Since dragon fruit is from the cactus family, it requires less water and enough sunlight to grow. So it's suitable to grow them in the Philippines, probably right in your backyard or on your rooftop if it's the only available space you have. Or perhaps your garage if you don't own a car yet.
You can start growing them from seeds but make sure you have the luxury to wait 3 to 5 years. Can't wait that long? Then start from cuttings which take only 9 to 12 months before they start bearing fruits. So the smart thing is to start with cuttings. Cut from the base of a stem, at the point where the stem connects with the tree so you have the whole stem intact. Choose stems about 8 to 10 inches long.
Planting
Place the cuttings in a dry place away from direct sunlight for 2 to 3 days. Then plant the stem in a pot big enough for the plant--about 10 inches tall and 20 inches wide. Make the base of small pebbles for good drainage, then put in a balanced mix of organic compost, sand and garden soil. Then plant the cutting into the soil, with the base of the stem embedded about 2 to 3 inches deep. Make sure it's firmly supported by the soil. Then put just enough water.
After 60 to 65 days, transfer your cutting to a bigger pot, about the size of a regular bucket, or about 18 to 25 inches in diameter and 15 to 20 inches in height. The pot should have enough holes at the bottom to prevent flooding when watering. Bear in mind that this plant is from the cactus family. Then put enough spoil mixture again of compost, sand and garden soil.
Then transfer the plant from the initial pot to the bigger pot. Careful not to damage the roots, but make sure the roots are also free from hardened soil. It should be like cactus in desert soil. Planted firm enough but not too much. You may plant two cuttings per pot. Then put enough water.
In the Bigger Pot
The first two days after the transplant is crucial. So make sure the plants are comfortable in the pots with just enough water and gentle sunlight, away from a hot sun. After 4 days, start providing climbing support for the plant to crawl on. These can be simple long sticks erected firmly beside the pot, or simply embedded right in the pots.
Then tie the sticks together from the bottom up with an abaca rope to form a fence around the plants. In 9 to 12 months the plant will mature. Replenish the plants with fresh amounts of compost from time to time, probably every 2 to 3 weeks, while the plants are maturing. In about 12 months or so, the dragon fruit plants should start flowering.
Some backyard gardeners simply place the pots near a rough hollow block wall or fence and allow them to crawl there. Some provide mesh wire or square wires for the plants to lean and climb on. The support ensures that the plant trunk is well reinforced and does not easily break from its own weight. Or when accidentally bumped.
Remember that though dragon fruit plants are like cactus, they they shouldn't be put in places under direct sunlight, especially during a hot summer noon or early afternoon. But they need enough gentle sunlight. They may be placed in shaded areas reached by enough sunlight. So choose carefully where to put them on rooftops.
The dragon fruit itself is rich in antioxidants (like betacyanin, flavonoids, phenolic acid and others) due to its various bright colors and contains vitamins A and C, calcium, magnesium and iron plus plenty of dietary fibers. This is according to WebMD. Besides, you enjoy its rich, fruity and juicy flavor, especially when refrigerated. It blends well in mixed fruit salads or used as toppings on ice cream or yogurt.
But of course, nothing beats eating it fresh as soon as you pick it from the tree, with all the nutrients intact. And the best thing is, you don't have to buy it from the market or grocery store where it's probably been sitting for weeks or months and largely losing its freshness and nutrients, but right from your backyard or rooftop.