If you've ever wanted to start a fruit-bearing tree at home that doesn't require much care, doesn't require a lot of time, and bore fruit on top of everything else, then be sure to pay attention to the indoor pomegranate. After all, it is always pleasant to enjoy the fruits of your labor, especially if this pleasure is not only spiritual, but also physical!
In this article I will tell you about this wonderful tree, its habitat, I will give 5 practical tips for growing a healthy and fruitful tree and some recommendations for caring for it.
Pomegranate (from Lat. Punicia) in the wild is mainly a small tree, about 2-5 meters in height. A little less common is a shrub, the fruits of which are as large as those of trees, but give off sourness, which gives a special piquancy to the taste of the fruit.
Due to its unpretentiousness, the plant is distributed over a wide range of latitudes, and grows mainly on two continents: Eurasia and Africa. Various sources contain information about the origin of the pomegranate and north africa, and western Asia and southern Europe, one thing is clear for sure - given view fruit appeared independently and quite a long time ago, and domestication does not have a definite historical place of origin. I cannot but tell about the history of the origin of the name Pomegranate itself: from the Latin punicus it is translated as Carthaginian or Punic. The Punyans (now their state is called Tunisia) supplied the most delicious pomegranates to Rome. Since then, the name has "stuck" to the heroes of this article. There are also two more names for this fruit, which were popular among the people: malum granatum and malum punicum (malum from Latin "apple"). Indeed, the similarities are obvious. In ancient Greek culture, pomegranate takes its rightful place, personifying and symbolizing a happy marriage, love full of passion, and fertility.
Room representatives
Indoors, indoor pomegranate is cultivated more often as a shrub, the basis of which is 5-7 large trunks, with a large number branches. Less often, there are trees, but this appearance does not contribute to the healthy growth of the plant, since mainly the thickness of the branches and trunks is only 1-1.5 centimeters. Indoor pomegranate is classified as a deciduous plant, so do not be surprised, or even be glad, that in the fall he will shed the foliage and get ready to rest. There are thorns on the branches; during flowering, they form two types of flowers. The so-called "male" and "female". Fruits are tied only in "female" flowers. 
It is quite simple to distinguish them: in future fruits, the shape of the flower is similar to a jug, but you can not wait from the bell-shaped flowers of berries. The fruits of the indoor dwarf pomegranate of the Carthage variety are quite small. For cultural garden trees Fruits 15-18 centimeters in diameter are considered the norm.
In addition to healthy and tasty fruits, indoor pomegranate is grown for its small red, but numerous flowers. On average, they are 4-5 centimeters in diameter and there are a lot of them on one bush. Sometimes it is pleasant to enjoy this view in own apartment or home.
Varieties
At home, the most suitable varieties indoor pomegranates can be considered: Carthage dwarf pomegranate and baby pomegranate,
Indoor pomegranate variety Carthage
At home, it grows in the form of a tree with a height of about 80 cm. If you buy it as a plant, pay attention to the size of the leaves, for the NANA pomegranate they are about 2 centimeters long, when, like an ordinary, garden one, about 3-4. Even when planted with seeds, and this happens most often, it begins to bloom and even bear fruit at approximately 6-7 years of age. The seed germination rate of this variety is 10-70%, yes, it is such a large spread. Carthage's fruits are small, 5-6 centimeters in diameter. Pomegranates are edible, you can also squeeze juice from them, which tastes sweet and sour. Unfortunately, indoor pomegranate does not always bear fruit, there are cases that it does not even bloom. If your pomegranate has not bloomed either, I suggest you graft a branch from a fruiting tree to a plant grown from seeds.
Indoor pomegranate variety "Baby"
Most often grown from seeds, which are sold in packs of 5 seeds. This is a shrub, but already smaller in height: 30-50 cm. Leaves, however, are elongated, growing in groups on branches, and these groups are distributed evenly throughout the bush. Baby blooms already for 3-4 years with bright red flowers up to 7 cm in size, but in the very first year it is usually empty. The germination rate of this pomegranate variety is on average more stable and amounts to 50-60%. Fruits are 3-4 cm in size. It is advisable, even if you have set more than 7 fruits on a bush, leave about 5-7 fruits for ripening.
Care
I will tell you about what kind of care a room pomegranate requires at home.
Lighting
Since the plant comes from hot countries, you can guess that it needs a lot of light. At a young age, protect the seedlings from too bright light, but gradually, as they grow, accustom them to well-lit windows of your room. Despite the fact that an adult plant is very light-requiring, you should not leave it in direct sunlight. If you have a balcony or terrace, take your plant there. Optimum temperature for any varieties of pomegranate, it is considered 25-30 degrees above zero.
Advice 1. If you have a summer cottage or your own garden, then in the summer you should not keep a room pomegranate at home, but it is better to transplant it to the street. For planting, choose the western side, and the shade of the garden trees. You can dig in the plant right in the pot, thereby making it easier to dig it up in the fall.
Temperature
Why do we recommend choosing a well-ventilated room for keeping pomegranates in hot weather? Because the plant at low humidity and high temperature turns on self-defense and sheds part of the foliage, the growth rate slows down significantly.
In winter, the temperature of the content must be kept within 5-10 degrees above zero. At this temperature, indoor pomegranate sheds its leaves, which will undoubtedly have a positive effect on flowering in the future. The rest period lasts 4 months, starting in November. At this time, water young plants lightly, about 1 time in 10 days. Along with the maturation of "punicia", watering is carried out in winter less and less, and at the age of 4 years, it is brought up to 1 time per month or even one and a half (it all depends on the size of the bush).
Advice 2. In winter, take the pomegranate to the loggia, if the temperature there is about +6 degrees above zero, and the plant becomes hardened and the pests will die, if of course they were there.
Soil and its volume
Neutral soil is best for planting. Amateur flower growers most often prepare soil for pomegranate on their own, mixing humus, peat, black soil and coarse river sand in equal proportions. But if you do not have all of the above at hand, buy soil for roses in the store or any other, but most importantly with PH7. The root system grows more in diameter than in depth, respectively, it is better to select a pot wide and not very deep. Be sure to lay good drainage at the bottom, ordinary and everyone's favorite expanded clay will do. Another advantage in keeping indoor pomegranate varieties is not demanding on a large volume of soil. The size can be selected as follows: in the first year of life, a 0.5 liter pot is enough, then every year, until the age of 5, the size of the pot is increased by 0.5 liters per year. At the age of 6 years, the varieties Carthage and Baby are considered adult plants and do not require an increase in the volume of pots and they can be finally determined in 4-5 liter containers. All of the above is, of course, true for the average size of plants and needs to be adjusted in each specific case. When transplanting, try not to overdo it, but rather perform transshipment with an increase in the size of the pot, this will not damage the roots of the plant, and will only have a positive effect on growth and health.
A little about watering
Indoor pomegranate does not tolerate stagnant water in pots, now you understand why it is so important to organize good drainage. It is worth watering it abundantly, but withstand enough breaks to dry the top layer of soil a couple of centimeters thick.
Tip 3. As an indicator of soil moisture, an ordinary toothpick stuck next to the bush is perfect.
We adjust the watering depending on the season and the periods of plant growth as follows: during sap flow - from March to May - we increase in order to saturate the plants, during flowering, we reduce watering a little, that is, quite a bit, this will help to set the fruit, then, with the appearance of "pomegranates" watering is performed again a little more often, but with caution, because their cracking is possible
Also, indoor pomegranate responds positively to foliage spraying on hot days. This helps to maintain the necessary moisture on the surface of the plant.
