Dragon fruit branches yellow/pale

[CrazyConure]

Some of the branches are turning yellow/pale. It’s been happening for several months, but I haven’t done anything about it.

I haven’t fertilized it in a while. The sprinklers water it a few times a week.

 

[Anniekay]

Definitely fertilize it and I would give it seaweed fertilizer as well for the micronutrients that are missing in florida soils.

 

[CrazyConure]

Will the leaves turn green again if I fertilize it?

 

[Chuck]

Fertilizing will help but I don't think NPK is the main problem. When a dragon fruit plant has yellow new leaves it is a lack of iron causing it. Fertilizing will help but what I would do is apply Chelated Iron and fertilizer. This should bring back the green within a couple of weeks.

 

[CrazyConure]

Fertilizing will help but I don't think NPK is the main problem. When a dragon fruit plant has yellow new leaves it is a lack of iron causing it. Fertilizing will help but what I would do is apply Chelated Iron and fertilizer. This should bring back the green within a couple of weeks.

Thank you, Chuck! I’ll report back.

 

[Chuck]

How would I supply the iron? I have ferrous gluconate tablets for humans.

Chelated Iron is a product made by Ferti-lome. Just follow directions.

 

[CrazyConure]

Chelated Iron is a product made by Ferti-lome. Just follow directions.

Do you think different fertilizer N P K ratios make a difference for dragon fruits?

How do I know when to use certain ratios?

 

[Chuck]

Do you think different fertilizer N P K ratios make a difference for dragon fruits?

How do I know when to use certain ratios?

NPK stands for nitrogen, phosphorus and potash. These are known as Macro-Nutrients. Iron, magnesium and a long list of other minerals are known as MicroNutrients. Some NPK fertilizers have very small amounts of Micro-Nutrients, Chelated Iron is a substantial source of most of the Micro-Nutrients.

NPK numbers are useless as far as plants are concerned. Plants do not know how to read. These numbers are for people. They represent the percentage per weight of the product. A plant can only uptake x amount of N or P or K. If any more it will damage the plant.

Plants feed on the NPK in the soil. When they eat for a period of time it deplenishes the amount of food available and soon it runs out. When a plant runs out of food or minerals it does not care or know what numbers are on the bag. It just knows nitrogen, phosphorus and potash. If a plant doesn't need nitrogen but it does need potash it will tell you. You just have to know how and what the plant is telling you. So, forget about ratios and numbers. All one must know about NPK numbers is that the higher the number is, the more careful you have to be when using it.

 

[CrazyConure]

Yes yes. I know the iron has nothing to do with the fertilizer. I was asking as a side question.

I always hear “low N and high P and K for fruit and flower production.”

I was wondering if that was necessary to get fruits from my dragon fruit. Thank you.

 

[Chuck]

Yes yes. I know the iron has nothing to do with the fertilizer. I was asking as a side question.

I always hear “low N and high P and K for fruit and flower production.”

I was wondering if that was necessary to get fruits from my dragon fruit. Thank you.

Depending on how your dragon fruit plant was propagated it will take between 2 and 7 years.

N grows foliage
P grows buds and blooms
K helps control photosynthesis, helps in water use and helps growth.

And even if it is a self-pollinator a dragon fruit is not a good self-pollinator. It is far better to have 2 plants.

 

[Chuck]

Depending on how your dragon fruit plant was propagated it will take between 2 and 7 years.

N grows foliage
P grows buds and blooms
K helps control photosynthesis, helps in water use and helps growth.

Do you think different fertilizer N P K ratios make a difference for dragon fruits?

How do I know when to use certain ratios?

Not really if the plant is healthy

 

[Anniekay]

You'll be safe with tomato fertilizer and seaweed fertilizer. It doesn't need chelated iron that's for acidifying soil and you only need your soil near neutral for them.

https://raredragonfruit.com.au/blogs/news/how-to-fertilize-your-dragon-fruit

 

[CrazyConure]

I don’t know. My dragon fruit plant is several years old. The branches have been yellowing for several months now.

I’m hoping it’s as simple as an iron or nutrient deficiency.

Iron is an essential trace element for all living things.

 

[Chuck]

I don’t know. My dragon fruit plant is several years old. The branches have been yellowing for several months now.

I’m hoping it’s as simple as an iron or nutrient deficiency.

Iron is an essential trace element for all living things.

Dragon fruit plants live a long time, decades. If the yellowing has been slowly getting worse it is a micro-nutrient deficiency. If you have been fertilizing with NPK you do not need NPK, you need Micro-nutrients and the best product for all of the micro-nutrients is Chelated Liquid Iron. Liquid Seaweed is also excellent but doesn't have as many of the nutrients that the Ferti-lome product has. And Chelated Iron isn't made for acidifying soil although dragonfruits prefer slightly acidic soil, it is made to give plants the trace minerals they need.

 

[oneeye]

I agree it's probably Iron chlorosis. I have encountered this problem many times. Its probably not because of soil lacking Iron. You probably have iron in the soil but its not available because the pH has risen above 7.9. When this happens it locks up Iron and no amount of added Iron will help because its locked out. Adding an Iron fertilizer is a waste of fertilizer and money if the pH is too high.

What causes the problem is using (high water pH) over an extended time. Alkalinity will accumulate over time and will alter the soils chemistry. If you check your sprinkler water you will probably find that the pH is very high. To stop the yellowing you should stop the sprinklers hitting them twice a week.

On the other hand, if you use well water from your area and the pH is not high and its not modified to alter the chemistry, then I would say you need to supplement Iron with an amendment. If you put Iron on the ground and the soil has a high pH its a waste.