White dragon fruit cactus (also called Hylocereus undatus, Selenicereus undatus, Hylocereus tricostatus, Cereus undatus or the white-fleshed) is a beautiful plant that be grown in your garden or home. The outside of the fruit is red with green tips, and the inside is white, mild, and tasty.
This is a great variety with a high yield and self-pollination. It is big and weighs between 1.0 and 1.5 lbs. This beautiful night-blooming cactus can grow in a wide range of conditions and soils.
It makes the most fruit when it is allowed to climb on a burlap-wrapped wooden post, trellis, or your favorite tree. The huge, round flowers are between 10 and 16 inches in diameter and have a beautiful shape.
The White Pitaya (“Strawberry Pear”), which is also called dragonfruit or pitahaya, is one of the most beautiful and delicious fruits in the world. It is still not very well known in the West, but if you are lucky enough to find one, it will enchant you.
The Pitaya plant is magical in and of itself. It is a shrub in the cactus family that has big, beautiful white flowers. After just one night of being open, the flowers will lose their petals and start the natural process that will lead to fruit in a month. This will happen two or three years after the seeds were planted, because the plants grow slowly.
What kind of cactus is this
Dragon Fruit Cactus will keep growing as long as the roots can stick to something like a wooden post, or a totem wrapped in burlap. Pitahaya will grow at different rates, flower at different times, and make different amounts of fruit depending on the soil type, humidity, sunlight, temperature, and other factors.
It can handle drought, pests, diseases, sun, and shade well and has a great taste. It will do very well in a pot or on a trellis. The fruits are oval and weigh about a pound and a half and are five inches long on average.
There are, in a 6-ounce (~ 170 grams) dragon fruit:
- Calories: 102;
- Fat: 0 grams;
- Protein: 2 grams;
- Carbohydrates: 22 grams;
- Fiber: 5 grams;
- Sugars: 13 grams;
- Vitamin A: 100 international units;
- Vitamin C: 4 milligrams;
- Calcium: 31 milligrams;
- 1 gram of iron;
- Magnesium: 68 milligrams.
Dragon Fruit plants are easy to grow and do not need to be pollinated. They open at night. Even though pitahaya plants do best in sandy, loose soils that drain well, keep in mind that they need certain nutrients to grow well and make good fruit. The best soil for these plants is one that has a lot of humus and holds a lot of water.
| Outdoor | Patio | Sun, % | Soil |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 10-11 | Zone 4a-11 | 80-100% | Rich moist |
This type of plant grows fruit about the size of a kiwi. When the fruit is fully ripe, the peel is a fiery magenta color with greenish-yellow “dragon scales.” When you cut a White Dragon Fruit in half, you’ll find white flesh with small black seeds all over it. Most of the time, this fruit has a crisp texture and sweet juice.
What are the health benefits of the red dragon fruit plant?
Red dragon fruit has anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties and may help improve heart health. Red pitaya is high in antioxidants that may help improve heart health. These antioxidants may lower the risk of lung cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer.
Additionally, dragonfruit is low in sugar and calories, making it a good option for people who are watching their weight.
It is a good source of vitamin C, vitamin B6, and potassium. It also contains antioxidants which can help protect the body from disease. Red dragon fruit is a healthy snack choice for people of all ages.
This plant can be grown easily in tropical and subtropical climates and can be eaten fresh or used in juices, jams, and jellies. The red dragon fruit plant is also a good source of fiber.
Red dragon fruit plant care
Pitaya Cacti are easy to grow, send out long vines, and produce a lot of fruit with little care. Dragon Fruit Cactus grow well in the garden in a pot or directly in the ground near an arbor or post. They add a tasty touch to any garden or patio outside. In cooler places, a Dragon Fruit in a pot can be brought inside for the winter.
You don’t have to worry about planting your new pitahaya as soon as you get it. You can store your new plant for a while by putting it in a bucket and putting it somewhere shady. Just water it when it gets dry. This will give you a lot of time to decide where your new Dragon Fruit will grow best.
The flower buds start to show up in the summer, and they bloom all the way through the fall. The flowers are white and between 20 and 25 cm long. They only bloom for one night. They start to open around 4 p.m. and are at their most beautiful by 9 p.m.
The White pitahaya is easy to take care of, just like other cacti. The first thing you’ll want to do is give it the support it needs for its trunk and vines. They want as much sun as you can give them and soil that drains well. This variety can make its own fruit, so you don’t need another plant to go with it.