Fertilizers and feeding
I am often asked what to feed the indoor pomegranate with? It is best to carry out top dressing at intervals of 2-3 weeks, and divide into 3 periods: in the spring we apply nitrogen fertilizers, and we achieve active growth, in the summer we gradually switch to phosphate fertilizers, the use of which will promote flowering, and in autumn, for the ripening of fruits and stock we feed energy for the winter with potassium compounds. We prepare fertilizers and apply them to the soil according to the instructions on the packages.
Advice 4. When applying nitrogen fertilizers, wrap the plant trunks with polyethylene so that the solution does not fall on the plant itself, otherwise burns may appear on its surface.
Cultivation and reproduction
Indoor pomegranate can be grown in two very popular ways:
From seed
The method is very simple: after purchasing and unpacking a pack of seeds, we soak them in a solution with a growth stimulator for 6-10 hours (thus, we increase the percentage of successful shoots). We plant them in one container to a depth of no more than 2 cm, moisten the soil and create a greenhouse. For these purposes, a cling film or cake lid is suitable. We monitor the moisture content of the soil - do not overmoisten it, since there is a high probability of rotting of the shoots. After the emergence of seedlings, and this happens about 2-3 weeks after planting, we regularly water them, and do not forget to air the mini greenhouse once a day for 20 minutes. After the appearance of 4 main leaves, the film can be finally removed.
Using cuttings
This is the best way to get all the characteristics of the parent's variety from the offspring. For propagation by cuttings from a fruiting branch of an adult plant, "sticks" with 5-6 buds are cut. The lower 1-2 buds should be removed. Soak our "slices" in a rooting stimulator for 3-5 hours, to a depth of just these 2 buds. Next, we plant the cuttings in prepared, moistened soil to a depth of 3-4 centimeters, and also create greenhouse conditions.
Beneficial features
All varieties of pomegranate are valuable raw materials in folk medicine, almost all parts, including roots, bark and partitions in fruits, are used. Eating the "pomegranates" themselves helps to normalize blood pressure and relieve headaches, at the same time digestion problems go away, and appetite increases. In addition to fruits, dried and crushed tree bark (as an anthelmintic or liquid stool remedy) and leaves for making tea are also used.
Plant formation
The heroes of this article quite easily endure all kinds of trimming, tying and other kinds of "bullying". Do you see what I'm getting at? In addition to the fact that good bonsai trees are obtained from the pomegranate, the root system described above also contributes to this. True, I will allow myself to give a little advice, bonsai is the art of growing miniature trees from large ones, so use a garden pomegranate for this purpose.
Tip 5. In the fall, before resting time, cut off dry branches, at the same time form the required shape of the bush.
Diseases and pests
Unfortunately, the fruit plant has no immunity against these misfortunes, so regularly inspect the foliage, branches and trunks. If you find a scale insect, whitefly or other insects, immediately start treatment: with a small number of individuals, you can collect them, but be sure to continue monitoring, in the case of a large population of these creatures, do not hesitate to use chemicals. If you suspect root decay, and this can be determined by a large number of yellowed leaves, it is necessary to transplant the plant with pruning of decaying roots to healthy tissues and further drying and coal treatment of the cut sites.
Summarizing
At the end of the article, I would like to say that, following our simple recommendations, It will not be difficult for you to grow indoor pomegranates, both from seeds and using cuttings, as well as provide it with the necessary care.
Have you watched with your own eyes how the pomegranate blooms? It is truly a spectacular sight, whether it is a sprawling bush, a tall tree in the garden, or an indoor dwarf on a windowsill. The abundance of bright large flowers cheers up and causes well-deserved admiration.
Jugs with bells
This is not a line from a verse, not a children's rhyme, but generally accepted comparisons of the volumetric forms of pomegranate flowers with objects that we understand. The bud of the female specimen looks "stable", has a wide base and is a fleshy tube.
The female pomegranate flower is very similar to the jug.
Its scalloped edge is preserved on ripe pomegranate in the form of a miniature "crown". Female flowers are long-pistil - the pistil is located at the level of the anthers or above them (longer, in other words). They are formed on the shoots of the last year. The ovary is multi-celled, formed from accrete carpels (4–8 pieces). At the same time, their edges protrude inward, forming chambers or nests. In a ripe pomegranate, these chambers are separated from each other by a white film, and inside are filled with grains.
Chambers with grains formed from accrete carpels
The buds of male "bells" are conical, short-pistil - the pistil is short, below the anthers. These flowers are sterile and, surprising the world with their beauty, fall off; are formed on the shoots of the current year. The balance between the number of female and male specimens depends primarily on the variety. Environmental conditions and agricultural technology also play a role. There is also an intermediate flower shape, which is visually difficult to define. Its shape varies from the familiar bell and jug to the cylinder. The length of the pistil is also variable. But, even if it is long, it is not a fact that the fruit will be tied. In rare cases, when pomegranate has formed, it has an ugly shape.
Female and male pomegranate flowers
Are pomegranate flowers multi-colored
The color palette of pomegranate flowers is limited to scarlet, crimson, white. And yet blooming pomegranate trees are magnificent - the play of shades, saturation of tones create the impression of luxurious multicolor. But there are also colorful specimens! And the shape of the flowers is so bizarre that at first glance it is impossible to determine their belonging.
Photo gallery: such different flowers
The baby pomegranate bush is still young, but the number of flowers is amazing
Flowering problems
If the pomegranate is blooming "somehow wrong" or even on strike, there may be more than one reason. Let's analyze the standard situations.
Natural selection
Flowers fall off during flowering, and quite intensely. The plant itself decides how many flowers it is able to withstand in order to prevent depletion. This is a natural process for all fruit trees. Think of a blizzard of apple, cherry or apricot petals. If your pomegranate variety bears fruit, intense flower fall is inevitable. And do not forget that mostly male specimens fall - barren flowers.
My grenade is already 4 years old. It has never bloomed so profusely. There were 3-4 flowers at the same time. This year its branches were covered with buds like bunches of grapes. Unfortunately, he didn't pull them out. Threw off about two-thirds. But even what is left is much more than usual - more than two dozen colors at a time.
sinichka Ekaterinahttp://forum.homecitrus.ru/topic/16202-granat-makhrovyj/page-4
Diseases and insects
Serious concerns are caused by the "color fall" in the first wave of flowering, this may be the result of a disease:
- powdery mildew - leaves and flowers covered with a whitish bloom fall off; drug for treatment - Fundazol;
- gray rot - the defeat is fraught not only with the fall of flowers, but also with the drying of the shoots; antimycotic fungicide Topsin M is used for treatment;
- phomosis, in which skeletal branches die off, cracks in the bark ring the base of the shoots; the plant weakens, female flowers become sterile; eliminate the problem with Horus fungicide.
The plant is also examined for insect damage. Whiteflies are quite frequent guests of houseplants. They literally stick around the leaves, sucking out their juice. The pomegranate fire moth inflicts tremendous damage to flowers, ovaries and fruits, eating away juicy pulp. The insecticide Derris is used against the whitefly, the fight against the moth is carried out in several stages using the preparations Intra-vir, Fitoverm according to the instructions.
