Does dragon fruit need fertilizing once it sets fruit? Here is how to fertilize during the fruiting period
The root system of dragon fruit is not very developed; it is a shallow-rooted plant, so when growing it in pots, it must never be planted deeply, otherwise the growth and development of the root system will be affected. But it is a plant that quite likes fertilizer, after all its stems and leaves are sturdy and plump, and it can also bloom and bear fruit, which will inevitably consume a large amount of nutrients.
When fertilizing dragon fruit, generally adhere to the principle of light fertilizer applied frequently, and by all means avoid too high a concentration or excessive fertilizer, otherwise its roots can very easily be damaged. During the vegetative growth season, generally apply a dilute organic fertilizer solution once every 7-10 days, so that it can bloom smoothly.
The fruiting period of dragon fruit is precisely the time when it consumes a large amount of nutrients, since the fruit must keep growing and develop to maturity, so generally appropriate additional fertilizing is needed. But we must choose the right type of fertilizer, with the goal of promoting fruit growth and development and strengthening the fruit.
During the fruit development stage, we can spray the potted dragon fruit with foliar fertilizer 3-5 times, preferably monopotassium phosphate, nucleotides, organic liquid fertilizer, etc. During this period, we can also appropriately apply some phosphorus fertilizers such as bone meal and superphosphate, which can play a role in preventing fruit drop.
During the fruit swelling stage, fertilizer and water management should be strengthened even more, but likewise mainly by applying phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, combined with watering, which can promote fruit swelling. At the same time, fermented and decomposed organic fertilizer can also be combined with high-phosphorus-potassium compound fertilizer for additional application. Apply once every 10-15 days, and generally only 2-3 applications are needed.