Red Dragonfruit - Rooted in Pot
Red Dragonfruit (Hylocereus Costaricensis
All our Dragonfruit plants and cuttings are from matured and fruiting mother plants aged between 4 to 7 years. They are healthy, strong and well established.
Our rooted plant in a pot is also very well established. Red Dragonfruit, also known as pitaya, is a tropical fruit in the cactus family. Red Dragonfruit have a brilliant crimson flesh with small edible seeds. The red variety have a very sweet, juicy interior with a kiwi-like texture that melts in the mouth.
The flowers of the Dragonfruit are some of the most unique and strange looking flowers in the world, not to mention some of the biggest! They can reach a diameter of up to 25cm and are about 30cm in length. The flowers themselves only open up for one night and give off a beautiful exotic and fruity scent.
Small - 15cm -30cm
Medium - 30cm-50cm
Large - 50+cm
Extra Large - 1m +
Plant Care
- Soil: Prefers a light, well-draining soil with plenty of organic material. A cactus mix amended with perlite or sand is ideal.
- Watering: Water moderately during the growing season and sparingly during the winter. The soil should be allowed to dry out between waterings.
- Temperature: Thrives in temperatures between 21°C and 29°C. While it can tolerate slightly cooler temperatures, it should be protected from frost.
- Light: Requires full sun for best growth and fruit production, but in very hot climates, some afternoon shade may be necessary to prevent scorching.
- Fertilising Use a balanced fertilizer with a slightly higher phosphorus content, like 8-10-8, every two months during the active growing season.
- Pruning: Prune to remove dead or excessive growth to maintain plant size and shape, which also helps in improving fruit production.
- Mulching: Apply a layer of organic mulch to conserve moisture and protect the roots from extreme temperatures.
- Pest Control: Keep an eye out for common pests such as aphids, mealybugs, and spider mites. Treat with appropriate insecticides if necessary.
- Flowering and Fruiting: Typically flowers at night once mature, which then develop into large, colorful fruits. Hand pollination can increase fruit set.
- Potting: Suitable for container growing, which can be beneficial to manage size and facilitate moving if needed for frost protection.
- Feeding Regime: Regular application of a balanced fertilizer during the growing season supports robust growth and fruiting.
We ship our plants and garden supplies throughout New Zealand. Due to the increased costs of shipping and packaging, we now apply a minimal delivery charge. After offering free shipping for three consecutive years, we find it necessary to adjust this policy to align with current market conditions. However, we have lowered our prices to help offset this change.
Please note, we do not ship plants or garden supplies internationally from New Zealand. We do export plants and tissue culture materials from our overseas nursery, which requires a minimum order. Please contact us at hello@exoticanz.com to discuss your specific requirements.
Shipping (per plant)
Auckland & Northland: $20
Rest of North Island: $25
South Island: $45
Rural Address: Additional $5
Shipping Garden Supplies
Auckland & Northland: $10
Rest of North Island: $15
South Island: $20
Rural Address: Additional $5
Delivery
- Our plants are available for shipment throughout the year, depending on stock levels. Typical delivery times range from 5 to 7 business days, although they can take up to 10 business days depending on the destination.
- We take extra care in packaging; most of our plants are secured in bespoke inserts and shipped in individual boxes to ensure they arrive undamaged.
- Deliveries are scheduled once a week, typically on Monday. If you place your order over the weekend, we aim to dispatch your plants on the following Monday. This scheduling allows our team to prepare your order thoroughly and ensures the courier has sufficient time to deliver your plants safely, avoiding any unnecessary delays over the weekend.
- All orders are shipped via courier track and trace service (not signature required)
- We cannot deliver to PO Box addresses.
- If you have a rural address, please contact us beforehand to discuss the best delivery options and avoid any potential issues.
Additional Delivery Information
- We dispatch our plants year-round, as most are shipped with soil. During the winter months, we closely monitor weather conditions and may temporarily delay shipments if the weather is particularly severe. Our packing process includes adding insulation when necessary to protect the plants against temperature extremes.
- In summer, we ensure that plants are thoroughly watered before they leave our nursery. Occasionally, we may need to ship plants bare-rooted, particularly when they cannot be comfortably re-potted into smaller packaging for shipping. We will always discuss this with you in advance if your plant needs to be shipped in this manner.
- It's important to note that shipping can be a stressful experience for plants, often due to spending several days in a dark, confined space. While most plants withstand this with little to no stress, some may experience leaf drop. However, they generally recover quickly with some additional care, including proper watering and gradual reintroduction to light after arrival.
