How to Plant Dragon Fruit Seeds
A comprehensive introduction on how to plant dragon fruit seeds and the planting methods of dragon fruit, the specific content is as follows:
Dragon fruit is named for its outer flesh scales that resemble those of a dragon, and it is also called "auspicious fruit" because its flowers are fragrant when they bloom, giving people a sense of auspiciousness when observed. Nutrition experts analyze that dragon fruit has a vitality index of 25.05%, which can enhance the vitality of the human body.
Growth Environment
Dragon fruit is a tropical and subtropical fruit, with the optimal growth temperature of 25-35°C. It prefers light but can tolerate shade, is heat and drought-resistant, and thrives in fertile but can also adapt to infertile soil. It grows rapidly in warm and humid environments with ample light. Dragon fruit can adapt to various types of soil, preferably those rich in humus, moisture-retaining, and fertilizing neutral or slightly acidic soil. Its stems can also grow on rocks, and the plant is extremely wind-resistant, capable of withstanding typhoons as long as the support is sturdy.
Water Management
In the seedling stage, the soil in the entire garden should be kept moist. More watering is needed in spring and summer to maintain the vigorous growth of the roots. During the fruit expansion stage, the soil should be kept moist to facilitate fruit growth. Avoid long-term immersion irrigation, as it can cause the roots to be in a state of long-term hypoxia and die; do not also water from top to bottom frequently, as it can cause uneven humidity and trigger red spots. Timely drainage is necessary during consecutive rainy days to prevent infection by bacteria that cause stem rot. In winter, water control in the garden is necessary to enhance the cold resistance of the branches.
Propagation Methods
One, Cutting
The best time for cutting is in spring. Select stems that are full and robust, cut them into 15cm sections, let the cut surfaces dry, and then insert them into a sand bed or directly under the support frame and on the side of concrete columns. No watering is needed after cutting, keep the soil dry, start watering after 10 days, and it takes about 15-30 days to root, with roots growing to 4cm before transplanting to the seedbed.
Two, Grafting
Select disease-free, strong, and plump "queen cacti" as the rootstock and perform grafting on sunny days. Cut the dragon fruit stem into a flat surface, insert the scion, align the cambium layers, tie securely with cotton thread, and under 28-30°C conditions, a large amount of callus will form on the wound surface in 4-5 days. When the color of the scion and rootstock is close, it indicates that the vascular bundles have healed, and the grafting is successful. Then, it can be moved to a temporary seedbed for further cultivation.
1. Selection of Rootstock and Scion
For yellow-fleshed dragon fruit, wild triangular cacti (霸王花) can be chosen as the rootstock, while for red-fleshed dragon fruit, white-fleshed dragon fruit can be used. The scion should be selected from the current year's better-developed branches, choosing 1-2-year-old triangular cacti, cutting them from the mother plant at the stem joint, and inserting them into sandy and loose soil (to the depth that holds them in place), covered with a shade house and watered thoroughly to use as rootstock, which can be grafted after about half a month of taking root.
2. Grafting Time
Generally, except for the low-temperature period in winter, grafting can be done in other seasons. Because the winter and spring seasons are cold and damp for extended periods, the wound is not only difficult to heal but may also expand and endanger the plant. Therefore, the best time for grafting is from March to October, allowing for ample healing and growth time, and benefiting fruit setting the following year.
3. Drug Treatment Before Grafting
The tools used for grafting, such as knives, should be disinfected with alcohol or white wine to prevent bacterial infection. If possible, the base of the scion can be soaked in naphthylacetic sodium solution, which can not only promote the formation of callus but also increase the survival rate.
4. Grafting Methods
① Flat Grafting Method
Make a horizontal cut at an appropriate height on the triangular cactus of the "queen cacti," then make a 30-40-degree cut on the three ridges. Use a sterilized cactus thorn to pierce the middle vascular bundle of the rootstock, connect the flat-cut scion to the other end of the thorn, use the thorn to connect the scion and rootstock, ensure they are tightly attached without gaps to avoid bacterial infection that hinders healing, then add a thorn on each side to secure, and tie the base with fine thread.
② Insertion Method
Applicable to mature branches. Cut a 3-5cm section of the scion, remove 1cm of flesh at the bottom, split the vascular bundle, cut the scion into a wedge shape, and insert it into the flesh of the rootstock, then wrap it securely with plastic tape.
How to Plant Dragon Fruit Seeds
③ High Grafting
Many orchards now use high grafting, which involves making a flat cut about 20 centimeters below the tray for grafting. After grafting, it needs to be wrapped with plastic tape; otherwise, it is not conducive to wound healing, easily infected by bacteria, and affects the survival rate of the plant. It will also affect the growth of the overall tree vigor later on, as unhealed grafting sites can cause the upper part of the tree to break from the joint. No matter which grafting method is used, the joint must be securely wrapped with plastic tape.
Key Points for High Yield Cultivation
One, Light and Frequent Fertilization
Due to the long fruit harvesting period, organic fertilizers and compound fertilizers of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium should be applied evenly and long-term every year. During the flowering and fruiting period, potassium and magnesium fertilizers should be supplemented to promote fruit sugar accumulation and improve quality. Keep the soil moist during the fruiting period, and mulch the tree base with grass or mushroom residue. During dry weather, water every 3-4 days. Like other cacti, dragon fruit has a smaller growth rate than conventional fruit trees, so fertilization should follow the principle of sufficient, small amounts, and multiple applications. The roots of dragon fruit are mainly distributed in the topsoil, so fertilization should be done by broadcasting, avoiding deep furrow application to prevent root damage.
Two, Pinching
Pinch the branches when they reach 1.3-1.4 meters in length to promote branching and allow the branches to hang naturally.