it produces fruit. Remove any dead or damaged stems, as well as stems that have fruited. This encourages the plant to produce new growth, which leads to more fruit.

As the plant matures, prune back the tips of the stems to encourage bushier growth. This helps the plant support its weight and produce more flowers.

Harvesting Dragon Fruit

Dragon fruit is ready to harvest when the skin color deepens and the wings (flaps on the fruit’s surface) start to wither. The fruit should give slightly when pressed, similar to a ripe avocado.

Cut the fruit off the plant using sharp shears. Be careful not to damage the stem, as this can prevent future fruit production.

Winter Care for Dragon Fruit

If you live in a colder climate, bring your dragon fruit plant indoors during the winter. It can survive in temperatures as low as 40°F, but prolonged exposure to cold can damage the plant.

Keep the plant in a bright, sunny spot indoors, and reduce watering to once a month. Dragon fruit enters dormancy in the winter, so it doesn’t require as much water.

If you grow dragon fruit outdoors in a warm climate, mulch heavily around the base of the plant to protect the roots from cold. You can also cover the plant with a frost blanket to shield it from cold weather.

Propagating Dragon Fruit

Dragon fruit is easy to propagate from cuttings. Take a healthy stem cutting, let it dry for a few days, and plant it in well-drained soil. Water sparingly until roots develop.

You can also propagate dragon fruit from seeds, but this method takes longer and may not produce fruit true to the parent plant.

Common Pests and Diseases

Dragon fruit is relatively pest and disease-resistant, but it can still be affected by scale insects, aphids, and mealybugs. Regularly inspect your plant for signs of pests, and treat infestations with neem oil or insecticidal soap.

Overwatering can lead to root rot, so ensure the soil drains well and avoid letting the plant sit in waterlogged soil.

Final Thoughts

Growing dragon fruit is a rewarding experience, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced gardener. With the right care, this unique cactus can produce delicious, exotic fruit for years to come.

By starting with cuttings and providing the right growing conditions, you can enjoy fresh dragon fruit from your garden. Whether grown in the ground or in a container, dragon fruit is a striking addition to any garden.