Insufficient watering
During flowering, experienced comrades practice underwatering. This puts the slightest stress on the plant and stimulates it to actively fulfill its life program. If you do not understand the essence of the matter, you can dry the plant so that not only the flowers will fall off en masse. The leaves will lose their turgor (elasticity) and the plant will wither. It is not recommended to actively use the practice of underwatering, because such an experience comes over time. One has only to slightly reduce the usual portion of water and carefully observe the reaction of the plant.
Return frosts
The topic is relevant for pomegranates grown in the open field. Spring frosts are detrimental to both the tree as a whole and flower buds. If, after such a force majeure, the pomegranate survives, then the flowering is either postponed until the next season, or it will be late and not lush.
Insufficient illumination
A tree that has permanent residence in the garden, or has moved to the open air from a room, needs sunlight for 8 hours a day. In the shade, the pomegranates will not die, but will refuse to bloom.
Untimely crown formation
It is customary to form a pomegranate crown in late February - early March and this procedure is rather cosmetic in nature:
- remove branches growing inside the crown, dry and weak;
- last year's shoots are shortened by 1/3 or 1/4, this stimulates lateral branching and accelerates flowering.
If you break the rule and start shredding the green crown, irreparable damage will be caused to it. Great amount flowers are formed at the tops of the shoots, which (shoots) will be cut off in pursuit of a beautiful habit ( external appearance). And how much strength will the plant take away from the shoot-restoration process! During the growing season, only the shoots that form in the lower part of the trunk are cut off. Cardinal rejuvenation is carried out every 5 years: the old trunk is cut off, replacing it with a strong young one, and the crown is given the desired shape - spherical or oblong.
The crown of a pomegranate is formed of any shape
Low humidity
Dry air in the apartment negatively affects flowering. To humidify the air:
- spray the leaves several times a day with settled water at a temperature 3-4 ° C warmer than the air; it is desirable that it does not fall on the flowers - when drying out, the drops leave untidy stains;
- pick up a pomegranate from neighbors with large leaves (the larger the leaf surface, the more moisture it evaporates - ordinary physics);
- a pomegranate pot is placed in a tray filled with wet expanded clay, the bottom of the pot should be on expanded clay, not in contact with water.
Drastic measures
If the pomegranate does not bloom under any circumstances, a stalk taken from a fruiting specimen is grafted onto it.
How to improve flowering
Abundant flowering is provided by some agrotechnical methods, not relying on miraculous drugs of narrowly targeted action.
Fertilizers
How can you not remember the dressing, which gives strength to the pomegranate bush and promotes flowering. They are carried out from March to August, every 10-15 days.
The following fertilizers are used:
- mullein solution in a ratio of 1:15;
- 1 g of nitrogen + 1.2 g of superphosphate + 0.5 g of potassium fertilizers per 1 liter of water.
Priming
Soil mixture is of no small importance for indoor pomegranates. To obtain a light and nutritious mixture, they take sod and leafy soil, humus. Useful additives include old lime plaster, sand and bone meal. The habitual expanded clay drainage can replace dry cow dung. For transplanted plants, the composition of the substrate is slightly changed: clay-sod + compost + leaf soil (3: 2: 1) with the addition of sand and bone meal (50 and 25 g per 10 kg of substrate, respectively).
Transfer
For pomegranates, an annual transplant of bushes is practiced at the age of 3 years. Then the plant is rolled over as the roots of an earthen coma are entwined. The new pot, of course, should be slightly larger in diameter (2-3 cm) than the old one. But pomegranate blooms best in "cramped circumstances". Therefore, a spacious pot must be relatively spacious for the plant to bloom and not fatten.
Removing buds
No matter how paradoxical it sounds, but it is the first pomegranate in the life of the buds that pinch off, not allowing them to bloom. This technique helps a young pomegranate gain strength and there will be immeasurably more flowers in the next season.
Recreation
The pomegranate needs a good rest, on which, by the way, flowering depends on the next season. The pomegranate rests in a bright and cool place with temperatures from +16 ° C to +10 ° C. Watering is minimized to 1 time in 10 days for pomegranates 4–5 years old and 1 time per month for older ones.
Outdoor grenades
On the territory of the former CIS, only Georgia, Abkhazia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan can boast of pomegranate groves. The climate of these regions is the best fit for a thermophilic tree. V resort towns along roadsides and in landscape gardening compositions, decorative terry varieties(sterile). Ornamental flowers are usually large - 50–55 cm long with a diameter of up to 83 cm (!).
The pomegranate begins to grow in March, and the grandiose flowering time begins in May and lasts until the end of August. So that the tree in the open field blooms well, Special attention pay for watering. The soil should not be flooded or dried. In this case, it is difficult to deny the benefits of drip irrigation:
- the frequency of supply and the amount of water are regulated by a timer;
- constant air humidity is provided.
The mulching layer in the root circle will protect the roots from drying out and overheating. During the growing season, a tree at the age of 10 years is fed with nitrogen. Young trees are filled with nitrogen fertilizers in March, May, July. Pruning is carried out in November for the purpose of better lighting and ventilation.
Outdoor pomegranate can be grown in our zone (Belgorod region - author) according to the principle of covering grapes, but the main limitation is not frost, but slight spring frosts. It is very IMPORTANT to open the pomegranate "on" or somewhere "after" the May holidays (after the end of the dry winds) and immediately FILL it with water, especially if the weather is dry. And carefully monitor the weather in May; when the temperature drops at night, it is necessary to cover it with slate on top.
Shebekino Vladimir
Growing pomegranates contrary to the rules in an "inconvenient" for him climatic zone, you prove, most likely, to yourself that there is no impossible. But will the plants themselves like such freethinking? Although the pomegranate can survive a short-term drop in temperature to -20 ° C, it must be covered for the winter or a greenhouse is built. The use of hardy early maturing varieties (Nikitsky early, Nyutinsky, Chernomorskiy) will give you more chances to admire the flowering and even get pomegranates.
For normal development and fruiting, a high amount of active temperatures is required, but heat in middle lane Russia will not be enough for him. And with a winter shelter, you can grow it, only you still need to think about how to extend the growing season, and for this you need to fence the greenhouse. For about 10 years now, several seedlings of garden pomegranates have been growing in open ground with shelter for the winter, but none of them bloomed, although they hibernate quite normally. And none of them died.
VVB Bushnev Vladimirhttp://forum.homecitrus.ru/topic/16203-granat-v-otkrytom-grunte/
Video: winter shelter for a grenade
For pomegranate flowering in the open ground and at home, a number of factors are important: variety, agricultural technology, protection against diseases. In regions with unpredictable winters, pomegranate bushes need shelter.
Indoor or dwarf pomegranate is the most unpretentious exotic plant, which is grown by amateur flower growers at home because of its beautiful long flowering, and some still like to enjoy its exotic fruits, so healthy and pleasant to the taste.
The pomegranate or, in another way, the Pomegranate (Punica) belongs to the family of Derbennikovs (Lythraceae). Their genus includes only two types of low deciduous trees and shrubs. Russian name due to its granular structure of the fruit, the pomegranate received from the Latin word granatus (granular). And the generic name punica comes from the name of the area where the thickets of these pomegranates were first discovered (punicus is translated from Latin as Punic or Carthaginian, now it is the area of modern Tunisia).
According to legend, the pomegranate came to us from Carthage under the name of the Punic apple. Zeus's wife, Hera, often held a pomegranate in her hands, considering it the key to their happy marriage. In Greece, the pomegranate was a symbol of fertility. In ancient Persia, pomegranate personified passionate love. At all times and everywhere, people have appreciated the decorative qualities and useful properties of this exotic fruit.
