Pomegranate (Punica), a subtropical shrub with tasty fruits, can be grown as an ornamental indoor plant. It is not difficult to provide an indoor grenade proper care at home, it will bloom and even set fruit.
The homeland of pomegranate is Asia Minor, Iran.
Portrait of a plant
Pomegranate has small oblong leaves with pointed ends. The trunk is branched, light brown. The branches are numerous, thin, with thorns.
The pomegranate flower is unlike any you are familiar with. He unusual shape, with a hard red perianth that covers the inner delicate petals: scarlet, white or yellow, depending on the variety.
What varieties of pomegranate are grown at home?
IN room conditions It is most convenient to grow dwarf forms of pomegranate:
It grows up to 1 m in height. It is like a “reduced copy” of a garden pomegranate, with small leaves, flowers and fruits.
Even more miniature variety. Maximum height 50 cm, flowers can be collected in bunches of 5-7 pieces. The fruits are orange-brown in color.
Another dwarf variety, up to 70 cm in height. It got its name from the bright red color of the flowers.
Uzbekistan
A low-growing variety of garden pomegranate. Height up to 2 m. The fruits are bright red, sweet and sour in taste, larger than those of the dwarf forms.
As an experiment, you can grow an ordinary garden pomegranate at home from the seed of a fruit you bought. He won't give good fruits and will not repeat parental characteristics, because The fruits of hybrids are mainly sold. Indoors it grows no more than 1 m in height (in open ground can reach a height of up to 5 m).
A significant difference between dwarf pomegranate varieties and garden ones is that they do not shed their leaves for the winter, therefore they are more decorative as indoor plants.
Flowering and fruiting
Pomegranate blooms not only beautifully and unusually, but also for a long time - from April to the end of summer.
Flowers are of two types: pitcher-shaped with long pistils that form fruits, and bell-shaped with short ones that do not form fruits. There are much more of the latter, 90% and, accordingly, only 10% are fruitful. The flowers are self-pollinating.
Sterile flowers fall off quickly, fruitful ones “live” for 6-10 days. The flowers are up to 2 cm in diameter and up to 4 cm in length.
After flowering, in the fall, the dwarf pomegranate produces charming small round fruits with a dense but thin skin, color from light orange to burgundy red, they do not exceed 4-5 cm in diameter. The fruits are covered with a hard skin, under which there are seeds, “wrapped” in juicy dark red pulp. The fruits are edible, but taste sour.
You can buy indoor pomegranate in the store, or you can grow it yourself from a seed or cutting.
Growing pomegranate from cuttings
Indoor pomegranate cuttings can be carried out in mid-summer (semi-lignified cuttings) or in February (lignified cuttings).
4 internodes are left on each cutting.
Pomegranate cuttings do not always root well; the rooting percentage may be less than 50%. For a more reliable result, the sections are treated with a root formation stimulator.
Semi-lignified cuttings take root better, but since it is a pity to cut shoots at the time when they are most decorative (flowers appear on them in mid-summer), rooting of completely lignified cuttings is often practiced.
You can root cuttings in water or a substrate consisting of a mixture of peat and sand in equal quantities. Can also be used peat tablets. Before planting the cuttings, the substrate is well moistened.
The cuttings are placed in the ground at an angle of 45 degrees. Deepen by 2-3 buds. The container with cuttings is covered with film and placed on a well-lit windowsill in warm room. For rooting, the substrate temperature should not be lower than 23 degrees.
Further care of the cuttings comes down to regular watering; the soil should not dry out. Also, once a day, briefly remove the film for ventilation.
The first roots appear after 1-2 weeks. Complete rooting occurs after a month, as evidenced by the appearance of new buds on the cuttings. Then the film is removed and careful watering continues, avoiding waterlogging.
The first grown shoot is shortened. Cut it off by one third so that the tree begins to branch.
Growing pomegranate from seeds
The second way to grow homemade dwarf pomegranate is by seed.
Seeds must be used fresh, because... they lose their viability very quickly. The seeds are soaked in water for a day (do not completely fill the seeds with water, otherwise they will “suffocate”). Seeds taken from a fresh fruit must first be cleared of pulp to prevent them from rotting in the ground after planting.
