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

(Syn. Hylocereus undatus)

Forget boring houseplants! If you are looking for a genuine, exotic showstopper for your home or conservatory, the red dragon fruit is an absolute must-have. It not only produces the most outrageous and photogenic fruit in the world, but it also transforms your living room into a tropical jungle with its gigantic, fragrant blossoms.

Scope of delivery: 20 seeds

Growth & Appearance

• Lifespan: Perennial, but not hardy cactus.

• Growth height: An extremely vigorous climbing cactus! It produces meter-long, thick shoots and definitely requires a sturdy trellis.

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

• Flowering (The Queen of the Night): A breathtaking spectacle! The white, funnel-shaped flowers reach an incredible 25 to 30 cm in size and exude an intense, captivating scent of vanilla.

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). Also important to note here: It is a climbing cactus from the warm and humid jungle, not a desert dweller!

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

• The taste: Unlike the extremely sweet yellow dragon fruit, the red variety is significantly milder, juicier, and wonderfully refreshing. Chilled, it is 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 dark and withers the very next morning. In nature, it is pollinated by bats and large moths. Since these (fortunately) rarely flutter through our living rooms at these latitudes, it's up to you: as soon as the flower opens in the evening, grab a soft brush and gently sweep the pollen from the stamens onto the stigma. This is the only way to get those coveted dragon fruits later on!

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

• Location: Very bright and warm. However, direct, hot midday sun behind a window pane can lead to burns. In summer, it loves to be placed in a sheltered spot on the 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. Irrigation water must always be able to drain immediately.

• Trellis: Give it something to hold onto! A thick, rough wooden stake, a strong trellis, or a coconut fiber pole are ideal for the aerial roots to anchor themselves.

• Overwintering: Must be brought 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 dry out completely to dust.

Sowing Instructions: Red Dragon Fruit (Selenicereus undatus)

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

When and how to sow?

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

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

• Sowing depth (light germinator tendency): Distribute the fine, black seeds on the well-moistened soil, press down lightly, and cover with only a minimal (approx. 1-2 mm) layer of 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 it warm! A bright spot without direct midday sun at 20 to 25 °C is ideal. The little dragons usually emerge after 2 to 4 weeks.

• Pricking out: When the tiny cacti start to crowd each other in the pot (from approx. 2-3 cm in height), carefully move them into individual pots with permeable substrate.