HYLOCEREUS (DRAGON FRUIT)GROWING INFO.
HYLOCEREUS- Also called PITAYHA or DRAGON FRUIT are very easy to grow and have huge blooms and tasty fruit.The dragon fruit flesh can be white, pink, Red, magenta or several shades in between depending upon the variety.The outside skin is pinkish to reddish except for Selenicereus Megalanthus its yellow. Dragon fruits are high in vitamin C, and the magenta flesh varieties contain lycopene, which is a natural antioxidant believed to fight cancer, heart disease and lower blood pressure.
Despite the health benefits and its spectacular appearance. During the riegn of the Aztec empire of Mexico it was exstensively cultivated, but the fruit has gone virtually unnoticed for centuries since, today it is the leading fruit export of Vietnam and has caught the attention of Snapple, Tropicana, Hansen and Sobe, just a few of the major bottling labels that incorporate dragon fruit juice into their bottled drinks.
Dragon fruit is easy to grow in your own backyard. They can use similar soil mixes as Epis do. Like Epis they will grow well and have very deep green stems in part shade but unlike Epis they will never bloom well in these lower light conditions, they need full sun for at least part of the day to bloom/fruit well.Other than that there requirements are almost identical except whats noted below or if ground planting.
Some general growing requirements of Hylocereus or (Dragon Fruit) are below.
(The picture above shows H. CV 'VOODOO CHILD' bloom/bud developement prior bloom opening, July 25th-about 1 to 2 weeks until it opens, depending on how warm the weather is during that time.)
HYLOCEREUS GROWING REQUIREMENTS
1)LIGHT REQUIREMENTS-The base of the stems can be in shade but the tips need full sun to bloom/fruit well. To root cuttings shade is best but once there established or well rooted move to a brighter spot.
2)ROOTING-Since there much thicker stems than Epis a one gallon or even a 5 gallon pot is a good start for rooting cuttings not 4" pots these will work but you will have to upsize them fairly quikly. They need to have the bottom of the stem where they were cut well calloused over as there very thick and have plenty of water in the stem to last for possibly months without being planted, so no hurry with these to root them. 7 days to 2 weeks is fine during active growing summer months, maybe up to a month in winter season. As long as the cuttings are kept in a cool dry spot no hurry to plant.
3)TEMPERATURE/CLIMATE-They will get damage if below 40 degrees for extended periods of time and severe damage if below 32 degrees for any length of time. Eventually they may be big enough after one growing season to be planted in the ground. In that case be sure you live in a frost free zone 9A and up. If you decide to plant in the ground they will need something to climb-a fence, wall, shade structure or a 4”x 4” post. If planted in the ground forget about the soil mix you used to root them, soil mix is still ok if you decide to leave them in a larger container, like a 15, 20 gallon or larger. For some growers who are located in cold regions this is the only way you can grow them since they have to be moved into a greenhouse or other protection during winter. If it only freezes slightly in your area in evenings a teepee made of 3 poles and plastic over the top might be enough protection outside.
4)GROUND PLANTING OR CONTAINER-Planting in the ground? Use 30 percent sand and 30 percent compost with the remainder being your existing soil mixed in, plant on a slight mound at least 3-4 established plants or more around a post or other structure. The slight mound will keep the base of the stem from rotting if you get a lot of rainfall in winter. Remember they like rich soil as there jungle cactus just like Epis but they also need good drainage too.
5)HYLOCEREUS GROWING/BLOOM CYCLE- Unlike Epis which get lots of big spurts of growth right at spring, Hylocereus don’t really get growing until its really hot like in summer. But they make up for the late start with huge growth. Some stems may grow a foot in a week or two. If there big enough to bloom-usually 2nd or 3rd year and up from a cutting, apply bloom fertilizer the same as for Epis on the bloom page, but in this time schedule- April to May higher nitrogen then switch in late May to bloom fertilizer formula expect blooms late July to October, in some areas even into November. The blooms last only one night and are nocturnal, you’ll have plenty of advance warning when the blooms open since the huge buds develop over one month to 6 weeks and untwist to just a small opening on the tip the night before there planning to open. Hand pollination will increase your yield even for self pollinating types. Set your alarm clock as there fully open around 10pm or later. Once they bloom and if they were pollinated expect the bloom to wither and the base of the bloom or throat to begin swelling-that’s the fruit! Within 4 weeks to 8 weeks there ripe depending on the weather at your location.
6)FRUIT HARVEST- The fruit is ripe by July -August through all the way up to maybe December depending on how warm your daily weather was. You can tell there ripe when there reddish or pink on the outside of the skin or yellow in the case of (Selenicereus Magalanthus), and you can easily push in on the fruit with your finger and its soft like a ripe Avacado might be.
Did you know Dragon Fruit is the new secret ingredient of master chefs worldwide.
Try these Dragon Fruit Food Recipes
Try these Dragon Fruit Cocktails, Drinks and Fruit Smoothie recipes
Learn how to make your own Dragon Fruit Wine
Learn how to make your own Dragon Fruit Beer
COMING SOON- AVERAGE VITAMIN CONTENTS, HYLOCEREUS FRUIT ARE GOOD FOR YOU AND ARE HIGH IN VITAMIN C & ANTIOXIDENTS!.
Next time your at the supermarket check out the ingredients labels on those trendy new health drinks.
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