Learning how to grow dragon fruit is really not that hard! Dragon fruit is a cactus that is actually quite adaptive to its environment.
You’ve seen this strange looking fruit in the grocery store. The bright pink skin with alien green spines is hard to miss.
But have you ever tried a dragon fruit? This exotic fruit is really unique and yummy! It is super hydrating and especially satisfying when chilled, and the tiny black seeds add a nice crunch to the sweet and soft flesh.
Dragon fruit garden in California.
Aside from the deliciously delicate flavor, the fruit of a dragon fruit tree is extremely healthy. It’s full of antioxidants, easy to digest carbohydrates, and omega fatty acids in the seeds.
It might look intimidating, but the skin of this fruit is actually quite soft and the spines on the outside won’t stab you when you hold the fruit.
There are many ways to use dragon fruit including sauces, salsas, and smoothies, but it’s actually quite good sliced in half and eaten out of its skin with a spoon.
The lucious magenta fruit of the Pitaya cactus.
Who can grow dragon fruit?
If you want to grow dragon fruit cactus, I say go for it!
It’s especially easy in warm environments, but if you have a greenhouse or sun porch, you can grow dragon fruit in colder environments.
Dragon fruit is an exotic fruit, and in most of the southern US, you can grow a dragon fruit plant in pots on your patio if you’re careful to protect it from cold weather. If you live in US Hardiness Zones 10-11, you’ll be able to grow dragon fruit outdoors year round.
In other zones, you’ll want to grow your dragon fruit in a container so you can bring it indoors for the winter. The ideal growing temperatures for dragon fruit are between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
Anything below 32F will kill your plant. Anything over 100F will damage the fruit and cause it to wilt.
Rows of dragon fruit trees on a farm in California.
Grow dragon fruit in a container
Choose a container that is at least 10 inches deep and 24 inches wide. This equates to about a 10-gallon pot.
Dragon fruit, also known as Pitaya, is a vining cactus, so you will need to provide a sturdy support in your container. Otherwise, the cactus will grow over the edges of your container and sprawl along the ground until it finds something to climb.
Make sure to use a sandy, well draining soil made for cactus plants. If your container does not have several drain holes, then you will need to add them so the roots of the plant never become soggy.
Pick a sunny location for your dragon fruit plant. At least 6-8 hours of sun. The plant will tolerate some shade, and may even require it in very warm environments.
Remember, anything over 100 degrees Fahrenheit will damage your dragon fruit.
Over watering will kill your dragon fruit. So give it a light mist or drip when the soil is dry, but the plant is not wilting. A drip line or mister from above works well for these plants.
To accomplish this, install a drip line and attach it to the center support in your container. Place the drip nozzle at the top of the support line and let it run down the pole.
This is the most effective way to water your dragon fruit and will keep it very happy.
Grow dragon fruit from cuttings
You can start dragon fruit seedlings from the seeds inside the fruit, but it is recommended that you grow dragon fruit from cuttings.
There are many varieties of dragon fruit that range in color, flavor, and production. Some dragon fruit need to be hand pollinated, some rarely set fruit even when pollinated. Some take longer to ripen, and some take a very short period to ripen.
The best way to know what you are getting is to grow your dragon fruit from cuttings supplied from a nursery or good friend.
Be gentle with the roots of your cutting, and try not to disturb them too much. Gentle loosening of the small roots on the surface of the rootball is adequate. Plant your dragon fruit in fertile, sandy soil level with the rootball.
Rows of dragon fruit cuttings in the foreground. Dragon fruit growing in containers and up the wall in the background.
Fertilizing dragon fruit
Cacti are low maintenance plants. They are NOT heavy feeders and do not require a lot of fertilizer. In fact, over fertilization will harm your plant. Choose an organic, low nitrogen fertilizer and apply at planting and then every other month…or less.
Learn how to tell if your fertilizer is low in nitrogen with these fertilizer basics.
Dragon fruit flowering and pollination
One of the coolest things about the dragon fruit is its flowers. They are stunning white blooms that only open for one night! Some, but not all varieties of dragon fruit are self-pollinating.