Home-grown pomegranate varieties
The most suitable for indoor cultivation is a variety of common pomegranate - dwarf pomegranate (Punica nana). This flower, both in pot and seed, is sold in flower shops under the general name "Dwarf Pomegranate" (Punica granatum "NANA"). On sale you can find seeds of indoor pomegranates of two varieties: "Carthage" and "Baby".
variety Carthage
Indoor pomegranate variety "Carthage dwarf" grows at home in the form of a tree up to 80 cm tall. The leaves are rather small, no more than 2 cm in length. If the flower is grown from seeds, then flowering and, moreover, fruiting, will not come earlier than in 6-8 years. Seed germination of this variety of indoor pomegranate is very low. It blooms from May to August with red flowers, up to 4 cm in diameter. The fruits are small, no more than 5 - 6 cm in diameter, slightly sour, but juicy and tasty.
The baby pomegranate is usually grown from seeds in the form of a shrub. A low bush, from 30 to 50 cm, has 5 - 7 skeletal branches. Elongated leaves grow on twigs in groups evenly throughout the pomegranate bush. This pomegranate variety blooms in the third - fourth year of life.
baby grade
Its flowers are large, up to 7 cm long, bright red in color. They are single or collected in 5-7 pieces in a bunch. In the first year of a plant's life, all its flowers are barren flowers. Next year, miniature yellowish-brown fruits with a red blush, 5 - 7 cm in size, can be set. Fruit ripening ends in the middle of winter. Pomegranates of this type require artificial pollination. If more than 5 fruits are tied on the pomegranate, the extra pomegranates should be removed.
But indoor pomegranate does not always bear fruit, it happens that it does not bloom at all for many years. In this case, we recommend grafting a branch from a fruiting specimen on it.
Height different varieties pomegranates are somewhat different, but they all have small size, no more than one meter. With regular restraining pruning and proper care, it is possible to reduce the height of any plant to 30 cm without losing its decorative effect and abundant fruiting. Dwarf pomegranate leaves are small, oval, glossy, up to 3 cm in length. In spring, young leaves are bronze in color, in summer they turn green, and in autumn they turn yellow. The fruits, the so-called pomegranates, also do not exceed 3 - 7 cm in diameter. They are colored orange-yellow and darker shades, up to reddish and brown. Pomegranate is a spherical polyspermous berry, divided inside into 6 - 12 chambers. Its pericarp is leathery, thick, usually reddish-brown in color. The seeds are placed in red-burgundy capsules filled with pomegranate juice. The beneficial properties of the fruits of the dwarf pomegranate are the same as those of the common pomegranate, but the taste is much worse.
Indoor pomegranates at home are cultivated more often in the form of a shrub with 5 - 7 strong trunks, less often in the form of a tree. They are grown for the long flowering of numerous bright flowers, and the fruits are tried to be almost completely removed. The pomegranates remaining on the plant (usually 2 - 3 pieces) ripen in room conditions in November-January. If you leave all the ovaries behind, fruiting can greatly deplete the strength of the plant, and next year the flowering will be less spectacular. When the plant grows up and gets stronger, after 3 - 4 years, you can leave all the ovaries on it in order to enjoy the exceptional spectacle of a plentifully blooming and, at the same time, fruiting dwarf pomegranate at home.
The dwarf pomegranate has even been awarded a Diploma by the Royal Horticultural Society of Great Britain for its decorative and other exceptional characteristics.
Home care
Indoor pomegranate pretty unpretentious plant, caring for him is simple and easy. We will acquaint you with the conditions of his detention in home premises.
Lighting
Phytolamp lighting
Good illumination is one of the main conditions for an excellent type of indoor pomegranate, its development and constant flowering. In the summer, you can take it out onto the balcony or drop it out into the garden. Adult plant feels good outdoors in direct sunlight. But young seedlings should be accustomed to the street gradually, leaving in the sun no more than two to three hours a day, and at noon it is necessary to bring pots with plants to shaded places. This will avoid sunburn its young leaves. When placing pomegranate pots in a room, choose any window sills other than the northern directions. At noon, it is necessary to protect plants from direct sunlight, especially young specimens, with blinds or curtains.
With a lack of lighting, as happens in early spring or with prolonged cloudy weather in summer, we recommend using additional illumination with phyto lamps or fluorescent lamps.
In winter, there is even less natural light, and indoor pomegranates can partially shed their leaves. But if you pick up powerful enough phyto lamps and organize a daylight for the flower not shorter than 12 hours, then it will delight you with its flowering and fruiting at this time.
Ambient temperature
Pomegranate is a thermophilic plant. In the wild, it grows at a fairly high temperatures... But indoor specimens are quite happy with a moderate temperature in the range of 25 - 30 ° C. during the growing season. If the temperature in the room rises higher, then you should take the flower pot to a cooler place. In summer, it is a balcony or a veranda in the garden. Sprinkling with cool water will help in the spring. In a hot and stuffy room, indoor pomegranate will begin to lose foliage and buds, and will slow down its growth. Ventilate the room, do not allow air stagnation.
Dwarf pomegranate also does not like low temperatures. At sub-zero temperatures he dies. When the ambient temperature on the veranda or balcony is below 15 ° C, the flower pot should be brought into the room.
Watering
Water the flower in moderation, and after the topsoil in the pot dries well. Use water for irrigation, separated, soft, room temperature. If you sent pomegranates to rest during the winter, water it at this time no more than once a month. But this remark is suitable for an adult plant (5 - 6 years old). A young pomegranate will need to be watered once a week. You will begin to water the indoor pomegranate more often and more abundantly in February, when you return the flower to its previous light warm place on the windowsill. The soil will need to be completely saturated with moisture in order to activate all the life processes of the flower. Abundant watering of the flower is needed before flowering. But during the flowering of the pomegranate, from May to September, watering the plant should be reduced.
In the wild, it blooms during the hottest and driest period of the year, and excess moisture can provoke the pomegranate, and it will shed all the buds. But, and forget about watering a pomegranate on long time not worth it - a prolonged drought will lead the root system to stress, which can also lead to the complete loss of all buds and the loss of decorativeness of the flower.
That is, water the indoor pomegranate regularly and when the topsoil is completely dry - and everything will be fine.
If fruits are ripening on a pomegranate tree, water it with caution in autumn, since abundant watering can lead to cracking of the fruit.
Air humidity
Air humidity should be moderate. If the humidity is too low, we recommend spraying the flower and the surrounding air with cool water. Installation next to a pot of a wide capacity with cool water and wet cleaning of the room will increase the humidity. Wipe the leaves from dust with a damp, clean cloth.
High humidity in the room is also useless, it will help to reduce it frequent ventilation... But drafts are not allowed.
The soil
Everyone knows that pomegranate grows in the wild on scarce soils in the arid regions of the Earth. But, to grow a beautiful decorative indoor specimen, you will have to choose a more nutritious potting soil mixture. It should be loose, moisture and breathable, with a neutral pH = 7. Purchased soil for roses and begonias is suitable. At the bottom of the pot there should be good layer drainage from expanded clay or large river pebbles.