As a stand-alone plant, this beautiful cactus will turn heads and make the perfect focal point for your garden.
How do you care for a red dragon fruit plant?
A red dragon fruit plant is a beautiful addition to any garden, and it’s easy to care for. Here are a few tips to help you get started:
- Red pitaya plants need full sun and well-drained soil. They grow best in temperatures between 60 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit;
- Make sure to water your plant regularly, but don’t over water it. The soil should be moist, but not wet;
- Fertilize your plant twice a year with a balanced fertilizer;
- Prune your plant regularly to keep it healthy and looking good. Remove any dead or damaged branches;
- Harvest your fruit when it’s ripe by cutting it off the stem with a sharp knife. Store your fruit in a plastic bag in the fridge. You can also freeze your fruit for future use;
- You can plant multiple dragon fruit plants together to create a nice, large stand. This is especially nice if you have limited space and want to grow more than one plant.
Planting
It grows best in dry, tropical or subtropical climates, and it needs full sun to partial shade. In hot places, shade is sometimes given. Most of the time, the plants aren’t too picky about the type of soil they grow in. However, because they are epiphytes, it is best to grow them in a soil mix with a lot of organic material and good drainage.
During the growing season, from March to August, the plants are watered often so that they don’t dry out completely. During this time, they are fertilized once a month with a balanced fertilizer.
From late August until January, you can only get water about once a week. It should be about 10° C at night at this time. Stop watering the plant for four weeks in January or February to help the flowers grow. In March, you can water the plant like you used to, and it will bloom in 6 to 8 weeks. Will grow in temperatures as high as 45°C and short periods of frost, but long periods of cold will hurt or kill the plant.
The seed should be planted in compost that drains well, and it should sprout in 14 to 28 days at 18 to 21° C.
Red dragon fruit can be planted from cuttings or from seed. Cuttings are the easiest way to plant red dragon fruit, but they may not always produce fruit. Seeds are the most economical way to plant red dragon fruit, but they may take longer to produce fruit.
Soil
Pitahaya like an organic cactus mix that drains well and is easy to find at a box store near you. Soil for red dragon fruit should be light and sandy with good drainage. A soil pH of 6.0 to 7.0 is ideal for this crop. Add compost to the soil before planting to provide nutrients and improve drainage.
Red pitaya is a perennial evergreen tree that can grow up to 20 meters in height. It has a compact and upright growth habit, with branches spreading out from the main trunk. Be careful when pruning this plant; it is prone to dieback. The fruit of the red dragon fruit is round to pear-shaped, 1.5 to 3 centimeters in diameter, and has a soft fleshy texture. The skin is greenish and covered with fine wrinkles.
Size of container
All types of Dragon Fruit Cactus grow well in containers on the patio. Give the plant enough room to grow. Usually, a container with a totem that is 8 to 16 inches in diameter and 12 inches deep will do. Remember that your pitaya will grow taller and be healthier if the roots are not too tight. When the roots are too close together, the plant won’t grow as fast. When this happens, it’s time to move the plant to a bigger pot.
Fertilizer
One way to help your fruit thrive is to fertilize it regularly. Fertilizing red pitahaya can help it produce more fruit and increase its nutrient content.
To help your new pitaya get started, use a slow-release fertilizer three times a year a few inches away from the base. If you don’t feed them, they will grow more slowly.
Light and grow zone
Best outdoors if grown in zone 10-11, find your zone here. This Dragon Fruit Cactus needs to be in the sun 80–100% of the time. Depending on where you live, most plants do best in full sun. At the northern end of their growing zone, white pitahaya should be brought inside or protected during the winter months.
The patio is in zone 4b-11, which means that the potted plant will do well in colder areas during the summer, but it must be brought inside before winter.
| Botanical Name | Hylocereus undatus |
|---|---|
| Known as | White Dragon Fruit Plant, Pitaya, Pitahaya, Hylocereus Coastaricensis, Dragonfruit, H. undatus |
| Type | Succulent |
| Mature Height | 8 – 25 feet |
| Mature Spread | 2 – 4 feet |
| Sun Exposure | Full Sun, partial shade |
| Water | Little |
| Soil | Well drained |
| Moisture | Low |
| Growth Rate | Medium, Slow |
| Flower Color | White fragrant |
| Foliage | Sub-Tropical |
| Foliage Color | Green |
| Fall Color | Evergreen |
| Harvest Time | Mid-season |
| Pollinator Friendly | Yes |
| Fruiting Time | Fall-Winter |
| Pet friendly | Yes |
| Pruning Time | After fruiting |
| Air purifying | No |
Watering
Red pitaya should be watered regularly. They need water when the soil is dry to the touch. Red dragon fruit plants do not like “wet feet” and produce better fruit when they are watered often during the growing season.
