What is Dragon Fruit

• The dragon fruit is also known as “Pitaya”. It is a cactus species and native to South America.Vietnam is the highest producer in the world.

• Dragon fruit plants are good ornamental plants for home gardening and also produce delicious fruits. 

• The dragon fruit plant is a climbing plant and needs support to climb. 

• The dragon fruit plant sustains well in heat and also thrives well in dry areas with partial sun. The flowers of plants are unique, large, and open only at night and expels an amazing scent at night. 

• The dragon fruits are available in dark red, pink or yellow colors. These fruits have thin skin covered with scales with a tasty red or white pulp in the center. 

• Dragon fruits can be grown from its seeds, cuttings or by purchasing a potted plant from a nursery. 

• Dragon fruits are used in fruit juice, jams, ice creams and wine.

Nutritional value of Dragon fruit

Dragon fruits are a good source of vitamin C, iron, fibers and antioxidants which keeps you healthy and boosts your immune system.

Varieties for Dragon Fruit

Dragon fruits are of mainly two varieties 

1. Stenocereus (sour dragon fruits)  

2. Hylocereus (sweet dragon fruit )

Stenocereus type

These dragon fruits are common fruits in areas of the USA, they have a sour and refreshing taste.

 Hylocereus type

 These dragon fruits are sweet in taste and come in different colors. There are 3 types of sweet dragon fruits.

1. White-fleshed Dragon Fruits or Pitaya Blanca or Hylocereus Undatus: these fruits have pink-skinned fruit with white flesh.

2. Red-Fleshed Dragon Fruits or Pitaya Rosa or HylocereusPolyrhizus: these fruits having red skin with red flesh.

3. Yellow Pitaya/ Yellow Amarilla or Selenicereus Megalanthus or Hylocereus Megalanthus: these are yellow-skinned fruit with white flesh.

Cultivation of Dragon fruit in Garden

( Note: Cultivation of Dragon fruit in Farm land- see below )

Selection of pots for growing Dragon Fruits.

• The Ideal pot size is 15-25 inches in diameter and 10-15 inches in depth.

• Pots should have a good draining system having 2 to 3 drain holes.

• For healthy growth of the plant use pots made of clay that keeps the appropriate temperature of the plant.

• Take a bigger pot for better growth of dragon fruit.

Season for Growing Dragon Fruit in Pots

• Dragon fruit grows well in a tropical climate and can also be grown in subtropical climates.

• Dragon fruits can be planted in winter, spring and summer. Ideal temperature range should be 20 to 30 degrees.

• It thrives well in dry and semi-dry climates.

• The dragon fruit plant can survive short periods of freezing temperatures or frost. But may spoil in longer periods of low temperature.

Suitable Soil for Growing Dragon Fruit

• The dragon fruits grow in well-drained fertile, sandy soil.

• Soil used should be very sandy,  mix equal quantities of garden soil, compost and river sand for better drainage and growth of plant.

• Fill the pot with the mixed soils and allow it to stay overnight before planting.

Propagating Methods of Dragon Fruit 

• The dragon fruits can be propagated by seeds or by cutting. You can buy potted plants from nurseries.

• Propagating the dragon fruits by cutting is easy and grows very fast. Buying potted plants are also recommended.

• Growing dragon fruit plants from its seeds is a time taking process.

Growing Dragon Fruit in Pots from Cuttings

• Growing dragon fruits from its cutting is the best and easiest method for propagating.

• Stems should be cut properly from a healthy mature plant. Use a sharp garden knife to cut the cutting from the plant.

• Length of the cutting should be 5 to 15 inches, collect it  from the plant that produces fruit.

• Cutting should be collected early in the morning.

• Immerse the cuttings in a liquid fungicide for a few minutes and dry it.

• Now place the cuttings in a shady and cool location with good air circulation for 5 to 6 days, this increases the disease resistance in cuttings and also fastens the growth.

• Plant the cuttings about 3-5 inches deep in the pot and keep the soil moist. Keep the pots in a sunny location.

• Dragon fruit cuttings take 5 to 7 weeks to germinate depending on stem cuttings and local climatic conditions.

• Once the cutting forms a root system, feed the plant with balanced organic and liquid fertilizers.

• Give support to the growing plant by wooden rods and wires in the pot.