Top dressing
Dwarf pomegranate is grateful for regular feeding. From February to summer, he needs nitrogen-phosphorus fertilizers. At this time, buds are being laid, the pomegranate is preparing for abundant flowering. Top dressing is carried out once every two weeks, not more often. Closer to autumn, fertilizing with nitrogen fertilizers is replaced with potassium fertilizers.
It must be remembered that fertilizers can only be applied to wet soil, for example, the next day after the next watering. It is advisable in the morning or evening so that the root system does not get burned. In cloudy weather, you can feed the plant during the day.
If the indoor pomegranate is grown for the sake of fruit, then it should be fertilized very carefully. Better to feed him not mineral fertilizers, but organics, so that excess nitrates do not accumulate in the fruits. If you already feed him with purchased fertilizers, choose fertilizers for fruit and berry crops and follow the recommendations on the package. In addition, if you overfeed the pomegranate with nitrogen supplements, it will not bloom and there will be no fruit.
Pruning
Pruning indoor dwarf pomegranate has a beneficial effect on its decorative appearance, ability to bloom and bear fruit. A pomegranate bush or tree grows very quickly. Over the season, without pruning, it will more than double in volume. Moreover, its numerous thin curved shoots will form a crown in a chaotic manner. To make the pomegranate look not only neat and compact, but also healthy, it should be cut well.
The pruning procedure is carried out several times a year. The first time is at the beginning of the growing season. After hibernation, if your pomegranate rested in a dark, cool place, move it to a bright, warm place and cut off all dry branches, as well as some of the small and unnecessary shoots. To stimulate branching, trim the young shoot above the outward-facing bud, leaving no more than 5 internodes. It is not worth pruning the plant too much, it may weaken. Leave no more than 6 skeletal branches, which are stronger.
It is important to know that buds form only on well-developed annual shoots... Try not to break them when pruning!
You can grow pomegranate in the form of a bush with 3 - 5 skeletal branches. But, if you cut off all root growth, you get a pomegranate tree, with a low stem and four to five skeletal branches. Over time, on each skeletal branch, four to five branches of the second order are laid, and after that, branches of the third order are formed on them. Excess shoots are cut out, like old branches that will no longer have a crop. The pomegranate sets fruit only on the shoots of the current year.
In the summer, during the active growing season of indoor pomegranates, you can also trim excess branches - stretched out or growing inside the crown. Don't worry - the pomegranate will tolerate this kind of pruning well.
After flowering, if there are no fruits on the branches, the pomegranate is pruned again, for the third time. Remove thin weak twigs, thin out inner space crowns.
Transplanting an indoor pomegranate. Suitable pot
Young specimens of dwarf pomegranates, it is advisable not to transplant the first two to three years into other containers. When the pomegranates grow up and get stronger, and their root system fills the entire space of the pot, transplant your flower into a new pot, a little larger. Moreover, it must be borne in mind that the roots of the pomegranate grow more in breadth than in depth. Therefore, the pot is required wide, but not very deep. Indoor pomegranate loves to grow in a cramped pot. Transplant by transshipment.
It is better to do this in early spring. In a new pot, 2-3 cm wider than the old one, lay a drainage layer of expanded clay or clean pebbles, a little fresh soil (buy ready-made soil with a neutral pH7 in the store, for example, soil for growing roses or begonias). Remove your flower from the old pot along with a lump of root earth. The roots of the pomegranate grow superficially, the excess, depleted earth will remain in the old pot, it must be thrown out. Place the pomegranate in the middle of a new pot. Fill the empty space with soil, while gently shaking the flower container to fill all the voids inside it. For the next three years, every spring, transplant your pomegranate into a new container with a slightly larger diameter. At the age of 6, indoor dwarf pomegranates are considered adult plants. Now they are rarely transplanted, if necessary, and in pots of the same size. Or they do not transplant at all, but only replace the top layer of the substrate in the old pot with a new one. Usually, a 5 liter pot is enough for an adult plant. Too much big pot not suitable for a pomegranate - it will bloom more abundantly if the root system is in flower pot it will be cramped.
Reproduction
Indoor pomegranates multiply with seeds, seeds and layering.
Propagation using seeds
For propagation by seeds, only specific forms of pomegranate are suitable, because the seeds of the varieties do not preserve characteristic properties mother plant. This method is mainly used for breeding novelties of breeding. Seeds can be harvested from blooming pomegranates at home or purchased from specialty stores. Before planting, they are soaked for a day in a solution of some growth stimulant (for example, in Kornevin). Then they are dried and sown in containers with a suitable loose soil under the lid. They put the greenhouse in a bright, warm place. Make sure that the soil in the container does not dry out, spray it on time with warm, settled water using a spray bottle. Ventilate. Waiting for 2 - 3 weeks of germination. Saplings dive into separate cups when the first three true leaves appear. It should be remembered that pomegranates grown from seeds will begin to bloom and bear fruit only after 5 to 8 years.
Propagation using seeds
Planting seeds
If you want to grow a pomegranate from the seeds of your own, ripened at home, fruit - no problem. To do this, take the seeds from the largest, well-ripened fruits. These bones are creamy and hard to the touch. Greenish and soft seeds are not suitable for germination! Prepare the seeds carefully for planting. Remove all the pulp from them, rinse them well in cool water, possibly with potassium permanganate, then dry them properly. This will eliminate rotting of the seeds during storage and germination. Dry pomegranate seeds remain viable for up to six months.
In the spring, preferably in April, plant the seeds in loose nutrient soil to a depth of 0.5 - 1 cm in a pot with drainage under a film. Before planting, you can soak the planting material in a small amount of water with the addition of 2-3 drops of Zircon or Epin for 12 hours. This stimulates the germination process. The solution should not completely cover the bones; in addition to moisture, they require oxygen.
Choose a place for the pot that is well lit and warm. The seed germination temperature is 25 - 27 ° C. Monitor soil moisture. As the top layer dries, the planting should be moistened with warm, settled water using a spray bottle so as not to inadvertently erode the soil. Seedlings appear quite quickly in spring, and seeds planted at other times of the year can sit in a pot for several months.
Plant the strongest specimens in the phase of two or three true leaves in separate small pots, up to 6 cm in diameter. Shoots, 10 cm long and formed by three pairs of leaves, pinch for better tillering of the flower. Place the pomegranate pots on the warmest lightest windowsill. They need daily sunbathing, moreover, at least two hours a day. Protect from the midday sun with blinds. Ventilate the room - pomegranates love fresh air.
If pomegranate sprouts appeared in winter, they will have to be illuminated with a phyto lamp.
You need to know that a pomegranate grown from a seed of an ordinary large fruit bought on the market will bloom only after 7 to 8 years. And the plant turns out to be large - it is unlikely that it will fit into the dimensions of your house. In indoor culture, it makes sense to grow only compact dwarf-sized decorative pomegranates.
Propagation by cuttings
Indoor pomegranate cuttings
We recommend this particular method of pomegranate propagation because of the high survival rate of cuttings and their complete preservation of the genetic characteristics of the mother plant. If you are going to root cuttings from your pomegranate in the summer, choose for this well-ripened semi-lignified shoots about 10-15 cm long, so that they have at least 4-5 buds. In winter, usually in February, woody pomegranate shoots of the same length are used for rooting. But their rooting takes much longer and with great losses. In any case, treat the prepared cuttings with root growth stimulants (Kornevin, for example), remove a pair of lower buds from them and then place them in a container with nutritious loose soil at an angle, to a depth of 3 cm, cover it with a foil or jar. You need daily ventilation, spraying, and watering if necessary. The rooting process is rather slow, and some cuttings may die. Therefore, we recommend that you cut them immediately with a margin, 4-5 pieces. Rooted cuttings after two to three months can be transplanted into pots prepared for constant growth. The next year, a young seedling will delight you with its flowering, and fruiting will be in a couple of years.
