Dragon Fruit Fertilizing Time and Methods: What Fertilizer Makes It Grow Fast
Many people have eaten dragon fruit, especially those in the Guangdong area. Dragon fruit is not only delicious, but its appearance is also quite nice and it has a certain ornamental value, so many people have started growing dragon fruit. So what fertilizer makes dragon fruit grow fast? What fertilizer is good to apply? Here we have compiled the fertilizing time and methods for dragon fruit.
What fertilizer makes dragon fruit grow fast? What fertilizer is good to apply?
At different growth stages of dragon fruit, fertilizing also requires care. For example, for one- to two-year-old dragon fruit, nitrogen fertilizer is the main type applied, while for adult dragon fruit trees over three years old, phosphorus fertilizer and potassium fertilizer are the main types, with the amount of nitrogen fertilizer controlled. When fertilizing, try to mainly use organic fertilizer, with chemical fertilizer as a supplement. Half a month before flowering, additionally apply some organic fertilizer containing phosphorus and potassium once. After dragon fruit enters the fruiting stage, remember to apply organic fertilizer once every 15 to 20 days. For potted dragon fruit, it is best not to apply solid fertilizer or mixed fertilizer, because if these fertilizers are applied over a long period, the leftover fertilizer residue will gradually accumulate on the surface of the potting soil. Over time, the potting soil will overflow, and it will also affect the dragon fruit's absorption of fertilizer and water.
Dragon fruit fertilizing time
1. Base fertilizer
Carry this out 1 month to 2 months before planting. For orchards on hilly and sloping land, apply organic fertilizers such as farmyard manure, weeds, mushroom manure, and poultry and livestock manure in layers into the planting pits, about 40-50 kg per pit, plus 3 kg of lime; for flatland orchards, use mound planting, and apply about 15-20 kg of decomposed poultry and livestock manure or mushroom manure per planting hole, plus 1.5 kg of lime.
2. Fertilizing during the vegetative growth period
The period from after planting until before flowering and fruiting is the vegetative growth period of dragon fruit. After planting, once the plant is confirmed to have survived, fertilizer can be applied to promote rapid growth of branches and vines. At the seedling stage, decomposed bran cake liquid fertilizer (water fertilizer) or decomposed poultry and livestock manure water fertilizer is suitable, following the principle of frequent light application. Apply fertilizer once each when new branches and vines sprout and when new branches and vines begin to turn green, with about 1.5-2 kg of liquid fertilizer per column each time. Organic compound fertilizer can also be used, with about 50-80 g per column each time. From the second year onward, the amount of fertilizer applied should increase by about 50%-80% compared with the first year.
3. Fertilizing during the fruiting period
Dragon fruit flowers and fruits multiple times a year, and the flowering and fruiting period lasts more than 6 months. Branches and vines, flowers, and fruits grow at the same time. Generally, there are 5 main fertilizing periods throughout the year. Winter tree-disk mulching with organic fertilizer: apply in December-January of winter when the branches and vines have completely turned green, covering the tree disk with organic fertilizer, applying 10 kg of mixed organic fertilizer per column, or covering with farmyard manure, applying 15 kg per column. The purpose is to improve the soil, increase organic matter, and enhance the plant's cold resistance. Flower-promoting fertilizer: apply in early to mid-April, applying 1-1.5 kg of organic compound fertilizer per column, to promote flower bud development and improve flower quality. Flower-strengthening and fruit-strengthening fertilizer: apply in early to mid-June, applying 0.5-1 kg of decomposed bran cake fertilizer and 0.5 kg of organic compound fertilizer per column, to strengthen flowers, promote fruit enlargement, and improve quality. Heavy application of flower-promoting and fruit-strengthening fertilizer: apply in early to mid-August, focusing on producing fruit for the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day. Apply 1-1.5 kg of decomposed bran cake fertilizer and 0.8-1 kg of Norwegian compound fertilizer (nitrogen 15: phosphorus 15: potassium 15) per column, to promote more flowering, promote fruit expansion, and improve quality. Fruit-strengthening and tree-vigor recovery fertilizer: apply in early to mid-October, applying 0.5-1 kg of Norwegian compound fertilizer (nitrogen 15: phosphorus 15: potassium 15) and 3-4 kg of decomposed bran cake liquid fertilizer per column, to promote the expansion of the last batch of fruit, restore tree vigor, and promote branch and vine growth.
4. Foliar topdressing
Spray nutrient solution foliar fertilizer 3-5 times during the flower bud stage and fruit development stage. Commonly used foliar fertilizers include: potassium dihydrogen phosphate, nucleotides, organic foliar fertilizers, etc. Use the spraying concentration reasonably according to the instructions.
Summary of dragon fruit fertilizing time and methods
Dragon fruit fertilizing methods
1. Ring fertilization
Ring fertilization is also called wheel-shaped fertilization. This fertilizing method mainly involves digging a ring-shaped trench around the outer edge of the dragon fruit tree canopy for fertilization. This method is relatively simple and has the advantage of economical fertilizer use. However, during the actual trench digging process, it is easy to damage the horizontal roots, and the fertilizing area and range are small, so this method is generally more suitable for fertilizing young trees.
2. Semi-ring fertilization
This method is similar to the ring fertilization described above, mainly dividing the ring into three to four pig trough-style fertilizing trenches. Therefore, this method is also called pig trough-style fertilization. This fertilizing method causes less damage and destruction to tree roots. Appropriately changing the fertilizing position will effectively expand the fertilizing area. It can be applied on both flatland and mountainous land, and is a fertilizing method often used in modern hilly and mountainous orchards.
3. Irrigation fertilization
This fertilizing method combines fertilization and irrigation. With the development and improvement of drip irrigation technology in China in recent years, this technology has also been correspondingly promoted and applied. Whether combined with sprinkler irrigation or drip irrigation for irrigation fertilization, this method, because fertilizer is supplied promptly and distributed relatively evenly, not only does not damage the root system, but also ensures that the soil structure of the plow layer is not changed, greatly saving labor. Properly combining this method with other fertilizing methods will improve and supplement the shortcomings of various fertilizing methods and maximize the effectiveness of fertilizers.
Fertilization management
After planting each year, once the seedlings are confirmed to have survived, fertilization can begin. At the seedling stage of dragon fruit, it is best to focus on water fertilizer and ensure frequent light application, preferably about twice a month, and on this basis gradually increase the amount of fertilizer applied. For adult plants, when fertilizing them, try to choose spring each year; especially for fruiting plants, May is the best month for fertilizing. In this process, attention should be paid to maintaining fertilizer moisture so that fertilizer is applied and managed under appropriate climatic conditions, thereby ensuring large and sweet fruit.
It is worth noting that during fertilization, if you want the fertilizer's effects to penetrate into the dragon fruit as quickly as possible, you must strengthen the fixation of fertilizer in the soil and on dragon fruit leaves. However, fertilization needs to be further controlled, and excessive fertilizer amounts must not occur.