Watering Requirements for Growing Dragon Fruit

• The dragon fruit plant doesn’t need flooding water. Over watering may cause rotting in the plants.

• Also keep the poles moist.

• The dragon fruit plant can tolerate dryness  for some period, but watering in intervals is recommended.

Sunlight Requirement for Growing Dragon Fruit 

• Dragon fruits love sunlight and thrive well in partial to full sun.

• The leaves of the dragon fruits should be exposed to proper sunlight for fast growing.

• The dragon fruit plant requires 5 to 7 hours of sunlight per day.

• Adequate sunlight fastens the growth of the plant and increases flowering and fruiting.

Pruning Requirement for Growing Dragon Fruit 

• Pruning is done to maintain the compact size of the plant.

• The Dragon fruit plant can grow up to 20 feet height, but if you want to keep a preferred height, just prune the branches.

• Keeping the plant compact size can make the plant stronger and increase the yields.

Pollination Requirement for Growing Dragon Fruit 

• Better pollination in flowers increases the fruits. Most of the varieties of dragon fruit plants are self pollinating, only some varieties need cross-pollination.

• Bees, Moths, bats etc pollinate the dragon fruit plant, or hand pollination can also be done for better pollination.

• For hand pollination, collect the pollen grains from other dragon fruit plants using a cotton swab or smooth brush and then rub the pollen on the stigma of your plant.

• Hand pollination should be done during the night or early in the morning for better results.

• If the plant is flowering and unable to bear fruit this indicates that it is not self-pollinating. Do hand pollination to improve yield.

Pests and Diseases in Growing Dragon Fruit

• Most common pests that trouble dragon fruit plants are mealybug and aphids. These insects suck the sweet sap of the plant and hampers the plant growth.

• Ants are also a major problem, they run upon the plant and sucks the sap.

• Plants are also affected by mites and thrips, these can slow down the growth of the plant.

• Using Neem oil or herbal oil spray or mild soapy water spray can treat these pests. 

• Don’t use commercial organic pesticides on the plant to treat pests.

• Diseases that affect dragon fruit are Dragon Spots, these spots occur on the stems and leaves of the plant due to bacterial infection.This disease can spread easily from plant to plant.

• Use an organic fungicide to treat the diseases in dragon fruits. Watering at the base of the plant without making branches wet can control fungal and bacterial diseases.

• The Plant can be affected with sunburns during the hottest period of summer.

• Plants may suffer from rot due to overwatering. Using well-drained soils  and perforated pots for drainage can protect the plants from rotting.

Harvesting of Dragon Fruit 

• The Dragon fruit plants that grow from seeds take 5 to 6 years to produce fruits.

• The Dragon fruit plant grown from a high yielding cutting takes 1-1.5 years to produce fruits.

• The plant blooms in early summer, mainly in June. 

• The plant bears fruit from July to November. 

• A dragon fruit plant can produce fruit for up to 10-15 years.

• The plant produces fruit after 30 to 50 days after flowering.

• Pick the fruits from the plant when the color of fruit changes from green to red or pink or yellow depending on the variety. It is better to harvest after 4-5 days of color changing. If you are planning to export or planning to store for a long period, pick them on the next day after the color changes.

Cultivation of Dragon fruit in Farm land

• Farmers can cultivate dragon fruit and get good profit.

• Farmers should have prepared a good well drained soil before plantation.

• Take a good plantation variety which should be high yielding and disease pest resistant.

• As this is a cactus plant and needs support to grow, suitable poles are to be installed in the main field.

• Dragon fruit plants can live upto 15 years so concrete poles are more suitable as wooden and iron poles may be damaged quickly.

• Spacing: Row to row 12 ft and pole to pole 6-8 ft in a row.

• An acre can accommodate 450-500 Poles and each pole can have up to 4 plants. An acre can hold anywhere between 1800 – 2000 plants.

• Farmers should install drip irrigation for watering and fertilizer application to the plants.

• All other cultural practices like pruning, disease pest management, pollination and harvesting are already discussed above.

Cost involved in Dragon fruit cultivation

• For cultivating Dragon fruit, the initial cost is high. It is nearly about 5-6 lakh rupees per acre for the first year.

• Poles are the main expensive investment in the farm. The cost involved for good quality poles installation is about 2-3 lakh rupees.