Stunning white flowers of the Pitaya cactus.
If you choose a variety that is not self-pollinating, then you will need to rely on pollinators like bees or get out early in the morning and pollinate the plants yourself. For best results, choose a self-pollinating plant.
How to tell when dragon fruit is ripe
Once your dragon fruit plant sets fruit, wait to harvest it until it turns color. Most dragon fruit will turn a gorgeous bright pink magenta color, but some are bright yellow.
In general, the longer it stays on the plant, the sweeter it gets. In most cases, a dragon fruit takes about 30 days to ripen.
Ants will sometimes eat your fruit before you can harvest it, so watch out for those nasty pests!
If you do find you’re having trouble with ants, try one of these 57 all-natural ways to get rid of ants.
Fruits growing on a dragon fruit tree.
Dragon fruit recipes
Eating your dragon fruit is the best part!
A chilled fruit tastes much better, in my opinion. Slice your fruit in half and eat it out of its shell with a spoon. So amazingly delicious!
Dragon fruit tastes great in all sorts of recipes. Try it in smoothies, whipped into puddings, sauces, or make it into a sweet and savory salsa!
Rosa says
Hi,
I started this fruit from seed and I have 4 healthy 4″ plants. I’m in Zone 3 so planting outside is not happening. At this stage I noticed what looks like white roots coming out from near the top of the plant. Since this is my first time growing this I don’t want to waste 8 months of progress. Any suggestions?
Laura says
Sounds like it may be time to get a small support pole for them! So exciting!
Kristen says
My dragon fruit plant has a more yellow tint, I’m scared it’s dying. What do I do
Laura says
First, check to make sure that it’s not over-watered. The soil should NOT stay wet or damp. Make sure there is adequate drainage if it’s in a pot. Then make sure it’s getting enough sunlight (at least 6 hours, 8 is better). If it’s an older plant that has been in the same soil for a long time, you can try a little bit of LOW NITROGEN fertilizer. I hope this helps. 🙂
George says
Hi I’m having a problem with my dragon tree,,
When the fruits are half ready it regect them and become dry..
Laura says
The plants will reject fruit when they are stressed-too dry, too wet, too cool. Also, do you hand pollinate your plants?
franella lantier says
how do I take cuttings from the mother plant and get them to root?
Laura says
Hi, Franella! Excellent question! All you have to do is cut off a small segment (a few inches is fine) and bring it inside for a few days to let the cut end scar over. Once the cut end is healed, place the cutting into some growing medium, water lightly, and let it grow. Super easy! 🙂
Rupesh Patel says
Hi
Please I need your advice on the Cuttings for nursery – I used the side Cuttings for nursery and not the branches which already gave the fruits.
Please help me to know if the nursery plants will work and will the fruits grow within the plants.
Thanks.
Laura says
Yes, the cuttings will grow fruit. It might take some time, but they will make fruit eventually. 🙂
Nathalie says
How long after planting the cutting will it give fruits. I planted the cutting. Now I have a extra coming out. And it has some things coming out. I think trying to catch something to hold on to. When will it give me fruit. It’s been 5 month since I planted it.
Laura says
Dragon fruit usually makes fruit in the summer through the fall. Cuttings in ideal environments may fruit within one year, but sometimes it takes longer. You are correct that the things you’re seeing come out of the cactus are little roots looking for something to grab onto.
Erik says
Thanks for writing this. I have 5 plants that I was told are dragon fruit, but if I go off what you have written I am second guessing if they are. Each plant has a different colored flower. One has a bright yellow flower and the other 4 have varying shades of pink to magenta? Or do they only have whitish flowers?
Laura says
No they can definitely be different colors! My dad has one that is bright fuschia. Absolutely stunning!