Indoor pomegranate can still be propagated by grafting. A varietal cutting is grafted onto a pomegranate stock grown from a seed. It is taken from a healthy adult plant that bears fruit stably. Vaccination is done different ways, depending on the thickness of the stock and cuttings, there are a great many.
The simplest for novice florists are grafting by simple copulation, behind the bark, into the cleft, into the butt and into the side cut. You should choose the type of vaccination yourself and try to implement it. You can use the services of a specialist. If the varietal stalk takes root, the pomegranate will bloom in three to four years.
Hibernation indoor pomegranate
Does indoor grenade need hibernation?
If you are unable to provide your pet with constant good lighting, it makes sense to talk about the winter dormant period of the pomegranate. It usually runs from November to February. At this time, it is necessary to place the flower in a cool room, water less, do not feed, wait for spring. Lowering the temperature in a city apartment is problematic. You can put the flower pot close to the window pane, fencing it off with plastic from the rest of the room. Or you can take out the pomegranate for this time in a heated basement.
But, we claim that in winter, at normal room temperature, good lighting up to 12 hours. a day (with the help of a powerful phyto lamp), the pomegranate will feel cheerful and comfortable. The formation of numerous flower buds will not stop at this time.
Indoor pomegranate diseases
If your pomegranate grows in unfavorable conditions - high humidity, musty room, low temperature - then he can get sick. More common than other diseases, found on pomegranate powdery mildew.
With frequent abundant watering, the leaves of the pomegranate may turn yellow. Perhaps the roots of the plant could not stand excess moisture, began to rot. Remove the flower from the pot, remove the rotten areas of the root system, rinse the healthy roots in potassium permanganate, dry them, sprinkle the slices with activated charcoal, and plant the pomegranate in a new nutritious loose soil. The pot must contain a good drainage layer. Water in moderation. In order for the root system to take root and cope with the loads, trim the crown of your diseased plant by one third.
If the leaves of the pomegranate began to fall off, the reasons may be different. If this occurs at the end of the growing season, then this is normal. The pomegranate is preparing for winter rest. If the leaves fall off during the active cycle of the plant, you may be watering your flower a little or feeding it poorly. Analyze your actions on caring for the plant - perhaps the room is too hot, even stuffy - pomegranate loves fresh air, frequent spraying, nutritious soil, a cramped pot with a good drainage layer.
Indoor grenade pests
Indoor or dwarf pomegranate is a very interesting exotic plant. Subject to the simple rules of growing and care at home, pomegranate will delight you all year round with its bright green glossy leaves, large purple flowers and miniature fabulous fruits. Caring for a pomegranate will not take much time and energy from you, but you will get full pleasure. Try experimenting with it appearance... You can give the grenade any shape - he is very grateful for the pruning and pinching of his shoots. You can even master the art of bonsai using the example of a pomegranate. But it has been noticed that caring and good-natured people who are interested in taking care of their pet, rejoice in every flower and tiny fruit, are better able to grow a spectacular decorative dwarf pomegranate, constantly blooming and hung with fruits.
And the famous fruit plant pomegranate (Punica) can be grown at home. True, in this case, decorative properties plants during its flowering period. For growing at home, plants of the dwarf variety Dwarf pomegranate (Punica nana) are more suitable, sometimes referred to the form of the common pomegranate as Punica granatum var. nana.
Dwarf pomegranate is the most unpretentious exotic plant for home cultivation. This perennial deciduous shrub is grown in subtropical and tropical climates in the open field, in our country - as a semi-deciduous houseplant in containers and pots on the windowsill, in winter gardens, greenhouses. For its exceptional decorative characteristics, the dwarf pomegranate was awarded a diploma of the Royal Society of Gardeners of Great Britain.
Legends say that the pomegranate came to us from Carthage under the name "Punic apple", Zeus' wife Hera (Juno) held it in her hands as an emblem of marriage, in Greece the pomegranate fruit symbolized fertility, and in ancient persia was the personification of passionate love. The beneficial properties of pomegranate are universally appreciated.
A useful plant with such an ancient history and such highly appreciated decorative qualities, it is worthy to become an adornment of any interior and garden. Moreover, it is quite unpretentious - in natural conditions grows on stony and saline soils of sunny Central Asia, where it receives a minimum of moisture.
Description
The dwarf garnet was first described in 1803. Its height is no more than 60 - 120 cm, the shrub can grow up to 120 cm wide, in a pot culture it reaches no more than 90 cm.Dwarf pomegranate has small oval glossy light green leaves, no more than 3 cm long, which are located on short reddish petioles ... In the spring, the young leaves of the dwarf pomegranate are bronze in color, in the summer they are green, in the fall, before the fall leaves, they are yellow.
Cultural varieties of dwarf pomegranate are very decorative. A small plant during the flowering period from May to September is strewn with large purple flowers. Numerous tubular red or orange flowers are mostly solitary, formed in the first year of cultivation at the ends of strong shoots. The flowers are larger in size than the leaves, reaching 4 cm in diameter. Most of them are sterile, have 
short stubs and do not form fruit. Only from flowers with long columns can pomegranates ripen. Although indoor pomegranate is famous for its long, abundant flowering, each flower lives little, only two to three days, new buds are formed on the plant every day. On average, there are about 3-4 ovaries per one hundred flowers, the rest fall off after flowering. This is normal and there is no need to worry about it. Flowers continue to form even when young fruits are already beginning to sing. This gives the indoor grenade a unique charm.
The fruits of the dwarf pomegranate can be colored in various shades from orange-yellow to brown-red. They have all useful properties common pomegranate, but not so tasty, have a lot 
seeds and are as small as the dwarf plant itself - no more than 7 cm in diameter. Ripen in a room from November to January.
Most often, dwarf pomegranates at home are grown for the sake of numerous flowers, so the fruits are partially removed. After all, fruiting depletes the plant, and its flowering next year will not be so spectacular. You can leave 1 - 2 fruits on one plant. From them you can get your own seeds for plant propagation. True, varietal qualities are not always transmitted with this breeding method. Once every three to four years, you can let the indoor pomegranate "bear" all the fruits and enjoy the sight of a fruiting dwarf pomegranate.
Indoor pomegranate varieties
Often this pot plant and its seeds are sold under the general name "Dwarf Pomegranate" or Punica granatum "NANA". On sale there are seeds of dwarf pomegranate varieties "Baby" and "Carthage" for indoor cultivation. The height of plants in different varieties can differ and be either 30 or 100 cm.
Lighting
Indoor pomegranate is a light-loving plant. For its placement, any windows, except for the northern ones, are suitable. At noon, indoor pomegranates are shaded from direct sunlight, especially young seedlings. In the summertime, it is better to take a dwarf pomegranate to the balcony, where there is a lot of light and air. The plant should be accustomed to the street gradually and protected from direct sunlight. With the onset of autumn, the dwarf pomegranate is transferred to the room.
