The so-called “queen of the night” cactus (Hylocereus undatus) not only makes an attractive, fast-growing exotic houseplant, it also produces an edible fruit! Called dragon fruit, it is more famous as “pitaya” and the term means “scaly fruit”.
Can you grow pitaya cactus at home?
Yes, you can grow Hylocereus undatus cactus indoors! The only requirement is that your house has a place with plenty of sunlight, such as a sunroom or a large window where the plant can receive six to eight hours of sunlight.
How to grow and care for pitaya cactus
To make a pitaya cactus bear fruit, hand pollination may be necessary, a job that is done by moths, bats and bees outdoors.
How to Grow Dragon Fruit Cactus Indoors
The more space you have, the better, as this plant is a vine that can reach 6 meters in height! Also for this reason, the plant needs support to grow upwards, like a trellis. Make sure it’s sturdy and strong enough to hold branches with fruit, which can get heavy.
Sun light
The dragon fruit cactus needs six to eight hours of full sunlight per day to develop flowers and fruits. Morning sun in an east-facing window and afternoon sun in a west-facing window are ideal.
If your window faces south, the light can be too intense and burn the plant, especially in summer. An alternative solution is to change the sun-facing side at regular intervals so that you get even exposure.
artificial light
Instead of six to eight hours of natural light year-round, you can use supplemental grow lights. To mimic strong sunlight, they must be full spectrum LED lights. But for that it is necessary to adapt the plant. Start by placing the light about a foot away from the plant and move closer over the course of a few days.
Temperature
The ideal room temperature is between 20 and 30 °C. She does not do well in temperatures above 35°C and should not be kept in rooms that get excessively hot during the summer. Cold, then, no way! This cactus is not frost tolerant, so during the winter, keep it away from cold windows.
Moisture
Normally, 30% to 50% ambient humidity is suitable for dragon fruit cactus. During the driest period, place a tray of water and rocks nearby, use a room humidifier, or steam the plant from above.
watering
Care must be taken, as the plant is very sensitive to excess water, but it can withstand some drought conditions, as its phyllocladia, the leaf-shaped branches, retain water. During the active growing season, in the summer, water when the soil surface appears dry. In autumn and winter, reduce watering, which induces dormancy in plants.
Air circulation
The pitaya cactus grows a lot and needs to be cut and pruned at least once a year to ensure good air circulation. Poor air circulation makes you more prone to mold.
Fertilizer
Despite being a tropical plant, the dragonfruit cactus only grows during the summer. Fertilize about once a month with a low nitrogen fertilizer. Too much nitrogen leads to excessive vegetative growth and should be avoided.
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Pruning and maintenance
The objective to to prune the plant is to cut it to a single stem or some thicker stems like the main vines. Also, thin out the smaller side branches, on which the flowers and fruit will develop. This not only improves air circulation, but also increases fruit quality and size.
Pollination
If the variety is not self-fertile, it needs hand pollination as well, with pollen from the flower of another dragon fruit cactus. Collect the pollen from the stamen (that yellow part) and gently pass it over the stigma of the plant you want to pollinate.
Be sure to use a new cotton swab for each plant. The dragonfruit cactus blooms during the night, so you need to pollinate it between dusk and dawn.
Vase
Use a large container with at least 25 to 30 cm deep, with adequate drainage holes. This is a tall plant and therefore needs depth for the roots. A container made of a heavy material, such as ceramic or terracotta, it is better than plasticas it is less likely to tip over.
Ground
When it comes to soil, dragon fruit cactus is a cactus in name only. Needs to be planted in Nutrient-rich, neutral to acidic potting soiland not in cactus soil, as the latter does not provide enough nutrients.
Drainage
To improve drainage, you can add some sand to the potting soil and place pebbles, stones or bark in the bottom of the container.
*Via The Spruce