Family: Cactaceae
Common name: Dragon fruit, Pitahaya, Night blooming cereus, Moonlight Cactus, Nightblooming Cactus, Belle of the Night, Pitaya, Queen of the Night, Red Pitaya, Common Night Blooming Cerus, Strawberry pear, Moonflower, White-fleshed Pitahaya, Pitajaya, Red Skin Dragon Fruit, Cinderella plant, Honolulu Queen, Jesus in the cradle, Dragon Fruit Tree, Tuna, Nopal, Fruit du dragon
Dragon fruits are one of the most popular fruits, cultivated in many parts of the world, mostly in tropical countries, loved for their red, spiky fruits that have a mild flavor. Though these Cactus plants are native to South America, they have gained global popularity among fruit lovers and farmers alike.
Plant Characteristics
Dragon fruits are climbing cacti that can grow tall and spread quickly with their sprawling green and succulent stems. They need a supporting structure to climb or clamber on, or they could also climb on the surrounding vegetation.
Root system is fibrous, spreading horizontally along the ground to absorb water from a large area. Dragon fruit trees can grow 4-6 meters tall provided they are given a sturdy supporting structure to climb on.
Their roots cannot attach themselves to the supporting structure, and hence the stems have to be tied to the structure.
Dragon fruit stems are roughly triangular with 3 edges that have wavy margins. Like with most cactus plants, the stem has segments that are 40-100 cm, and are about 10-12 cm thick. The stems are smooth except for the wavy ridges that contain spiky thorns that are 1-4 cm long, brown or black in color; these ridges are called areoles.
The stems are capable of storing water since these are essentially desert plants that can grow with very little water. Interestingly, Dragon fruit plants are growing very well in Kerala, in wet, tropical weather that gets a lot of rainfall from June to August.
Dragon fruit trees do not have typical leaves like other plants, but small, rudimentary leaf-like structures that appear when the plants are small.
Flowers are the most striking feature of the Dragon fruit plant – large, stunning, creamy-white flowers that open in the night or late evening, emitting a lovely fragrance.
These flowers are 20-30 cm long and 25-30 cm in diameter, with multiple layers of creamy white petals, a yellow center filled with fluffy stamens, and thin, elongated tepals that are seen at the base of the petals.
It is indeed a breathtaking sight when multiple flowers bloom on plants that are planted close to each other, the heady scent attracting moths and other nocturnal insects.
Once the flowers are pollinated, they form the world-famous Dragon fruits, which are as unique and beautiful as the flowers. Most fruits are oval or oblong in shape, pink or deep pink in color, but there are variants with yellow skin as well.
The protrusions or spikes outside give the fruit its name, though they are not pointy or spiky, but with rounded-off tips.
The flesh inside is white or deep pink with tiny black seeds scattered throughout. These seeds are edible and do not need to be removed from the skin. The flavor of the fruit is mildly sweet with a crunchy texture, because of the seeds.
Each fruit can weigh 300-600 grams, and there are 5-6 harvest cycles throughout the year, making it a very profitable venture for farmers in India. Vietnam is the top producer of Dragon fruits, followed by other Asian countries like Malaysia, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and Thailand.
Gardening Tips
Dragon fruit plants need good sunlight for most part of the day. Since they are Cactus plants, they need well-drained soil that is slightly acidic, for optimal growth. Water only when the soil is completely dry, as overwatering or waterlogging can lead to stem and root rot.
The most important factor in growing Dragon fruits is to provide them with a sturdy vertical structure to climb.
The most common method used by farmers is to place thick, strong, rectangular pieces of concrete or stone on the ground with a ring of metal at the top. The Dragon fruit trees are then placed at the four corners of the structure.
They are tied to the structure with strong twines or ropes as the plant grows. Since the stems are very thick, you cannot make do with sticks or ropes for support, but need solid, strong supporting structures to which the stems have to be tied.
Fertilization should be done with a balanced fertilizer like NPK to help the plants grow strong and produce more fruits. Pruning can be done after the fruits are harvested to improve air circulation and also to remove diseased branches.
The most common types of Dragon fruits are Selenicereus undatus or white-fleshed Dragon fruit, Selenicereus costaricensis or Red-fleshed Dragon fruit, Selenicereus megalanthus or Yellow-fleshed Dragon fruit.
Uses of Dragon Fruit
Dragon fruits are mostly eaten raw, and also used to make juices, milkshakes, preserves, jellies, puddings, and ice creams. Parts of the plant have some medicinal uses in the treatment of fever, lung infections, worms, and ulcers.
Flowers are also edible, and can be brewed into tea. The fruit is used to color juices and alcoholic beverages like Dragotini and Dragon’s blood punch.
Fruits are mostly water and fibers, with some trace micronutrients. Since they are low on calories and sugars, they are excellent for weight-watchers and those who have diabetes.
Propagation of Dragon Fruit
Propagation can be very easily done through stem cuttings, and rarely from seeds.
A mature, healthy section of the stem about 30-40 cm long can be cut from the parent plant and allowed to dry out for 2-3 days to form calluses. This can help prevent the stem from rotting when planted in soil.
Once it has dried out, the stem can be planted in well-draining soil for roots to form in a few days. Once the plants grow one or two segments, they can be transplanted to the final growing location with good support.
Seeds can be carefully extracted from ripe fruits and sown in soil to germinate. This method is effective, but a tad slower than the stem cuttings method.
Photographed at: Kings Flora Organic Farm Resort, Wayanad