Seeds are sown in the ground, immersing 1 centimeter into the ground. Best time sow seeds in winter, in January-February, so that at the beginning of summer the young plants can already be brought to the fresh air.
After sowing the seeds, it is necessary to constantly monitor the soil moisture. It should not be over-moistened or over-dried.
After about 2 weeks, the first shoots appear and are placed on a light windowsill. After 2 months, real leaves appear on the seedlings. Poorly developed seedlings are removed. When 3-4 pairs of true leaves grow on the remaining seedlings, they are planted in separate containers. In May, they are taken out into the garden or onto the balcony, placed under a canopy or under trees. The bright sun causes burns on weak seedlings.
In autumn, well-developed seedlings are transplanted into pots and transferred to a cool place until spring. In February-March they are placed on the windowsill, and in May-June they are again taken out into the garden or onto the balcony.
Indoor pomegranate can begin to bloom already in the first year of life, but in this case it is recommended to remove the flowers, because By this age the plant is not yet strong enough. In the second year, you can leave 1-2 ovaries.
Garden pomegranate will begin to bear fruit in 5-7 years.
Plants grown from cuttings bloom and bear fruit earlier than those grown from seeds.
In addition, pomegranates obtained from seeds do not retain varietal characteristics and the fruits are of poorer quality.
Caring for indoor pomegranate
Lighting
The most important requirement when caring for indoor pomegranate is sufficient lighting. Pomegranates need a lot of light and sun; if they are deficient, the plant sheds its leaves.
It is best to give it a place on a window facing south, southwest or southeast. Pomegranate is one of the few plants that does not require shade from sun rays even during midday hours.
It is advisable to keep pomegranates outdoors from late spring to autumn: in the garden or on the balcony. It should be placed in a warm, sunny corner, protected from drafts.
Despite the fact that pomegranate is not afraid of direct sun, at first, when placing the plant outside, it needs to be allowed to get used to the new conditions after being kept indoors for the winter. It should be placed in the shade for several days, then gradually accustomed to the sun so that the foliage does not get scorched.
In September-October, the pomegranate is taken into the house again.
Rest period
If you are growing a garden pomegranate as an indoor plant, then you need to take into account that it has a dormant period. In November, the plant sheds its leaves and remains in this form until February - March, at which time young leaves begin to appear. During the dormant period, the pomegranate needs to be kept cool (possibly in the dark) and sparsely watered.
In February, the plant is moved to a warm, bright place and watered more often.
Dwarf forms of pomegranate are evergreen plants; they do not completely shed their leaves in winter, but some leaves may also fall off. But they also winter period It is desirable to provide cool conditions for rest from the growing season and flowering.
Temperature
In summer, the optimal temperature for pomegranate is 24-26 degrees, in winter 10-12 degrees Celsius, the lower limit is + 6 degrees. In cool conditions (for example, on a heated loggia), the plant should be kept for at least 1 month. This creates conditions for subsequent abundant flowering and fruiting.
In city apartments, flower growers often do not have this opportunity; in this case, pomegranates are removed from bright light for this time, leaves are removed, and watering is reduced.
Watering and spraying.
During the period of growth, flowering and fruiting, pomegranate is a “water bread”. Water it generously at this time, at least 1-2 times a week. But you shouldn’t allow it to flood; when overmoistened, yellow and yellow spots appear on the leaves. brown spots. Pots definitely need drainage.
In winter, watering is significantly reduced, but care is taken to ensure that the soil does not dry out.
Pomegranate also likes to be sprayed with soft warm water, they are carried out from spring to autumn 2 times a week; in hot weather you can do this more often. In winter, when kept cool, spraying is not required.
Fertilizer
From spring to autumn, pomegranates need to be fed with complex mineral fertilizer. The frequency of fertilizing is 2 times a month. During the dormant period, feeding is stopped and resumed at the beginning of the growing season.
For feeding you can also use organic fertilizers. For example, mullein infusion diluted in a concentration of 1:10.
They also fertilize chicken droppings, fertilizing from it is prepared as follows. At first chicken droppings Fill with water in the ratio of 1 part litter, 2 parts water. Close tightly and leave for 2-3 weeks in a warm place for fermentation. Then the resulting infusion is mixed and diluted with water 1:25.