Nirav Gorani says
Hi I m from India
I have 1000 pole farming dragon fruit I want to know how much piece per pole per year and also want to know about how to grow as fast as much in sort period
Laura says
Hi Nirav, flowering and fruit set for dragon fruit is highly dependent on your variety and the way they are grown. If it is very hot, your plants might benefit from some shade. However, too much shade can delay flowering. It will take some trial and error to figure out exactly what works for your plants in your environment. Other things to consider: dragon fruit flowers on stems that are 2 years or older. Flowering is triggered by warm weather and longer days of summer (I have heard some farmers use string lights over their plants to mimic longer days and extend the growing season). Some say pruning dragon fruit plants before the flowering season will induce more flowers to form. Your plants may need to be hand pollinated to form fruit – this is dependent on variety.
I hope you can use some of this information to increase production on your plants. I’m sorry I can’t give you an exact answer to your question, though. Let me know how it goes!
Leslie says
Thank you for this information and your helpful answers.
Laura says
You’re very welcome, Leslie. Thank you for visiting. 🙂
Jane says
Laura, I have had dragon fruit plants in my yard for many years and only ever had one fruit. This year I cross pollinated two plants. How long before I know if this worked, and how long to fruit if I was successful? Thanks!
Laura says
Hi, Jane! You should be able to see a fruit growing there within a couple of weeks. So now I’m curious, do you have a dragon fruit? 🙂
Sue Miller says
I am rooting a dragon fruit but would like to let it grow up a tree – does it hurt the tree?
Laura says
I believe the tree will be fine as long as there is adequate water and nutrients for both plants.
Martin says
Hi,
What month is the best to plant a dragon fruit tree? How deep do I plant a dragon fruit tree on the ground? I’m living in California. Thank you.
Laura says
Hi Martin! You should plant your dragon fruit in the spring – April/May. If you’re planting a cutting, set it just 2-3 inches deep into the soil and stake it right away to keep it upright. It will take 2-3 weeks for it to develop new roots. If you are planting a tree that is already potted, you should plant it level with the soil line.
Mahendra says
Hello Laura,
I belong from India, and am interested in dragon fruit farming. I wanted to know what the ideal temperatures are for this plant and what is the required TDS level of water, the soil preference. The usual temperatures in India are around 20-40 degree Celsius. Please help me understand.
Thank You.
Laura says
Hi Mahendra, dragon fruit will grow well in sandy loam soil but are quite adaptable to heavier soils. They prefer a pH of 6.5-7.5 and do not grow as well in more acidic or alkaline soils. Dragon fruit grows best in moderate temperatures, and doesn’t tolerate freezing temperatures well. However, in your location, you will struggle more with the heat. At 32-40C, you will need to provide them a little shade as they won’t produce fruit when it’s that hot. I do not have any advice about the TDS levels of water. We use well water and rain to water our plants. Best of luck with your farming adventure.
Robin says
Hi there. Thanks for the helpful info. I live in the SF Bay Area. Someone gave me 4 2-foot-long pieces of dragon fruit cactus. Two questions. 1. How do I tell which way is up? (Both ends have scarred or are closed.) 2. Do you suggest a pot or the ground?
Laura says
Hi Robin! It won’t matter which end you put in the soil. The plant will figure it out. 🙂 Personally, I would start it in a pot and then transplant to the ground later if you need/decide to. This time of year, it may take several weeks for the cuttings to establish good roots and you can protect it from cold weather more easily in pots. I recommend using a cactus soil/seed starting mix as denser soil may slow the development of roots. In a couple of months, give it a dose of fish fertilizer and then you can transplant outdoors in April or May if you choose. Have fun!
Tariq says
Hey i appreciate your knowledge on the plant 👌 I’m getting two cuttings and I plan on starting them indoors since I live in Massachusetts. How many months until you think they start fruiting ? The cuttings are about 6 inches. I read that it can take about a year from cutting.
Laura says
Hi Tariq, it depends some on when the cuttings were taken and their environment. Cuttings taken in the dormant stage tend to take a bit longer, and those taken in the growing stage can spring to life sooner. For getting flowers and fruit, it can definitely take up to a year and sometimes even more if they’re not in an ideal environment.