Can You Foliar Feed Dragon Fruits While Fruiting

outubro 11, 2022 Postar um comentário

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Do you want to grow your own dragon fruit? If you live in a warm, humid area, you might be in luck.^[1] These plants aren't hard to care for, but they do require a specific fertilizer regimen. Not to worry—we've answered all your frequently asked questions, so you can grow healthy, delicious dragon fruits from the comfort of your home.

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Fertilize young, 1-to-3-year old plants once every 2 months. Apply both traditional fertilizer and manure or compost to your plant at the same time. Between March and September, apply the the chelated iron or ferrous sulfate 4-6 times total.^[7]
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Nourish older plants with traditional fertilizer 3-4 times a year. Scale back the manure or compost, applying it twice a year. Between March and September, continue to fertilize your plants with chelated iron or ferrous sulfate 4-6 times each year.^[8]

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Use ¼ lb (118 g) of fertilizer and 4 lb (1.2 kg) of manure for a new plant. Dragon fruit plants don't need that much fertilizer and manure, especially when first starting out. If you're growing multiple fruit plants, you'll need ¼ lb (118 g) of fertilizer and 4 lb (1.2 kg) of manure or compost for each one.^[9]
2

Apply extra fertilizer and manure as your plant matures. When your plant is 2-3 years old, add an extra 0.3-0.4 lb (136-182 g) of fertilizer. Similarly, nourish each dragon fruit plant with 6 lb (2.7 kg) of manure or compost during this timeframe.^[10] Once your dragon fruit is at least 4 years old, regularly apply ½ to ¾ lb (227-341 g) of fertilizer and 5 lb (2.2 kg) of manure.^[11]

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Some gardeners use chelated iron or ferrous sulfate to adjust the soil's pH. ^[12] Dragon fruits thrive in soil that's slightly less than 7 pH.^[13] To help your plant grow as healthy and strong as it can, experts recommend treating acidic soil with ferrous sulfate, and nourishing basic soil with chelated iron.^[14]
- Use a small amount of chelated iron or ferrous sulfate on 1-year old plants. Spray 0.25 to 0.5 oz (7-15 g) of chelated iron over any basic soil, or scatter a small handful of ferrous sulfate over acidic soil.^[15]
- Apply extra chelated iron to plants that are 2 years or older. As your dragon fruit matures, treat the soil with 0.75-1 oz (22-29 g) of chelated iron, if needed. If your soil is more acidic, continue treating it with a small amount of ferrous sulfate.^[16]
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Organic fertilizer, like manure or compost, is a good nutrient source. Pick up decomposed manure at your local home improvement store, or make your own compost at home. Along with traditional fertilizer, both manure and compost are a great source of nutrients for your dragon fruit.^[17]

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Apply traditional fertilizer with granules or an irrigation system. If you only have a few plants, you might have an easier time applying the fertilizer around your plants. Depending on your set-up, you might have an easier time applying the fertilizer through your irrigation system.^[18]
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Spread manure along the base of the plant. If your plant is only a year old, don't apply the manure around the stem. Once your dragon fruit is at least 2 years old, apply the manure around the base of the stem and plant.^[19]
3

Spray chelated iron and spread ferrous sulfate. Experts recommend spraying around your plant with chelated iron, and spreading ferrous sulfate along the bottom of the plant.^[20]