How to grow dragon fruit in pots, and how many years does it usually take to bear fruit?

Dragon fruit is also called red dragon fruit, fairy honey fruit or jade dragon fruit. It is a nutritious fruit rich in plant protein and anthocyanins, and eating it regularly has a laxative effect. Dragon fruit can be divided into white-fleshed and red-fleshed types; the latter tastes sweeter and costs a little more. Dragon fruit is grown relatively widely in Hainan, Guangxi, Fujian and other parts of China. Besides open-field cultivation, potted growing is now also popular. Below, let us look at the method and key points of growing dragon fruit in pots, as well as how long it takes to bear fruit.

1. What is the method for growing dragon fruit in pots?

1. Choosing a pot

Dragon fruit is a shallow-rooted plant, so during care, repot it as little as possible and choose a suitable growing pot. It should have good breathability and drainage. Ordinary clay pots, ceramic pots and the like are all fine; plastic pots are not recommended.

After choosing the pot, disinfect and soak it to release the stale gas from the pores in the pot wall, which is more favorable for root growth.

2. Preparing the soil

For potted dragon fruit, choose soil with good breathability and drainage that is slightly acidic or neutral; alkaline soil cannot be used. For pots, it is best to prepare a professional nutrient soil, or buy one from a flower shop.

3. Potting

For dragon fruit, choose a rooted cutting that has already sprouted new branches. Place a layer of broken tiles at the bottom of the pot, then add some evenly sized granules or small stones as a drainage layer, then put in the prepared growing soil, filling to about the center of the pot. Next comes planting the dragon fruit seedling. Prepare a support stick and tie the seedling and the stick together to help it grow upward. Once everything is ready, water thoroughly, let it recover in a cool, ventilated place for one week, and then place it on a balcony for care.

4. Water and fertilizer

Dragon fruit is a cold-tolerant fruit, so just keep the soil in the pot slightly moist. Do not use too much water, as root rot can easily occur. In winter and spring, it is better to let the pot be a little dry. If it is kept outdoors, pay attention during the rainy season and check the condition in the dragon fruit pot often; if there is too much standing water, drain it promptly.

When planting dragon fruit, apply enough organic fertilizer as a base fertilizer, but this cannot meet the later growth needs of the dragon fruit. Before the flowering stage, apply an appropriate supplemental phosphorus fertilizer to promote flowering and fruiting.

2. How many years does a dragon fruit seedling usually take to bear fruit?

For potted dragon fruit, the fruiting cycle is shorter than when growing directly from seed. Generally, with proper care, it can bear fruit the next year. Of course, this is also related to the dragon fruit variety you buy; some may take longer to fruit. So when buying dragon fruit seedlings, you should find out clearly how many years old the seedling is and about how many years it will take to bear fruit.