How to Fertilize Dragon Fruit

Co-authored by Ed Kuoha and Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: July 17, 2022 References

Do you want to grow your own dragon fruit? If you live in a warm, humid area, you might be in luck.^{[1]
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Research source} 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.

Question 1 of 6:

What kind of fertilizer do you need?

Choose a fertilizer with a balanced NPK ratio. An NPK ratio is a series of 3 hyphenated numbers that represents the specific percentage of nitrogen, phosphate, and potash in any given fertilizer.^{[2]
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Go to source} A “balanced” fertilizer means that these 3 numbers are the same, like 10-10-10.^{[3]
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- There isn’t a consistent, one-size-fits-all recommendation for fertilizer. However, most experts agree that some type of balanced fertilizer, like 16-16-16 or 13-13-13, is a good choice for your dragon fruit.^{[4]
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- You can use fertilizer granules, or spread fertilizer through your irrigation system.^{[5]
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  Research source} Slow-release fertilizer is also an option.^{[6]
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Question 2 of 6:

How often do you fertilize dragon fruit?

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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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Question 3 of 6:

How much fertilizer do you need?

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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]
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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]
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EDIS
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Go to source} 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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Question 4 of 6:

What other nutrients can you use in addition to fertilizer?

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Some gardeners use chelated iron or ferrous sulfate to adjust the soil’s pH.^{[12]
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Go to source} Dragon fruits thrive in soil that’s slightly less than 7 pH.^{[13]
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Research source} 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]
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- 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]
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- 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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2
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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Question 5 of 6:

How do you apply the fertilizer?

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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]
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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]
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Question 6 of 6:

How do I get my dragon fruit to flower?

Wait up to 7 years for your plant to produce fruit. Your dragon fruit plant may seem barren, even after months and months of regular TLC. Don’t worry—this is perfectly normal. If grown from a seed, dragon fruit can take up to 7 years to bear delicious fruit.^{[21]
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- If you planted your dragon fruit from a cutting, it may take up to 3 years.
- A ripe dragon fruit should look plump and have some firmness. It should still be soft but not overly soft.^{[22]
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- You can cut off the tips, then cut the fruit in half. Then scoop out of it to eat.^{[23]
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- Or cut off the top and bottom part and make it stand. Then cut it little-by-little around the sides and turn it so that you only have the inner dragon fruit and all the peelings are gone.