How to Grow Dragon Fruit in Containers
Tip
The limbs of Dragon Fruit can grow up to 20 feet long, so every potted Dragon Fruit will eventually need to be transplanted to an outdoor location. In order for the Dragon Fruit plant to produce fruit, it must cross pollinate with another plant. Therefore you will need to have one of each of the following plants: Hylocereus undatus and Hylocerus Polyrhizus.
The Dragon Fruit plant is actually a cactus that produces large red or pink colored fruit that are edible. They are most often found growing in tropical zones as they prefer high temperatures. However, they can be grown almost anywhere as long as they are grown in containers that can be moved indoors at the first sign of frost. Dragon Fruit plants that are grown in containers or pots have special needs that wild growing Dragon Fruit does not.
Plant the dragon fruit in a ten gallon container. Dragon Fruit trees can grow up to ten feet high and if their roots are crowded they will not bloom or produce fruit. Place three to four cups of rocks or gravel in the bottom of the container to provide proper drainage, then fill the container three-fourths full with potting soil.
Insert a 3 foot wooden plant stake into the soil approximately 3 inches away from the plant. As the plant grows, use gardening tape to secure the plant to the stake for support.
Place the plant in a location where it receives direct sunlight for most of the day.
Water the Dragon Fruit plant with approximately 1 inch of water per week. This can be accomplished by using twice weekly watering cycles.
Fertilize the plant twice per year with a fertilizer that is suitable for fruit trees.
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Kimberly Johnson is a freelance writer whose articles have appeared in various online publications including eHow, Suite101 and Examiner. She has a degree in journalism from the University of Georgia and began writing professionally in 2001.