Temperature
The indoor pomegranate needs warmth from spring to autumn, especially during the flowering period. The plant develops well at temperatures above +20 ° C. If the temperature in the room rises above 25 degrees, then you should take the pot with the indoor pomegranate to the balcony or veranda. In a hot, stuffy room, a dwarf pomegranate can begin to lose leaves, and this will slow down its development. Helps to reduce the temperature by spraying with cool water.
For fruit ripening in the autumn, the temperature is lowered to + 12-16 ° C. From November to March, the plant is kept at a temperature of + 10-12 ° C, thereby providing the rest period necessary for flowering and fruiting. The minimum temperature that a dwarf pomegranate can withstand is 6 ° C.
The soil
Although dwarf pomegranate in nature grows on scarce soils with practically no moisture, in culture for better decorativeness it needs to create more favorable conditions, in this case, rich and drained soil. For growing indoor pomegranate, the following soil mixtures with a neutral pH7 reaction can be recommended:
- sod land (50%), leaf humus (25%), peat (12%) and sand (13%);
- sand (50%), loam (25%) and peat (25%);
- clay-sod land (2 parts), leafy soil (1 part), humus (1 part), sand (1 part);
- for young plants: in equal parts sod, humus, leafy soil and sand.
Watering and humidity
Proper watering of the plant is also important. The rules for watering a dwarf pomegranate are as follows:
- In winter, during the dormant period, the plant is watered extremely rarely, once every 1.5-2 months.
- After a dormant period in February, watering is increased. The plant is often watered, saturating all the soil in the pot with moisture. Watering is carried out when the top layer dries.
- During flowering, it is necessary to slightly reduce the watering of the pomegranate, because in natural conditions, the flowering period of the pomegranate falls on the hottest, driest period. However, with a lack of moisture, as well as with excess, dwarf pomegranate can shed all the buds and leave empty branches instead of prolonged flowering.
- In hot weather and in stuffy rooms, indoor pomegranate is sprayed with cool water. In a cool room, spraying is not required.
- After flowering, the dwarf pomegranate is watered abundantly so that many flowers will form on it next year.
- If your task is to grow pomegranate fruits, then watering in the fall is carried out carefully. With excessive watering, the fruits on the pomegranate crack.
Top dressing
Twice a month, not more often, you need to feed a room pomegranate. In the spring it can be anyone nitrogen fertilizer... During the flowering period - phosphorus, and closer to autumn - potassium. Complex fertilizer can be applied once a month. It is better to fertilize the plant in cloudy weather. Fertilizer is applied to moist soil, that is, you must first water the plant. The liquid from the pallet must be drained. In the fall, feeding is gradually reduced, watering is reduced and the temperature of the content is reduced, thereby preparing the plant for a winter 2-3 month dormant period. It usually occurs in December after the fruits of the indoor pomegranate ripen.
Dormant period
After the fruits are ripe, around the end of November, the indoor pomegranate sheds its leaves. The plant begins a dormant period when it is kept at a temperature of + 10-12 ° C. This is a prerequisite for growing indoor pomegranate. Young plants under the age of 3 years do not need a dormant period, for them the optimum temperature will be + 12-16 ° C.
It is not always possible to create a dormant period in a city apartment. You can lower the temperature around the plant by moving it closer to the glass on the windowsill and fencing it off from the rest of the room with plastic. It is enough to keep the plant in such conditions for 3-4 weeks. At the same time, you can take the indoor grenade into the basement.
Pruning
In February, when buds begin to form on the plant, the pomegranate pot is taken out of the cool room into the warmth and the dry twigs and excess shoots not yet covered with foliage are pruned. Pomegranate tolerates this pruning very well. Cut out most small twigs. To stimulate branching, pruning is carried out over the outward-looking bud of a young shoot, leaving no more than 5 internodes on it. When forming a pomegranate, 4-6 skeletal branches are left. You cannot cut the plant too much, this can weaken it. If you cut the root of a pomegranate, you can form a pomegranate in the shape of a tree, including a bonsai. When forming a plant, you must be careful not to break off the very fragile branches of the pomegranate. Sometimes the extra shoots are cut out in the summer during the growing season of the plant. When pruning, it must be remembered that buds are formed only on well-developed annual shoots.
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Transplant and pot for indoor pomegranate
Young plants require an annual transplant. After the indoor pomegranate reaches the age of three years, it is transplanted no more than once every two to three years, it is better suited for this spring... The transplant is carried out by transshipment. The soil for planting is sod with the addition of sand, drainage in a pot is required.
Although the dwarf pomegranate has a shallow root system, it does not need a very wide pot. When transplanting, you can increase the diameter of the pot by two to three centimeters, no more. Indoor pomegranate blooms will be more abundant if the roots are cramped in the pot.
Reproduction of indoor pomegranate
Seed propagation
Reproduction of indoor pomegranate is possible by cuttings and seeds. For seed reproduction it is best to use seeds from specialty stores. When growing pomegranate from varietal seeds purchased in a store, flowering occurs in the same year, fruiting occurs in the second or third year.
For propagation, you can also use seeds from a fresh indoor pomegranate fruit. They remain viable for up to six months. Seeds are selected from the largest and ripe fruits, washed from the pulp, dried. Sow in April under glass to a depth of 0.5 cm. The substrate is moistened from equal parts of peat and sand. Seeds germinate at a temperature of + 25-27 ° C, seedlings develop quickly. In the phase of 2-3 true leaves, the strongest strong seedlings of indoor pomegranate are planted in separate pots with a diameter of 6 cm.During growing, the seedlings need warmth, good watering, for better tillering, they are pinched several times.
Important! A pomegranate sown from the seeds of ordinary fruits bought at the market or supermarket will bloom only after 7 or more years, so this is hardly justified in room culture. And the size of such a plant will not fit into the dimensions of the apartment.
Propagation by cuttings
Cuttings are taken from adult fruiting plants of indoor pomegranate. In summer, semi-lignified shoots are used, in winter in February - lignified ones. Cut the cuttings with 4-6 buds, lower part the cuttings are planted at an angle in a moistened soil of river sand and peat, taken in equal parts, to a depth of about 3 cm. plastic bottle, jar or glass, kept in a humid environment, ventilated daily, sprayed, watered if necessary. Before planting, the cuttings are treated with a rooting agent. After 2-3 months, the cuttings are planted. Flowering occurs in the second or third year. In young plants in the first year, it is better to cut the buds.
Diseases, pests, problems
At home, dwarf pomegranate grows less hardened, so it may be susceptible to some diseases, such as powdery mildew.
Among the pests of indoor pomegranate are whiteflies and scale insects. With a small number of pests, they are robbed by hands, with a significant number, permitted chemicals are used, for example, Fitoverm. In a dry room, indoor pomegranate suffers from spider mite... To prevent the appearance of a pest, it is necessary to spray the plant. In case of a problem, the plant is treated with drugs such as Actellik, covering the ground with polyethylene so that the pest does not hide there.
Sometimes, with excessive watering, the leaves of the indoor pomegranate turn yellow. In this case, the plant must be transplanted into drier soil. In this case, the decayed roots are cut off, sprinkled with crushed coal. Correspondingly, the volume of the crown is reduced by pruning.
When growing indoor pomegranate, not everything depends on compliance with agrotechnical conditions. The very process of caring for him should bring joy. Like any plant, the dwarf pomegranate is responsive to care, so good-natured, caring people are better at growing it. A dwarf pomegranate can and should feel that it is welcome too.
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" Trees
In nature, pomegranate grows as a tree or shrub.... The culture got its name from the Latin word "pomegranate", which means fine-grained.
