What are the methods for growing dragon fruit in pots?
How do you grow dragon fruit in a pot? Here are the methods. Dragon fruit is a plant in the genus Hylocereus of the cactus family. When grown in a pot, it climbs on a support and can reach 2 m in height. Dragon fruit loves light and fertilizer, can withstand short periods of low temperature down to 0°C in winter, and its flowering and fruiting season can last as long as 3 to 4 months. When growing it in a pot, pay attention to: 1. Choice of growing medium. For potting...
How do you grow dragon fruit in a pot? Here are the methods.
Dragon fruit is a plant in the genus Hylocereus of the cactus family. When grown in a pot, it climbs on a support and can reach 2 m in height. Dragon fruit loves light and fertilizer, can withstand short periods of low temperature down to 0°C in winter, and its flowering and fruiting season can last as long as 3 to 4 months. When growing it in a pot, pay attention to:
1. Choice of growing medium. For potting, choose a growing medium mixed from 5 parts fine coal cinders, 3 parts garden soil and 2 parts decomposed organic fertilizer.
2. Potting. Use a large clay pot with a diameter and height of 30 to 40 cm each. First line the bottom of the pot with a layer of coarse sand grains or coarse coal grains to improve drainage and aeration, then add some pieces of livestock hoof and horn and crushed bone as base fertilizer. Insert a post in the center of the pot as a support, plant 3 to 4 seedlings per pot, tie them to the support with plastic string, then fill with the growing medium. Before potting, the plants must be sprayed with a 800-fold carbendazim solution for disinfection, and planted into the pot after drying.
3. Fertilizing. To make dragon fruit grow vigorously, apply quick-acting organic fertilizer as needed. At the seedling stage, apply light fertilizer frequently, applying a nitrogen-based compound fertilizer once every 7 to 10 days to encourage thick, fleshy stems and robust growth. During the fruiting stage, apply 0.15 to 0.25 kg each of calcium, magnesium and phosphorus fertilizer and 0.05 kg of compound fertilizer per pot, once every 15 to 20 days.
4. Watering. Potted dragon fruit has a relatively shallow root system with well-developed lateral roots, and it grows best in a warm, humid environment with plenty of light. In summer, water once every 3 to 4 days to keep the roots growing vigorously. After rain, drain off standing water promptly, otherwise the roots and stems will rot.
5. Pest and disease control. Nematodes: dragon fruit roots are easily damaged by nematodes; apply 50 g of carbofuran or 50 g of cadusafos per pot into the potting soil. Mites: spray with a 1500-fold propargite solution once every 7 to 10 days. Stem rot: use a 400-fold carbendazim or 500-fold copper hydroxide preparation for control.
6. Timely harvesting. From flowering to fruit ripening, dragon fruit takes about 30 days. When the fruit turns from green to red and has a faint fragrance, it can be harvested.
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