To fertilize pomegranate, this solution is diluted with water again in a ratio of 3:4.
Organic fertilizers are applied to the soil after watering.
Trimming
Pomegranate grows quite quickly; after just six months, a plant grown from a cutting already looks like a small tree. To support decorative look, it is necessary to engage in the formation of its crown.
The pomegranate is formed in the form of a bush or a standard tree, which looks especially impressive.
Several (4-6) skeletal branches are left on the tree and pruning is carried out regularly. In this case, no more than 5 internodes are left on each shoot. The cuts are made above the top bud, facing outward from the crown, so that the branches do not intertwine in the future.
In February-March, early pomegranate pruning is carried out. Remove basal shoots, tops (vertical shoots), dry, thickening the crown, much longer than the main branches of the crown.
When pruning, it is important to take into account that pomegranate fruits form on ripened shoots from last year. Therefore, only those branches that have already bear fruit are removed.
New shoots on pomegranate grow quickly; additional crown thinning and removal of newly grown basal shoots are periodically carried out. In addition, you constantly need to pinch out branches that have strayed beyond the crown.
Transfer
Transplantation is carried out in February-March.
Plants are transplanted using the transshipment method. Young, up to 5 years old, annually, then once every 3-5 years, as needed, choose a pot slightly larger than the previous one.
Small pots are needed for growing pomegranates. For annual plants volume 100 ml, for 2-3 year olds no more than 500 ml. The ratio of the height and diameter of the pot is 1:1.
The pot must be filled with drainage to ¼ of its height.
Pomegranates prefer an earthen mixture with a neutral reaction. Optimal soil composition: turf, leaf, humus, peat soil in equal proportions. However, the choice of soil is not a determining condition for the successful development of pomegranate; it is not picky about soils; you can take almost any soil, for example, ready for citrus fruits or universal.
Roots must be protected from damage during transshipment. If this cannot be avoided, they must be carefully trimmed at the site of breakage and sprinkled with charcoal.
For large plants Instead of replanting, the top layer of soil is replaced with fresh one.
Diseases and pests
Powdery mildew
The main disease to which pomegranate is susceptible is powdery mildew. It may appear on the plant in a poorly ventilated area with high humidity or with sudden changes in temperature. Infection can also occur from other diseased plants, for example, when watering.
In the initial stage of the disease from powdery mildew treatment with a solution helps soda ash(5 g per 1 liter of water) mixed with soap.
If the disease has spread over a large area of the plant, fungicide treatment is required. For example, such as Skor, Topaz, Hom. They are prepared strictly according to the instructions, without exceeding the concentration.
Branch cancer
Another common pomegranate disease is branch cancer. The bark on the branches cracks and spongy swellings form along the edges of the cracks. The disease affects weakened plants; the cause may be mechanical damage.
Fighting the disease is removing the affected branches. It is difficult to get rid of this scourge; as a rule, most of the crown has to be cut out. But this does not always help; often the plant dies.
To reduce the risk of disease, you need to protect the branches from damage and frost. Pruning must be done with a sharpened tool.
Spots on leaves
If yellow and brown spots appear on the pomegranate leaves, this is most likely evidence of waterlogging in the soil. The plant needs to be transplanted into fresh soil, and if during transplantation you notice rotten roots, they need to be cut off sharp knife to healthy tissue. Treat the cuts with crushed charcoal.
Whitefly and aphids
As for pests, these plants most often suffer from whiteflies and aphids.
If not large quantities pest control can be effective manual removal pests. Whitefly butterflies can be removed with a regular vacuum cleaner, and then the leaves can be treated, especially with inside, from laid eggs with a sponge and soapy water. With the help soap solution You can also remove aphids. Before such treatment, the soil in the pot is protected with polyethylene.
When there are large numbers of insects, chemicals are used. Such as Fitoverm, Aktara, Iskra, Karbofos, Aktellik.
Where can I get planting material? Buy a large, richly colored fruit at the market or store. Fruits with rot or mold should not be taken for planting. The seeds obtained from such specimens are weak and painful, and do not germinate and develop well.
