Pomegranate (Punica Granatum) Care Sheet
CHINESE ELM
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Tips and Tricks for Caring for Your Pomegranate Tree |
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This deciduous tree can live several hundred years. Their trumpet-shaped red flowers and large round fruit makes this a popular tree. The Pomegranate tree is native to southern Europe into Northern India. |
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PLACEMENT
The Pomegranate tree needs a warm, sunny, and airy place during the growing season. Protect from the very hot afternoon sun in the summer. Pomegranates do best in zones 7 to 11. You can move your Pomegranate tree outside in the summer to an area with full sun/partial shade. As Pomegranates are semi-tropical, they can be grown indoors. If indoors, it is recommended that they receive at least six hours of quality sunlight. During the winter, the Pomegranate tree needs protected from frost. The roots cannot be in freezing temperatures. TEMPERATURE/HUMIDITY Normal room temperatures are good for Pomegranates. Somewhere between 65° and 75°F is good. They can tolerate a minimum of 40°F in the winter. We suggest using a humidity tray and make sure to mist your tree weekly. It is recommended to use indoor grow lights in the winter. WATERING Water your Pomegranate tree when the soil gets dry. When the flowers open and during the summertime, water more than usual. Rainwater or filtered tapwater is preferred. Your Pomegranate will need to be watered more frequently in the growing season and less in the winter. Be careful not to get the soil too soggy or it can cause root rot. SOIL/FERTILIZER Apply a solid organic fertilizer every four weeks or a liquid fertilizer during growing season. Use a product with low nitrogen and high phosphorous and potassium content for promoting flower and fruit on mature trees. Do not fertilize when flowering. Feed every two weeks in the spring through the fall. Do not fertilizer for three months after repotting. Start feeding when new growth appears in spring. Add pulverized organic fertilizing in mid spring. Use a slightly acidic or neutral soil. We recommend our Deciduous Bonsai Soil Mix. REPOTTING Repot every two to three years in early spring before the leaf buds open. Prune the roots considerably. Pomegranates prefer slightly acidic or neutral soil. Remove the roots gradually, no more than 1/3 of the root ball, at each repotting. Pomegranates bloom more abundantly when roots are pot-bound. PROPAGATION You can propagate from seeds, cuttings, and by air layering. Hardwood cuttings can be taken in spring before buds open, and semi-hardwood cuttings in the summer. Root cuttings are also a good option. Sow seeds in the spring. Soak seeds in warm water overnight before sowing. Keep seeds warm and barely moist. PRUNING Pruning is best done during winter dormancy. During the growing season, start pruning when new shoots are 4-6”. Prune back to lateral branches. *If you want flowers, do not trim shoots before flowering, because the flower buds grow at tips of new shoots. Too many fruits will weaken the tree. Cut all flowers off trees that are being developed. Regular pinching out of each first or third leaf encourages foliar growth. WIRING Wiring is best done in the spring. Young twigs are more flexible and easier to shape. Use the thinnest wire possible to hold the branch. Pomegranates typically should not be wired because they’re likely to suffer die back. Pomegranates are better suited for the clip and grow method. New growth tends to thicken quickly, so remove wire promptly to avoid scarring. PESTS/DISEASES Healthy Pomegranate trees are rarely attacked by pests and diseases. Aphids, scale, white fly, and mealy bugs can affect the Pomegranate. Specific pesticides can be used for each problem. Overwatering can cause root rot. Frequent watering with hard water can cause chlorosis. They’re also susceptible to mold, especially during wet soggy days. Use a mild fungicide and provide good air circulation. |
PRODUCTS |
Deciduous Bonsai Soil Mix KIKU™ Aluminum Training Wire KIKU™ Gold 7" Bonsai Detail Scissors Fertilizer Pellets |
