How to Prepare a Dragonfruit Cutting for Planting

Dragonfruits grow on the pitaya cactus. This tropical cactus grows upward as a vine, climbing trellises or arbors. It thrives in areas with mild winters that rarely drop below freezing. While the pitaya cactus can be grown from seed, it is usually propagated from leaf cuttings. The cuttings quickly grow into new plants that have all the desired qualities of the parent plant. Since cactus leaves are fleshy, they're more prone to rot. Preparing the cuttings properly prior to planting prevents rot and improves the chances of success when propagating the plant.

Things You'll Need

• Fungicide
• Newspaper
• Pot
• Potting mix

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Coat the cut end of the cutting with a fungicide formulated for pitaya or cactus cuttings. The fungicide prevents rot caused by fungal organisms.

   • 2

     Lay the cutting on a sheet of newspaper. Place it in a dry, shady area.

   • 3

     Dry the cutting for seven to eight days. When properly dried, the cut end no longer feels moist.

   • 4

     Fill a pot with moistened potting mix. Push the cut end of the dragonfruit cutting into the mix until it stands up on its own. Keep the soil moist until the cutting begins to root, usually within two to four weeks.