How to Grow Potted Pomegranates: Care Methods, Precautions and Variety Selection

Potted pomegranates offer both ornamental value and a certain economic value, and are a form of container growing today. So what are the growing methods and precautions for potted pomegranates? Which varieties are good?

Pomegranate, scientific name Punica granatum, also known as Danruo, Wodan, Ranruo, Tianjiang and so on. Dan means red; pomegranate flowers come in colors such as bright red, peach red, orange-yellow, pink and white, with fiery red being the most common. In the fifth lunar month, pomegranate flowers bloom at their most brilliant, which is why the fifth month is also elegantly called “Pomegranate Month.” The flower deity of the fifth-month pomegranate blossom is the legendary Tang dynasty · bestower of blessings and guardian of the home, Zhong Kui, and the pomegranate flower has also been designated the “City Flower of Xi'an” by Zhong Kui's hometown of Xi'an. Fruiting pomegranates bloom from May to June, with flowers like fire, and fruit from September to October. Flowering pomegranates bloom from May to October.

Internationally, on the national emblem of Spain there is a red pomegranate, which is precisely Spain's national flower. In Spain, across its 500,000 square kilometers of land, whether on highlands and mountains, in towns and villages, around houses, or in seaside parks, pomegranate trees can be seen everywhere.

Pomegranate bonsai have graceful tree forms and elegant branches and leaves. In early spring the tender leaves emerge green and delicate; in midsummer they are covered in a profusion of brightly colored blooms; pomegranate flowers come in colors such as bright red, peach red, orange-yellow, pink and white, with fiery red being the most common, so the color they leave in people's minds is fiery red. In autumn the fruit hangs heavy, whether planted singly or in groups in courtyards, in corners of pleasure gardens, in pairs at gateways, or in rows beside paths and streams, on slopes, or beside buildings, they are also excellent material for making various stump bonsai.

Growing and Care Methods

Selection of Varieties and Flower Pots

Pomegranates have a long flowering period and bright colors, and can be both eaten and enjoyed, so when choosing a variety you should pick one suited to eating or to ornament according to personal preference. For ornament you can choose the Large-flowered Pomegranate; for eating you can choose the Taishan Red Pomegranate.

For the pot you can choose an earthenware pot with good breathability and drainage, or a slightly larger nutrient pot, though its drawbacks are that it is not very attractive, breaks easily, and deforms and leaks easily. Of course you can also choose an attractive plastic pot, but its drainage is poorer. Based on personal preference and favorable conditions, the size of the pot can be decided according to your own preference and the size of the plant.

Spring

1. In spring, repot before the buds swell in early spring. Pomegranates are not demanding about soil and can adapt to all soils except heavy clay. The pot soil should ideally be fertile, loose and well-draining. Pomegranates are generally repotted once every 2-3 years. Carry out appropriate pruning before repotting. Water once before the buds swell, and after they swell keep in sunlight and water appropriately. Fertilize appropriately during vigorous growth, and when flowering place in a spot with light for viewing. A pomegranate can send out 2-3 new flushes of shoots a year and can bloom 2-3 times; after each flowering, pinch back appropriately to help form new flower buds. If it is a fruiting pomegranate, thin out the tubular flowers (non-fruiting flowers) and keep the bell-shaped flowers. Double-petaled flowering pomegranates mostly do not set fruit, so there is no need to thin the flowers.

Summer

2. In summer, pomegranates tolerate high temperatures and strong sun, so they should be placed on a sunny balcony for viewing, maintaining ample light. Because water evaporates heavily when the weather is hot, water promptly. When watering pomegranates in summer, do not spray the leaves or the surroundings; keep the environment dry, otherwise pollination may be poor and few fruits will set.

Autumn

3. In autumn, fruiting pomegranates are laden with fruit, red and alluring, and can be placed in partial shade or a bright spot, keeping the pot soil on the dry side. Non-fruiting potted and bonsai pomegranates should be kept in sunlight, and once the temperature gradually cools, keep the pot soil on the dry side and let them go dormant.

