How to Plant a Dragon Fruit Bonsai
An introduction to planting a dragon fruit bonsai and the techniques and methods of growing a potted dragon fruit, with detailed information provided below for you.
Dragon fruit is a cultivated variety of cacti, a fruit that grows in tropical and subtropical regions, originally from countries such as Guatemala and Colombia in Central America. It tastes sweet, is rich in various vitamins and nutrients, and has the benefits of promoting intestinal motility, reducing cholesterol, and preventing colorectal cancer. Next, let's introduce the cultivation method of a dragon fruit bonsai.
1. Seed Selection
Seeds can be directly selected from the flesh of the dragon fruit, with the number of seeds depending on the size of the pot. It's important to remove any remaining fruit flesh first to prevent bacterial growth.
2. Choosing Potting Soil
Select well-draining, sandy soil and a pot of appropriate size for the dragon fruit. Since dragon fruit has shallow roots, good drainage is especially important, and the pot should also have drainage holes to prevent waterlogging, with a clay pot being the best choice. Additionally, it's necessary to disinfect the soil before planting.
3. Cutting Propagation
For propagation, you can directly choose cuttings, selecting healthy and robust branches to insert into the soil. You can add tiles and stones to the soil to increase aeration and drainage. Moreover, insert a stick into the soil along with the branch and tie them together to make the plant more upright.
4. Watering
Dragon fruit is drought-tolerant but sensitive to waterlogging, so it is essential to ensure timely drainage during the planting process. Increase watering frequency in spring and summer, and pay attention to timely drainage during rainy seasons.
5. Light
Dragon fruit loves light but can tolerate shade. Sufficient light can promote photosynthesis, accelerate growth, and increase sugar content in the fruit flesh. In the summer, during noon, it is necessary to provide some shade to avoid direct sunlight, as this can cause rapid water evaporation.
6. Temperature
As a fruit native to tropical and subtropical regions, dragon fruit thrives in warm conditions and can tolerate high temperatures. Additionally, its cold tolerance is also noteworthy. The optimal temperature for the growth of dragon fruit is between 25-35 degrees Celsius. It can still grow when the temperature reaches 40 degrees Celsius in summer. However, it's important to keep the newly planted pot warm, and if the temperature is too low, you can cover the new pot with plastic film to keep it warm.
7. Diseases and Pests
White rot disease is one of the most common diseases and pests affecting dragon fruit, usually caused by plant wounds being exposed to a humid environment for a long time, leading to bacterial infection. In this case, you should cut off the affected part directly, or cut open the necrotic tissue and apply sulfur-phosphorus powder, or let the affected area dry in a dry environment to heal naturally.
The above comprehensive explanation of how to plant a dragon fruit bonsai and the techniques and methods of growing a potted dragon fruit should help you.