Quck answer
Dragon fruit, also known as pitaya, is a tropical fruit that can be easily grown from cuttings. Start by selecting a healthy, mature dragon fruit plant and cut a 6- to 12-inch section from the end of one of its stems. Allow the cutting to dry for a few days, then plant it in a well-draining potting mix. Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged, and place the cutting in a warm, sunny location. Within a few weeks, roots should start to develop, and you can transplant the cutting into a larger pot or directly into the ground. With proper care, your dragon fruit plant will grow and produce delicious fruit.
There are numerous unique fruits in existence, but few are as exotic as the peculiar and fascinating dragon fruit. This vining plant, native to the tropical and subtropical regions of Central and South America, is actually a cactus. While it is possible to grow dragon fruit plants from seeds, the quicker method of obtaining a fruiting plant is to propagate the dragon fruit from cuttings.
Familiarize Yourself with the Dragon Fruit
The dragon fruit plant (Hylocereus undatus), also known as strawberry pear, pitaya, or pitahaya, is a tropical plant that only thrives outdoors in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10a through 11. It can, however, grow in lower zones if in a greenhouse. The plant’s stem is triangular, jointed, and composed of many segments. It produces aerial roots that it uses to climb.
Mature plants produce flowers and fruits that are both striking and beautiful. The bell-shaped flowers only open at night, but they are as showy as flowers can be. Fragrant and large (up to 14 inches long and 9 inches wide), they come in pink or white and have ivory stamens and lobed stigmas. Pollinated flowers produce fruit that is dark pink and scaly on the outside, with pale flesh speckled with tiny seeds on the inside.
Propagate the Dragon Fruit Plant
Each dragon fruit contains enough seeds to start a commercial orchard. The seeds are easily propagated in about three weeks, but the process of going from a seedling to a fruit-bearing plant is time-consuming, taking up to seven years. That’s why seeding is rarely done.
Most dragon fruits are propagated through asexual means, which involves rooting plant cuttings. This method is highly effective and can yield mature, fruit-bearing plants in less than a year after rooting. Four-year-old cuttings can produce up to 220 pounds of fruit annually for up to 20 years, which is the average lifespan of these plants.
Grow Dragon Fruit From Cuttings
If you have access to a healthy dragon fruit plant, you may choose to propagate it from cuttings. The first step is to take as many stem cuttings as desired for propagation. It’s best to use entire stem segments that are 6 to 15 inches long rather than smaller sections. Use a clean, sterilized knife to make a slanted, 45-degree cut at the base of each stem cutting. Dip the cut end of each cutting into a powder fungicide, then store them in a dry, dark location to dry and heal for about a week.
Once the week is up, the cuttings are ready to be planted in pots filled with a well-draining medium. Dip the cut end of a cutting in rooting hormone, then insert that end at least 2 to 3 inches into the soil. Stake the cutting to provide support while it develops roots. Water lightly every few weeks. Cuttings grow rapidly once planted, often at a rate of an inch or more per day. After four months, the cutting should have a sufficiently strong root system to be ready for transplanting into the garden.
