The dragon fruit is touted for its nutrition and medicinal values. I am not going to talk in length about its goodness but on how to grow it. Why the interest? Because I saw the fruit being grown in an orchard when I was driving from Ipoh to Sitiawan yesterday. See the pictures that I took of the plants.
In the world there are three varieties of dragon fruits grown:
1) white flesh dragon fruits (Hylocerues undatus),
2) red flesh dragon fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus) and
3) yellow skin dragon fruit (Selenicereus megalenthus).
1) white flesh dragon fruits (Hylocerues undatus),
2) red flesh dragon fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus) and
3) yellow skin dragon fruit (Selenicereus megalenthus).
Only two varieties are planted in Malaysia i.e red and white flesh variety.
The dragon fruit can be planted from seeds or cuttings. But I think most people use the cuttings. After the cutting has been planted, one has to wait about a month before apply the fertilizers. The roots would have taken place by then and the stem would have started to grow.
This "climbing cactus", is a tropical plant that can be grown organically. It takes one year to for a young plant to be fully grown to bear fruits. The dragon plant can be planted in pots as well. It needs regular sunlight and small amount of water.
No comments:
Post a Comment