Red Dragon Fruit/Pitaya/Chacham (Selenicereus undatus) - Seeds

(Syn. Hylocereus undatus)

Forget boring houseplants! If you're looking for a truly exotic showstopper for your home or conservatory, look no further than the red dragon fruit. It not only produces arguably the wildest and most photogenic fruit in the world, but also transforms your living room into a tropical jungle with its gigantic, fragrant blooms.

Scope of delivery: 20 seeds

Growth & Appearance

• Lifespan: Perennial but not winter-hardy cactus.

• Growth height: An extremely vigorous climbing cactus! It forms meter-long, thick shoots and absolutely needs a stable climbing aid.

• Habit: It grows in long, fleshy, three-angled shoots that are slightly wavy at the edges (hence the name undatus = wavy) and bear fine thorns. To cling to trees in nature, it forms long aerial roots.

• Flower (Queen of the Night): A breathtaking spectacle! The white, funnel-shaped flowers grow to an incredible 25 to 30 cm and emit an intense, intoxicating vanilla scent.

Origin Its original home is in tropical Central America and Mexico. Today, it is cultivated in almost all tropical regions of the world (especially in Asia). Important here too: It is a climbing cactus from the warm, humid jungle, not a desert inhabitant!

Fruit & Taste Visually an absolute masterpiece: the scaly, bright pink-red skin with green tips actually resembles a dragon's back. Inside, the snow-white pulp is riddled with countless tiny black seeds.

• The taste: In contrast to the extremely sweet yellow dragon fruit, the red variety is significantly milder, more watery, and wonderfully refreshing. Chilled, it's absolutely amazing on hot summer days and the perfect, low-calorie base for colorful smoothie bowls!

Curiosities (The One-Night Romance & the Brush Trick) Just like its yellow sister, this "Queen of the Night" only opens its gigantic flowers after dusk and fades the very next morning. In nature, it is pollinated by bats and large moths. Since these (fortunately) rarely flutter through the living room in our latitudes, you are called upon: as soon as the flower opens in the evening, grab a soft brush and carefully stroke the pollen from the stamens onto the stigma. Only then will you get the coveted dragon fruits!

Location, Care & Gardener Tips (Jungle, not Desert!)

• Location: Very bright and warm. However, direct, hot midday sun right behind the window pane can lead to sunburn. In summer, it loves a sheltered spot on a balcony or terrace.

• Soil: No normal, rock-hard cactus soil! It needs a loose, airy, and humus-rich substrate. A mixture of high-quality potting soil, plenty of perlite, and some orchid bark is perfect. Watering water must always be able to drain immediately.

• Climbing Aid: Give it something to hold onto! A thick, rough wooden pole, a strong trellis, or a coir stick are ideal for the aerial roots to anchor themselves.

• Overwintering: Absolutely bring it indoors before the first frost! Overwinter in a bright spot at 10 to 15 °C. Reduce watering significantly in winter, but never let the soil completely dry out.

Sowing instructions: Red Dragon Fruit (Selenicereus undatus)

Just like the yellow variety, growing from seeds is a great project. From the seeds, small, green "leaves" (cotyledons) sprout first, before the spiny cactus shoot pushes out from the center!

When and how to sow?

• Sowing time: Possible indoors all year round (best in spring when light increases).

• Substrate: Use loose, nutrient-poor seed-starting soil and mix it well with sand or perlite to ensure good drainage.

• Sowing depth (light germinator tendency): Distribute the fine, black seeds on the well-moistened soil, press lightly, and only minimally (approx. 1-2 mm) sieve with fine sand.

• Germination conditions: Keep the soil evenly moist (but not soaking wet!), preferably with a spray bottle. To simulate jungle-like humidity, stretch a clear film over the pot or use an indoor greenhouse. Ventilate briefly once a day to prevent mold.

• Temperature & Duration: Cacti love warmth! A bright spot without direct midday sun at 20 to 25 °C is ideal. The little dragons usually hatch after 2 to 4 weeks.

• Pricking out: When the tiny cacti start to get crowded in the pot (from approx. 2-3 cm height), carefully transplant them into individual pots with well-draining substrate.