•  Running costs like fertigation, labour etc. costs nearly 50000 to 1 lakh rupees every year.

Profit from Dragon fruit cultivation

• The yield for the first year is less, it is around 500 kg per acre.From the second year farmers can get a yield of 15-20 kg per pole.

• So a farmer can get around 6-7 ton yield per acre.

• Retail selling price of Dragon fruits around 100-130 per Kg. So farmers can get 6-7 lakh or more from 1 acre.

• According to some market surveys, pink pulp Dragon fruit fetches more profit than white pulp Dragon fruit.

Drawbacks of growing Dragon fruit 

• Although Dragon fruit cultivation is profitable farming, it has some marketing drawbacks in India.

• So farmers should do a market survey and marketing contacts before cultivating Dragon fruit.

• Dragon fruit has great market demands in states like Maharasta, Karnataka, Tamilnadu, West Bengal, Gujarat etc.

• It is a low maintenance crop and can give yield upto 10-15 years so farmers definitely get good profit by Dragon fruit cultivation.

Conclusion

Hope this article provides some information about dragon fruit cultivation both in home gardens and in farmers' fields. It is a good ornamental plant and also has high market value with low maintenance.

So farmer’s may consider farming Dragon fruit to get more income.

Thank you.

Here in this article we discuss improving air quality for our healthy living. We should plant more trees to manage the air quality outside and minimize the use of fossil fuels. We should also take measures to purify the air quality of our indoor where we spend more time. Today there is availability of mechanical air purification equipment for home but there is also a solution of natural air purification which is low cost and has more advantages. These air purifying plants are easily available at nearby nursery and can be easily taken care of. 

Advantages of indoor plants at home and office

• Lower the toxic carbon dioxide gas level and increase the oxygen level.

• Increase the relative humidity level at home.

• Lowers some toxic pollutants like benzene and nitrogen dioxide. 

• Reduces airborne dust levels.

• Keeping indoor air temperature down.

• Lowering indoor noise level.

• Boost your overall health condition.

• Reduces your stress level as it provides a nature like environment inside.

How many air purifying plants are needed for indoor use

• To get the benefits of indoor air purification, at least 2 plants per 100 square feet is necessary. 

• Plants with larger leaves will purify air quicker.

List of Air Purifying Indoor Plants in India

Here is a list of air purifying indoor plants in India that you should keep in your home or office space to purify the air quality inside.

1. Devil’s Ivy/Money plant

• This is a good Air Purifying Plant for Indoor. Money plant is also called as Golden Pothos, and Devil’s Ivy. 

• Money plants are easy to grow houseplants that will eradicate common household toxins. Money Plant grows well in pots and hanging baskets. 

• This plant has heart-shaped green color leaves with bits and shades of gold color in them.

2. English ivy

• English Ivy is also known as European Ivy or Hedera helix. 

• English ivy is beautiful groundcover houseplant. It is excellent for removing harmful chemicals found in the home.

• English ivy plants can grow well in full shade to full sun, and can be trained into shapes. It is likely to survive for several years with proper care.

• This plant is  reducing airborne faecal particles and acts as a  perfect air purifying plant for your home.

• This plant can remove toxins like Benzene, Formaldehyde, Xylene, and Toluene.

3. Dwarf Date Palm

• Dwarf palms belong to the palm family. They love to grow in partial shade. It grows up to 6 to 10 feet with their fronds reaching 6 feet too.

•  It is one of the best ornamentals as well as perfect landscaping palm plants for small areas. 

• It provides a good tropical look with feathery leaves, and it can be kept outdoors as well as bright light indoors.

• It is very effective towards purifying the air by removing Formaldehyde, Xylene, and Toluene and increasing the humidity levels.

4. Peace Lily

• Peace Lily is also one of the best Air Purifying Plants for Indoor. 

• Peace lilies are easily growing plants at home. Peace lilies require weekly watering and fertilize like slow-release fertilizer to promote good growth.

• Peace lily plants are small in size compared to many of the plants, so they’re ideal for compact spaces.

•  Peace lily plants have been found to eradicate Benzene, Trichloroethane, ammonia, xylene, toluene, and formaldehyde present in the air indoors. 

• Peace Lily plants have the ability to improve indoor air quality by as much as 60%.

5. Philodendron

• Philodendron can tolerate lower light.

