Dragon Fruit Grower’s Tips

1. Can dragon fruit plant absorb foliar fertilizer?

  • Stomatal densities differed greatly between the species and plant organs. On dragon fruit, around 10-20 stomata per mm2 were found on the cladodes (stem) and 1-2 stomata per mm2 were found fruits.
  • Stomata behave in a similar way with other crops, with a rhythm of stomatal closing and opening almost coordinated between their organs.
  • Dragon fruits open their stomata at night and close them during the day as an adaptation mechanism to environmental conditions. Dragon fruit plants absorbs nutrients through the stomata. It’s open early in the morning before sunrise (till 9-10am) or after 5-6pm (onwards) by sunset.
  • Foliar feeding is a way of feeding plants by applying liquid mixed fertilizer directly to their leaves or stems. Plants are able to absorb essential elements through their leaves (through their stomata).
  • Solutions:
    NISOL series
    Fully soluble and suitable for foliar fertilizer

 

2. How to increase fruit weight and size for dragon fruits?

  • Foliar and soluble fertilizer sprayings are very important to induce heavy flowering of dragon fruit for increased fruit production, total yield and improve the fruit quality with larger fruit size.
  • High K soluble fertilizer such as potassium nitrate is widely use as foliar spray for flowers induction. Meanwhile, potassium nitrate is effective in increasing the total fruit production and potassium nitrate spray is able to improve the total yield and average fruit weight.
  • Iodine (I) should be considered as a plant nutrient. Many iodinated proteins have been identified that take part in important biological processes in plants. Similar to deficiency of other plant nutrient, a deficiency in iodine is predicted to cause yield losses.
  • Iodine deficiency will be visible as sub-optimal root or leaf development, later flowering, lower fruit growth and lower resilience to stress, resulting in lower yields compared to a crop which has been supplied with sufficient iodine in the nutrient solution.

 

3. How to manage water requirement for dragon fruits?

  • Although dragon fruit is heat loving crop, it can be damaged by long periods of extreme sun and heat, resulting in sunburn and sunscald. In general, dragon fruit is tolerant of drought and poor soil.
  • In high radiation areas, extremely high temperatures limit flowering and fruit set. High radiation levels cause the plants to become bleached in appearance (caused by the destruction of chlorophyll in the stems), growth will also be retarded, and plants may eventually die. 
  • Dragon fruits are members of the cactus family, it is logical to assume that they can withstand long periods of drought. Reduce watering during the raining season but do provide irrigation once temperatures have risen.
  • However, Dragon fruits require significantly more water than other cacti members. There is a fine line here, however, as too much water will result in bacterial and fungal diseases and lack of soil moisture reduces blossoming, thus fruiting.
  • are largely used to reduce the harmful effects of abiotic stress either on underwatering or overwatering issues. The chemical composition of these seaweeds is mainly fatty acids, phytohormones, vitamins, mineral nutrients, and polysaccharides.
  • Solution:
    Almino
    Contains extracts of Ascophyllum nodosum seaweeds, it has been shown to contain phytohormones—inorganic and organic components that act against the harshness of drought stress and enhance crop production and yield.Contains Amino Acid, it can play different roles in plants, such as stress-reducing agents, shortcut for nutrient source and hormone precursors.

 

4. Will humic acid improve the nutrient uptake in my dragon fruit plantation?

  • By supplying the soil with humic acid, it helps to bind cations (positively charged elements such as Mg, Ca, Fe and other “trace minerals”). By chelating the ions, humic acid facilitates the uptake of the ions, preventing precipitation (leaching through the soil). Humic acid also detoxify the soil of heavy metals. Research has shown that heavy metals can be “locked up” with the addition of humic acid.
  • Humic acid increases nutrient uptake, drought tolerance, and improve soil straucture. It increases the microbial activity in the soil, making it an excellent root stimulator. Humic acid increases the availability of nutrients and in those already existing in your soil. It will help to aerate the soil.
  • Solution:
    Humino: contains Humic acid and Amino acid, can be used by direct application or premixed with other granular fertilizer such as compound fertilizer.
Agroharta Fertilizer Sdn. Bhd.