During the winter months, reduce watering by half. Pitahaya fruit plants can be overwatered, but overwatering is not as damaging as underwating. Overwatering red dragon fruit plants during the summer months will cause the leaves to turn yellow and to curl at the edges.
Pruning
In order to produce fruit, red dragon fruit needs to be pruned regularly. Pruning helps to keep the plant healthy and promotes fruiting. The red dragonfruit plant can be pruned to create new branches for the tree. The main branches that grow from the stem will produce fruits. Pruning will also promote growth and encourage the plant to flower again.
Before you plants outdoors
At the nursery, this Dragon Fruit Cactus grows under a shade cloth that blocks out 20–40% of the sun. If you put this pitaya in a place where there is a lot of light, the leaves may get burned. Before planting, it’s best to let this plant get used to its environment by leaving it outside and moving it slowly into a sunny spot over a week or two. This will keep the plant from getting stressed.
Parts of plants that can be eaten and how they can be used
This vine is both a decoration and a source of fruit. The fruit is round and beautiful, with a deep color and shape. It weighs 1 kg or more and tastes deliciously like a light melon. The fruit is often red and has large scales. The thin skin covers a large mass of white or red pulp with a sweet taste and small black seeds. Some are yellow or have a pinkish color.
To eat the fruit, cut it in half and serve it cold. Like a kiwi, scoop out the flesh and seeds. It is also used to make drinks and baked goods taste better. Flower buds that haven’t opened yet can be cooked and eaten as a vegetable.
When the white, slimy flowers dry out, they turn yellow. They can be eaten and taste sour. The flowers can be bought in packages at Chinese grocery stores. They need to be soaked before they can be cooked in soup. You can also put the fresh flowers in vegetable soups.
That’s interesting
- Native to the Pacific side of Guatemala, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and the southern part of Mexico. Colombia, Ecuador. Curacao, Panama. Uruguay, and Brazil;
- Size when fully grown: thick, fleshy stems can grow up to 20 feet tall;
- You can grow new plants from seeds or stem cuttings. It can take up to seven years for a seed to grow into a plant that bears fruit.
- Soil and water: A loose, sandy cactus mix that drains well. Only water when the soil is completely dry;
- Dragonfruit plants can get very big and spread out, so they should be put in the ground at least 15 to 25 feet (4 to 7 m) away from trees, buildings, and power lines. Set up a strong trellis that can hold the weight of several hundred pounds of stems;
- This plant likes full sun to part shade, and it doesn’t care much about the soil as long as it drains well and has a lot of organic matter;
- From the time it blooms until it’s time to harvest, make sure to water it often so the soil doesn’t dry out. During this time, fertilize once a month with a balanced fertilizer.
- Self-fertile: Depending on the type, they can either pollinate themselves or make their own seeds;
- Dragon Fruit is thought to live about 20 years and can produce up to 220 lb (100 kg) of fruit per year 3–4 years after it is planted.
- Outdoors, in zones 9–11 (protected from frost until established), patio/greenhouse, 4+;
- Yellow, red, and white varieties are ready to pick from late fall to early spring;
- It can live in either cool or warm climates, as long as the temperature doesn’t go above 100°F (38°C). If it stays below freezing (31°F or -2°C) for a long time, it could get damaged;
- Cut back to keep the size in check, get flowers to grow, and make the stems branch out. After harvesting, cut off any damaged, diseased, or dead stems, as well as any that reach the ground. Remove some of the stems and train and tie the rest to the trellis to keep the stems from breaking or getting too close together. Dragon fruit plants grow quickly and may need to be pruned anywhere from one to three times a year;
- Keep an eye out for mites, thrips, ants, scales, leaf-footed bugs, mealybugs, slugs, stem and fruit canker, and fruit and stem rot.
Conclusions
In conclusion, white dragon fruit cactus is an interesting and beautiful plant that can be a great addition to any garden. It is easy to care for, and produces lovely white flowers that are sure to catch the eye. If you are looking for an interesting and unique plant to add to your garden, be sure to consider white pitahaya cactus!