• Philodendron plants are easy to look after; they just need moderate watering and bright, indirect sunlight.

• Philodendron plants remove indoor toxins, particularly formaldehyde, from the air.

• Philodendron plants are easy to maintain and will enhance the looks of the room with their big dark green leaves.

6. Boston Ferns

• This is also a best Air Purifying Plants for Indoor. Boston fern plants grow easily and they do need to stay moist. 

• Check Boston fern’s soil daily to see if it needs water and give it watering. 

• This plant not only helps to remove the harmful toxins it also improves humidity level.

• This is an evergreen perennial herbaceous plant that can reach up to a height of 16 to 35 inches.

•  This plant is known for its good foliage and feathery ferns which are best displayed when hanging.

•  The Boston fern is cheap and is a great starter fern for people who enjoy the plants with green foliage.

• Boston fern plants grow well with regular misting, moist soil and placed them in indirect sunlight near windows, balconies, and patios

7. Snake plant

• The snake plant is also known as the Mother-In-Law’s Tongue plant.

•  Snake plants are effective for removing air pollutants like formaldehyde, xylene, benzene, toluene, and trichloroethylene.

• The snake plant cleans Carbon Monoxide from the air and it is one of the most Oxygen producing houseplants. 

• The plant can survive in low-light areas, so if you do not get a lot of light in your home space, you can place this plant inside.

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8. Spider Plant

• It is easy to grow the indoor plant, and it has a popular air purifying and medicinal properties.

• Spider plant has long, thin and arched leaves that are green in color or variegated with white.

• It helps in removing harmful chemicals from the air like carbon monoxide, xylene, formaldehyde, and toluene.

• The spider plant is good at removing formaldehyde, which is a common household chemical and found in manufactured wood products, pesticides, leather goods, plastic products, adhesives, clothing, and drapes, etc. 

9. Aloe Vera

• Aloe Vera plant is good  indoors and Balcony plant.

• Aloe Vera is mainly used in different ways in Indian households. 

• Aloe Vera plant is effective in cleaning of air pollutants like benzene and formaldehyde from the air.

10. Chrysanthemums

• Chrysanthemums look great at home. Chrysanthemums grow well in bright indirect sunlight.

•  Chrysanthemums are great in air purification.

• Chrysanthemum removes benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, ammonia, xylene, and several other known pollutants from the air.

11. Rubber plants

• These evergreen trees originate from India, they are hardy plants and love bright, altered light and weekly watering in the summer season and fortnightly watering in winter.

• Rubber plants can grow in a small pot or into a large indoor tree in pots or in the ground.

• This plant requires less care. They require water once a week when the soil is completely dried out. It can survive under low light conditions.

• The plant can survive a low-temperature level of up to 4°C,however with low temperature, it should be kept in mind that water dries out slowly, so do not overwater this plant.

12. Red-Edged Dracaena

• It is a popular houseplant that does well in different weather conditions. 

• It helps in removing benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene, and toluene from the air.

13. Areca palms

• Areca Palm helps in removing dangerous chemicals from air like formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene. 

• The Areca Palm plant also absorbs carbon dioxide from air and produces oxygen to detoxify the surroundings.

14. Chinese evergreen

• The Chinese evergreen plant is an easy to maintain plant that thrives in low to medium light. 

• It generally grows to 1 or 2 feet and  helps to maintain the healthy air quality in the home. 

• Chinese evergreen is called Aglaonema and grown as a luck-bringing ornamental plant.

• Chinese evergreen plants clean out formaldehyde and benzene from the air in your home.

•  It is recommended to fertilize Chinese evergreen plants twice a year. Chinese evergreen plants can remove Carbon Monoxide, Benzene, Trichloroethylene, and Formaldehyde from the air.

• Chinese evergreen plants need a room temperature of 16°C or more as they cannot tolerate cold temperatures.

15. Weeping Fig

• This plant is one of the good air purifying indoor plants which needs to be placed in bright indirect light. 

• It takes time to grow in the initial stages, but then it grows into a big plant and helps in improving the air quality. 

• This plant can grow up to 50 feet outdoors and 3 to 6 feet tall when grown indoors.

• Weeping fig plants can clean the surrounding air and eliminate harmful chemicals like formaldehyde, toluene, xylene, and hydrocarbon.

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