Ripe dragon fruit has ruby-colored skin.
Dragon fruits come from a clambering cactus, Hylocereus undatus, that can grow to tree-like proportions. The plant is native to Central America and has beautiful night-blooming flowers that develop into red-skinned, white-fleshed oval fruit. Dragon fruit trees became popular in Vietnam around 1960, where the plant got the dragon fruit name.
Propagation Methods
The easiest way to propagate dragon fruit plants is by cuttings. They can also be grown from seed. Take cuttings when the plant is growing actively. Seeds can be started any time indoors. The cactus is damaged by freezing weather.
Cuttings
Take cuttings from a branch that is over a year old. Cut the branch off where it joins the main stem or meets up with year-old tissue. Place the cutting in a shady place for several days to allow a callus to develop on the cut end. Then put the cutting in cactus potting soil, cut end down. Roots should form in a few weeks.
Seeds
Remove a ripe fruit from the dragon fruit tree and separate the seeds from the pulp. Wash the seeds clean using a tea strainer. Lay the wet seeds out on paper towels to dry. Plant the prepared seeds in cactus soil, barely covering them. Keep the container moist and partially cover it with plastic film or a pane of glass. Uncover the container when seedlings are 1 inch tall.
Tags: dragon fruit, Take cuttings