Dragon fruit is also known as the pitaya fruit which belongs to the cactus family. It is mostly found in Asia and in South America. Its taste is like a kiwi fruit.
If you haven't heard much about this fruit then don't worry. We will discuss grow fruit types, benefits, and how to grow dragon fruit in detail.
Growing a dragon plant at home is easy. If you give a little bit of time then you can easily grow plants at home. If you are a fruit lover then you have definitely taste dragon fruit. If not then you need to taste it.
Dragon fruit is very beneficial for health. Due to the health benefits, people love to have dragon fruit. Let's start with what is dragon fruit and its type.
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Dragon fruit
Dragon fruit is a tropical fruit found in the Asian and North American regions and central America. It grows in large size having a diameter of about 25 cm and 30 cm long. Its fruit is red in color when it gets ripe.
It has a seed inside the fruit which can also use to sow the plant. You can directly eat or can be add in ice cream, jam, fresh fruit.
Dragon fruit types
There are different types of dragon fruit varied from color to taste. Its varieties can be identified with their color. Here we will discuss the types of dragon plants.
1.Yellow dragon
Yellow dragon fruit is a type of dragon plant that comes from Hylocereus megalanthus. It is rich in fiber and vitamins.
It is yellow in color so it is called a yellow dragon. It can grow up to 15 feet tall. Yellow Dragon is easily available in the market. The consumption rate of this variety is rapidly growing all over the world.
2.Purple haze
Purple haze is a type of dragon fruit that is purple in color and has fewer seeds than others. It is one of the sweetest fruit.
It grows up to a height of 13 feet. It tastes like a kiwi fruit. It has a self-pollinating character.
3.David Bowie
David Bowie is a whitish fruit that has a lemony taste. This plant has a weight ranges of up to 1 pound.
It is a self-pollinating fruit plant. It is best for making juice. It is originally from California.
These are the different types of dragon fruit available in the market.
How to grow dragon fruit
If you like to have fresh dragon fruit then you will definitely like to grow dragon fruit. Growing dragon fruit at home requires care of the plant.
If you can provide proper care then you can easily grow your favorite fruit. Let's begin with the steps to grow dragon fruit.
Steps 1:
Planting a dragon plant depends upon what you want to grow. There are two ways you can grow dragon fruit from seed and cuttings. If you want to plant from seed then it will take more than from cutting.
I recommend you to plant from cutting. Cut the leaves of the dragon plant and let it until it dry. If you found rot then cut down again. You can buy a small plant from a nursery.
Step 2:
While making soil for a plant you need to select fertile soil. Add a little sand in it to make drainage in the soil.
Select the location where you want to grow. you can plant in a container indoor as well as outdoor. prepare a location and fill the soil in the container or in direct soil. Dragon plant requires proper sunlight to grow.
Step 3:
Plant the leaves with the support of the bamboo stick. Tied the leaves in a stick with a smooth cloth to make the plant stable. Cover and tied the plant with soil enough to get proper drainage.
Dragon plant does not require water regularly. As it is a cactus plant and requires waster in less amount. You can water them when it seems to dry.
Step 4:
When the plant starts to grow, it takes about two months to develop its root. You can use nitrogen fertilizer to increase the growth and quality of plant.
But be careful overuse of fertilizer cause dryness in plant and plant may die.
Step 5 :
The plant starts to enlarge in size over a year. If you are growing the plant in pots then you can transfer it into the soil with precaution. It takes about two years to develop fruit in it.
After a year you can trim the leaves to make proper size. Some of the varieties of dragon plants grow up to 7 meters.
You can have your favorite dragon fruit after two years if you care about your plant properly.
Benefits of dragon fruit
There are many benefits of dragon fruit. Here I have listed a few of the health benefits of the dragon plant.
1. It helps in the weight loss of the body.
2. It helps to control the blood sugar level of the body.
3. It is high in nutrients and fiber.
4. It may help to control chronic diseases.
5. It helps to boost the immune power of the body.
6. It is rich in vitamins.
These are the benefits of dragon fruit that you can have when you eat dragon fruit regularly. It makes a person healthy and controls aging.
FAQ
1. How to support the dragon fruit plant?
-Dragon fruit needs support to stand up straight while they are planting. You can give support with the help of stick bamboo and tied with rope to make plants straight. It also supports plants from wind and other attacks.
2. How long does a dragon plant take to grow?
-Growing of dragon trees depends upon the varieties. Considering the average height of the plant it takes about five to seven years to develop fully.
3. What are the problems with the dragon tree?
-Plant gets dried out when there is a lack of water and humidity. Insects and mites are common problems in dragon fruit trees. Due to excessive water, it causes root rot and the loss of leaves.
Conclusion
You are now able to grow the dragon plant at home with the simple steps mentioned above. Caring for and maintaining favorable conditions is an important thing while growing any plant.
Hope you will follow all the mentioned steps and grow your favorite dragon fruit. If you have any queries then comment down below.