The fruits of such a plant are quite large in size, painted in a rich red or burgundy color. Pomegranate pulp is made up of many small grains.
In nature, pomegranate grows on mountain slopes or in rocky terrain., which explains the plant's unpretentiousness to the climate and soil composition.
Also such a tree perfectly adapts to the microclimate.
Dwarf pomegranate growth directly depends on the variety, the average is 1 meter. Pomegranate flowers deserve special attention.
On one tree, 2 types of flowers are formed at once:
- some flowers have both a pistil and stamens, ovaries are formed on them and later fruits appear, their shape resembles water lilies;
- another species looks like bells, but the flowers are sexless and only have a decorative function.
The flowers are painted in a bright, red hue and reach a diameter of 3 centimeters.
Scientists call the pomegranate fruit "pomegranate", they reach 18 centimeters in diameter. The skin of such fruits is very dense, its color varies from light pink to dark red.
One fruit can contain up to 1200 grains, which are covered with a juicy, fleshy shell. The taste of the pulp is sweet and sour, very juicy and refreshing; such fruits are very often used to make juice.
At home, dwarf pomegranate is grown as an indoor flower, and the appearance of fruits is a pleasant addition.
Is it possible to grow an ornamental plant at home?
It is quite possible to grow a pomegranate at home., among all fruit trees that are grown at home, pomegranate is the most unpretentious.
It is very easy to care for such a plant and you can get juicy fruits, you can without much effort.
Indoor conditions grow miniature pomegranates "Nana"... They begin to bloom after they reach a height of 40 centimeters, while bearing up to 10 edible fruits, which differ from garden trees only in size (5-6 centimeters in diameter).
Usually, the following varieties of pomegranate are grown at home:
- Alba captivity- This variety does not bear fruit and is grown for large and beautiful flowers. They are characterized by a terry structure and cream color, and can reach a diameter of up to 6 centimeters. The leaves of this variety are sinewy, dense, oval, slightly elongated, have a rich green color. The peculiarity of the variety is that it grows very quickly, but if desired, this process can be stopped by planting the plant in a small container.
- Carthage and Baby- the most common indoor varieties, trees grow up to 50 centimeters in height, although there are specimens with a growth equal to 1 meter. A large number of flowers are observed on these plants, and fruits appear starting from the 2nd year of life.
Even despite the fact that several dozen flowers can bloom at one time, on average, 3-4 ovaries are formed.
Rules for planting a pomegranate tree
To grow a dwarf pomegranate you can use seeds purchased at the store... The best time to plant seeds is the beginning of April.
Drainage is poured onto the bottom of the box or container, then clean river sand, into which pomegranate seeds are deepened by 5 milliliters. Then the soil is moistened and covered with film or glass, this is necessary to achieve the greenhouse effect.
After the first shoots appear, you need to wait another 2 weeks, because the pomegranate shoots appear gradually.
As soon as 5-6 healthy leaves appear on the seedlings, it can be transplanted into separate pots, on the bottom of which drainage is poured and a soil mixture is prepared from:
- 2 parts citrus soil;
- 1 part sand;
- 1 part vermicompost.
After the tree is in the pot, it is necessary water abundantly to aid early rooting.
If a cutting is used as a planting material, then it must be placed in wet sand and covered with a glass jar.
After about a month, the first buds will appear on the cuttings, after which they can be transplanted into separate pots. Rooting will take place much faster if the cutting is placed in a growth stimulator for 6 hours before planting.
This method is less risky., because under such conditions all the varietal qualities of the mother tree are preserved.
Caring for a house tree
In order for the pomegranate to develop well and please with its appearance, it must provide the necessary conditions.
| Period | Care rules |
| In spring and summer | The tree needs as much sunlight as possible, and if the weather is warm outside, many housewives recommend taking the plant out into the fresh air, for such purposes an ordinary balcony or loggia is perfect. Also during this period, watering the pomegranate should be regular and abundant, in no case should the soil be allowed to dry out. During flowering and fruiting 1 time in 10-14 days the tree is fed with complex mineral fertilizers. Most often, Etisso fertilizer is used for pomegranates; it is sold in two types, both for flowering and for green plants. It is worth remembering that during fruiting, pomegranates are watered especially carefully, the soil must be moist, and an excess of moisture can cause the fruit to crack. In addition to watering, pomegranates are sprayed warm water once every two weeks. |
| In autumn and winter | With the onset of autumn, the tree can throw off its foliage and go into a dormant phase. in order to create conditions close to natural for the tree, reduce the amount of introduced moisture for about 2-3 months and move the pot to a cool place. To prepare the plant for winter, it is watered with mullein infusion prepared from 100 grams of manure and 1 liter of water. |
After the end of the resting phase, around the middle of February, it is necessary gradually increase the amount of watering and move the plant back to sunlight.
Another point of care will be shaping pruning.... Dwarf pomegranate responds well to such a procedure and can be given almost any shape, the choice of which depends only on personal preference.
Very often you can find indoor pomegranates, similar in appearance to a bonsai tree. Pruning should be done in early spring (early March) or late autumn (late December).
Such dates were not chosen by chance, so as not to damage the tree, work is carried out while it is at rest, and there is no active sap flow.
In addition to all procedures, until the age of 5, pomegranates are transplanted annually, gradually increasing the size of the pot from 100 to 500 milliliters, while it is advisable to choose a narrow container shape.
Instead of replanting adult plants, the topsoil is replaced.
How to grow indoor pomegranate:
Diseases and pests
Indoor pomegranate, like any other plant susceptible to the appearance various diseases and pests, from which you need to get rid of as soon as possible.
Most often, the following ailments are found on such a plant:
| Disease | Description | Ways to fight |
| Powdery mildew | A whitish bloom forms on the leaves of the affected plant, on which dark brown balls are located. Powdery mildew is caused by harmful fungi. Usually, the disease appears due to poor ventilation, temperature changes or humidity levels in the room. Infection from other plants by airborne droplets is also possible. | In the initial stages, a solution made from 5 grams of soda ash and 1 liter of water helps, you can also add 5-10 grams of soap. If the powdery mildew is sufficiently neglected, then it will be necessary to carry out treatment with chemical preparations, for example, scor, topaz or hom. |
| Branch cancer | The bark on the branches is cracking and spongy swellings can be seen at the edges of the chips. The cause of such a disease can be mechanical damage or frostbite. | It is very difficult to get rid of this disease, the only way out is to cut off the damaged branches with a sharp garden knife, treat the wound with a disinfectant and apply a thin layer of garden varnish. |
| Spots on the leaves | Spots appear on the leaves, the color of which ranges from yellow to brown. Such damage indicates excessive soil moisture. | The plant must be transplanted into new soil, if decay has spread to the roots, then the affected parts are removed, and the cut is treated with crushed coal. |
| Whitefly and aphids | Pests feed on the foliage of the tree, which in turn significantly weakens it. | If there are few insects, then they can be removed manually. Adult butterflies are cleaned with an ordinary vacuum cleaner, and you can get rid of larvae and aphids by treating the leaves with a solution of laundry soap. You can also use special drugs. fitoverm, spark, karbofos, etc. Protect the soil with plastic wrap before each treatment. |
The pomegranate tree is considered one of the most unusual ornamental plants., but at the same time caring for him is quite simple.
In addition to the expected fruits, it has an excellent appearance and aroma.