Read below how to grow dragon fruit from seeds. You can either buy seeds from a garden shop or take out the seeds from the dragon fruit from the supermarket. Take out seeds from a ripe dragon fruit and grow them at home to create a beautiful climbing cactus - dragon fruit, as I have done in Sydney, Australia. The dragon fruit you grow from the seed may take several years, may be 5 years to begin bearing beautiful fruits. The fruits from the seed grown plant will not true to the type of its parent plant.
While dragon fruit is commonly propagated from cuttings, growing it from seeds can be an exciting experiment.
Following is a step-by-step guide for rooting dragon fruit plant from seeds faster.
Prepare Pitaya Seeds
The first important thing is to get correct seeds. Get pitaya seeds from a garden shop or buy a fully ripe dragon fruit from the grocery shop.
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| Dragon Fruit Seeds |
Seeds Extraction
Extract them from the fruit by scooping them out the pulp and wash them thoroughly to remove the pulp. Dry the seeds on a paper towel.
Allow the seeds to air dry on a paper towel for a day.
Dragon Fruit Seeds Germination
Germination in Paper Towel
Place the seeds on a moist paper towel (how to germinate seeds with paper towel). Cover with another paper towel, moisten it and place it in a warm spot in shade. Seeds should germinate within 2-3 weeks.
The seeds may sprout in water if you soak them in water for a few days.
You may sow the seeds directly in soil.
Preparation of Planting Trays
Take a planting tray or pot having drainage holes. Fill it with seed raising soil for cactus or succulents.
Moisten the soil before sowing the seeds.
Planting The Seeds
Plant the dragon fruit seeds about 1/4 inch deep in the soil.
Space the seeds evenly in the trays.
Cover the trays with plastic wrap to create a humid environment.
Place the tray in shade at a warm location, away from direct sunlight. Keep the soil damp.
Dragon fruit seeds will germinate within 2-4 weeks.
Once seedlings emerge,remove the plastic cover and provide them with bright, indirect light.
Gradually remove the covering to acclimate the seedlings to lower humidity.
Transplanting Seedlings
When seedlings have developed 2-3 sets of leaves, transplant them into individual pots filled with well-draining potting mix. In standing water or waterlogged soils, plants will rot and die.
Where to Grow Dragon Fruit Plants
Place the young dragon fruit plants in a sunny location to receive adequate light. Place the pots indoors in a bright location or use grow lights.
Watering and Fertilizing
Water the plants when the soil is dry, but avoid over-watering.
The seed grown dragon fruit plants may take about 5 years to reach their vegetative maturity to bear fruits. Compare it with the dragon fruit plant grown from cuttings (growing dragon fruit from cuttings), they may flower and fruit in just 1-2 years.