Winter

4. Winter dormancy. After going dormant, pomegranates are fairly cold-tolerant. Non-fruiting potted and bonsai pomegranates should be protected from root freezing; they can be placed in an enclosed balcony at around 0°C to overwinter, keeping the pot soil dry but not parched. Fruiting pomegranates should be kept at a certain temperature with appropriate light, which can extend the viewing period.

5. Pruning

(1) Pruning potted pomegranates: In spring, shorten leggy branches and prune weak branches, deformed branches and branches that are too dense in the inner canopy. During the growing season, the plant sends up many root suckers; to avoid affecting flowering and fruiting, remove root suckers during the growing season, and during peak growth remove some old leaves as appropriate to suppress vegetative growth and promote flower bud formation. When the plant is too dense, thin the branches and remove buds to adjust density, allowing air and light into the interior.

Flowering pomegranates: pinching back 2-3 times during the growing season helps prolong the flowering period and makes blooming more abundant; no flower thinning is needed. Fruiting pomegranates should have their tubular flowers thinned during the flowering period.

(2) Pruning pomegranate bonsai: Pomegranates send new shoots from fruiting mother branches to flower and fruit, so you must not shorten or pinch the current year's new shoots. During the growing season, cut out branches that are too dense and root suckers. Once the bonsai canopy has been wired into shape and no longer expands, cut off the surplus shoot tips. During dormancy, thin or shorten overlapping branches within the branch pads, crossing branches, weak drooping branches and overly dense branches, so that the branch pads are appropriately spaced and do not overlap from top to bottom.

How to Make Bonsai Pomegranates Bloom and Fruit More

Repotting

Repot once every 1-2 years. Young trees should be moved to a slightly larger pot, while old stumps can stay in the original pot. When repotting, remove half of the old pot soil, add new soil, and prune old roots and overly long fibrous roots to encourage new root growth.

Use humus soil made by composting cake fertilizer, poultry manure, etc. with leaves, weeds, sandy soil and the like. It contains relatively more phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, which benefits pomegranate flowering and fruiting. If not repotted for many years, the pot will have many fibrous roots, little soil and insufficient fertilizer, and it will bloom little or not at all.

Fertilizing

Pomegranates like fertilizer more than ordinary potted flowers and trees, so apply a good base fertilizer when repotting. When growing pomegranates in ordinary potting soil, apply liquid fertilizer containing more phosphorus, and apply 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate a few times as appropriate.

Light and Water Control

During the bud stage, besides ample light, pomegranates also need water control to keep the pot soil on the dry side. When the leaves are slightly wilting, first place the pomegranate in shade for about 30 minutes; after the temperature of the pot soil and the plant has dropped somewhat, spray clean water on the leaves, and after a moment water the pot. Repeat several times, and flower buds will appear in about 25 days.

Pollination

If the flowering period meets cloudy weather, natural pollination is affected; at such times move the pomegranate to a ventilated, rain-sheltered spot, and once the weather clears place it back in the sun for care.

Pomegranate flowers are divided into male and female: male flowers are large at the front and smaller where the rear joins the flower stalk; female flowers are small at the front and larger where the rear joins the flower stalk.

To increase the fruit-setting rate, hand pollination can be used. The method is: when the first flush of flowers has just opened, gently dab a writing brush on the pistil a few times, then gently dab the brush on the pistil a few more times, repeating several times to assist pollination. Pollination is best done in the morning; at midday the weather is hot, which is unfavorable for pollination.

Branch Thinning

Carry out one pruning and shaping after the pomegranate drops its leaves or before buds sprout in spring. If there are too many flower buds, cut off some in good time. After fruit set, cut off unwanted fruits according to the desired shape, arranging them at varying heights and with appropriate spacing to further enhance the overall beauty.

Growing Precautions:

1. Cold protection. Bonsai pomegranates are not at all cold-tolerant; if you are the slightest bit careless in winter, the branch tips will freeze and be damaged. In mild cases this affects flowering and fruiting the following year; in severe cases the plant may freeze to death. Therefore, when the temperature drops to around 0°C, they should be moved indoors, or placed in a plastic film shed in a sunny, warm spot.

2. Remove vigorous branches. Pomegranates have strong sprouting ability, and vigorous branches often sprout at the root crown; these should be cut off early, otherwise the canopy will weaken.