Dragon fruit is a very fast-growing cactus, this article is about but how long will it take from seedling to ripening?
Dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus), also known as pitaya or pitahaya, is a tropical cactus native to Latin and South America. This perennial vining cactus plants in USDA zones 10-11, but it can also be cultivated in containers, making it possible to bring indoors during the winter in cooler climates. This unique plant spreads quickly from cuttings., but requires a little patience before fruiting.
How Fast do they grow?
You can expect fruit from this cactus one to three years after planting. In its native warm climate, this cactus grows up to an inch per day! If started from cuttings, it takes one to two years for the plant to start bearing fruit. The first year is usually devoted to plant growth. The following years focus on production, with peak fruiting cycles beginning three to four years after planting.
This cactus can live 10-20 years, producing up to 220 pounds of fruit per plant in zones 9-12. In colder regions, cactus are usually grown in a container and must be moved indoors for the winter. Due to size and temperature limitations it may take longer and produce less overall.
In early years, these vines quickly climb trellises and then spread overhead into a tree. When your plant reaches the top of its trellis, you can begin “tipping” or “forcing” the fruit. This simple method involves cutting off the tops of the vines to promote the formation of flower buds. Instead of channeling its energy into more plant growth, the cactus will focus on producing flowers and fruit.
Growth Stages of Dragon Fruit
This perennial cactus is known for its very sweet, vibrant fruits and very fast growth. If you plant cuttings in your garden, you can use a marker to track growth on a wooden trellis post.
The cactus will grow significantly in height every day throughout the summer. This rapid growth culminates in a tree-like shape at the top of the trail. Once the plant has established sufficient vegetative growth, it begins to produce flower buds and fruit. However, you should vary your care, pruning, and fertilization practices depending on the plant’s growth stage.
Cutting or Seedling (1-2 Months)
The best way to start is by cutting it or buying it from a store-bought plant. It is not recommended to start them from seed as they take five years to reach maturity. Furthermore, seeds do not always produce true-to-type varieties with the most desirable tasting fruits.
Growing from cuttings ensures that you have the same genetics as the mother plant. Cuttings are clones of the plant from which they are taken. As you can imagine, larger cuttings grow faster than smaller cuttings. If possible, take stem cuttings 7-12 inches long at the point where the stem joins the wooden knobs.
Be sure to identify the variety first and prepare the cuttings. This method is extremely cheap and allows you to propagate many cacti at once. However, you must have access to a mature plant that can withstand the harvest of many additional plants.
Buy Seedlings
If you don’t have access to mature cacti, nursery plants are the next best option. Some nurseries sell Hylocereus undatus as small or medium sized plants. You may need to find a nursery that specializes in succulents, cacti or tropical plants. Plants should be clearly labeled with their cultivar. Make sure the leaves are green, vibrant and healthy. Check for signs of pests or disease (such as the orange dots that indicate cactus rust) before taking the plant home.
Since the plants are already rooted, you can start growing. Under the right conditions, established plants can grow up to an inch per day, climbing their trellis with gusto! ! If you start with a plant in a one- to two-gallon pot, the growth phase will be faster. You can get fruits within the first year.
A young cactus must be transplanted into a larger container (ideally 20-25+ gallons) as soon as possible. Use a bamboo or wooden stake to keep the cactus upright. You may need twine or garden tape to attach it to the trellis. It’s best to trellis and plant the cactus at the same time so you don’t have to transplant it again. When transplanting, handle the root ball gently, and be sure to keep the soil level with the container.
Roots and Stems (2-6 Months)
Once a cutting or seed is planted, it begins to build its roots and grow plants. Don’t expect fruit from a baby plant! Just like humans and animals, plants must go through a juvenile (vegetative) stage where they focus entirely on root and stem growth. At the moment, he doesn’t have enough energy and resources to devote to production. Pattaya doesn’t technically have true addresses. Instead, it has a succulent texture and spines with wavy-edged green stem branches. You will see the stems grow. Every 12-18 inches, one stem will connect to the next in a wooden knob. These pieces or parts of the stems look like dangling sausage links as they grow.
At this stage, it is important to provide enough nutrients. Use a slow-release, all-purpose fertilizer when planting. A high nitrogen ratio is essential to promote rapid growth. Feed your plants regularly — up to once every week! Fish emulsion is an ideal organic fertilizer because it promotes rapid growth without the risk of compost burn.
Climbing Stage (7-18 Months)
If you use Epic Gardening founder Kevin’s trellis method, you’ll notice that the plant quickly climbs up the vertical side of the trellis. This step continues until it reaches the top square of the trellis and begins to bend into a tree-like shape.
Photosynthesis takes place in chloroplasts, which are the organelles of green cells in the stem. A vibrant to dark green color is a good sign that the plant is growing well. If the stems look yellow or yellow, they may not be photosynthesizing properly. This can be linked to overwatering, lack of sunlight, or lack of nitrogen.
Fertilization
Continue to feed the plant with a slow-release all-purpose fertilizer with plenty of nitrogen. Nitrogen is key to plant growth, but you don’t want to overdo it. Slow-release organic fertilizers are ideal because they gradually provide nutrients to the plant over a longer period of time. If you fertilized at planting time, you can continue to apply a side dressing or liquid fish fertilizer every two weeks during the climbing phase.
Pruning
Pruning during the climbing phase is also ideal. Like tomatoes or cucumbers, Hylocereus undatus produces “suckers” or side shoots. These side shoots can suck energy from the line away from the output. Pruning reduces excess vegetation and helps keep the plant clean. This is especially important in the fall, but you can remove side shoots during the growing season.
Use sharp, sterile scissors to cut off any side branches that grow along the lower parts of the stem. These side shoots will be obvious as they branch out from the sides of the main vine. Anything shorter than six inches is best removed.
First Floral Buds (1-2 Years)
Finally, your cactus has covered its trellis and is mature enough to form flower buds. The most important thing at this stage is called “force”. Forcing, also known as tipping, is the best way to ensure your plant transitions out of the vegetative phase and into the reproductive phase.
Tipping means removing the mounting points. Use sharp, sterile scissors to cut off one to two inches of growth at the terminal ends of each upper stem. Removing these points communicates to the plant, “Hey! You’ve grown plants. It’s time to produce flower buds! Mid-to-late summer to prepare your plants for fruiting.” Better to tip.
Flowers (30-35 Days After Budding)
Flowers will begin to bloom within about a month of bud formation. Pitaya plants have the most spectacular flowers in the plant kingdom! These night blooming cacti often bloom around the new moon or full moon.
Very large flowers usually bloom for only 10-12 hours. Their ephemeral beauty makes them extra special to witness, but it also makes pollination time important. At this stage it is important to monitor your plants closely and put reminders in your calendar to go outside when the flowers are blooming.
The bright white flowers are naturally pollinated by wild bats. In your garden, they can pollinate themselves or need a little help. You can use a small paintbrush to transfer the pollen between the flowers.
Ripening and Harvest
The last stage of ripening is the most exciting! You have been meticulous in your care of your cactus, waiting impatiently for buds, blooms, and fruit to appear. It’s critical to keep an eye out for peak ripeness when the skin turns a vibrant magenta.
Pitaya is a very tasty plant to grow because store-bought fruits are usually bland. This can be attributed to their premature harvest. Hylocereus undatus is unique among fruits in that it ripens no further after it is picked. On your countertop, however, tomatoes and bananas continue to mature due to increased ethylene exposure.