Only healthy people are suitable ripe pomegranates, which must be carefully cut and the contents removed. Remove the soft shell, place the seeds in a colander and rinse under the tap to remove juice and pieces of pulp. Carefully inspect the bones. Only hard seeds that are grayish-beige or ivory in color are suitable. This means that they are already mature and have enough nutrients to germinate. The planting material is green, soft to the touch, and does not sprout. Such bones simply rot when they fall into the ground and disappear.
Germination
Place the pomegranate seeds on a saucer and pour in a little water until they are half immersed in the liquid. Planting material needs air, because oxygen awakens the grain and starts the germination process. The seeds must not be allowed to float in the water, otherwise they will die.
Planting material must be disinfected. Products such as Zircon or Epin are recommended. Just 2-3 drops, and no fungus or rot. Change the solution in the saucer every 12 hours. The seeds should lie in water for about 3 days, and they should not be allowed to dry out, otherwise the hard shell will crack and the grain will die.
You can cover the saucer with gauze or cotton cloth, which retains moisture well. Water intended for soaking should be passed through a filter to remove harmful impurities. Place the saucer in a warm place, away from drafts.
The bones practically do not change after three days of bathing appearance. Unlike the other planting material, they do not sprout in a plate, but already in the ground. It is important to prepare in advance correct soil and pots, because the grains are placed in the soil directly from the plate.
Substrate preparation
Pomegranate takes root in almost any soil, but in order for the plant to be strong and develop quickly, one of three options should be used. The easiest way is to buy a special substrate designed for indoor flowers. It contains a lot nutrients, quite loose and breathable.
The second version of the soil is prepared from peat and coarse river sand, which is pre-calcined or doused with boiling water to disinfect it. Take the ingredients in equal proportions, mix thoroughly and fill the pot with the mixture.
If there is no peat at hand, it is replaced with turf soil and humus. Combine the ingredients and leave for several days, and add river sand before planting the pomegranate seeds. The last component will make the soil looser and softer, and the humus will become a source of minerals.
Regardless of the composition of the substrate, you need to put a drainage layer in the pot. If it is absent, the water constantly stagnates at the bottom of the container, the roots of the tree rot, and it suffers from fungus. Expanded clay or small pebbles, pieces of polystyrene foam or crushed clay shards are suitable.
Tip: If the soil dries out quickly or becomes too compacted, it should be replaced with new soil, to which pine or other wood sawdust is added.
Planting seeds
- Fill the pot with substrate, make several holes 1–1.5 cm deep in it and lightly moisten it with a spray bottle.
- Do not make the holes too deep, otherwise it will be difficult for the sprout to break through the ground.
- Place the wet seed and sprinkle with soil without compacting it.
- Sprinkle with water and cover the pot with cling film or a plastic bag. You will get a mini-greenhouse in which it is always warm and humid.
- There is no need to add fertilizers or growth stimulants. Pomegranate seeds will take the necessary nutrients from the soil.
- The main thing is that the pot with the future tree is constantly warm.
Natural selection
When the shoots hatch, it is recommended to move the pot to a south window. Young trees need a lot of light to grow and gain strength. Do not remove the film, but regularly ventilate the sprouts by opening the improvised lid for 1–2 hours and water them. The soil should not be too wet or water should accumulate at the bottom. In such cases, you need to stop watering for several days to allow the substrate to dry out, and then reduce the amount of liquid to moisten the soil.
If the seeds are planted in winter, the first leaves will appear on the sprouts in early to mid-spring. Then the film is removed so that it does not interfere with the trees stretching upward. Only one plant is left in the pot, the strongest and largest. The rest need to be carefully pulled out. You can simply pinch off the top, leaving the root in the ground. It will gradually decompose, providing the developing sprout with additional nutrients.
Important: Not all seeds planted in winter hatch in March-April. Some may take months to awaken, so it is recommended not to throw away empty pots without sprouting, but to set them aside and continue to water. If after 6 months nothing has happened, it means the seeds have not sprouted.
Picking
The seedlings do not need to be thinned out, but rather transplanted into separate containers. Pomegranate picking is carried out after the appearance of two true, non-cotyledon leaves.
How to carry out the procedure?
- You will need several medium-sized pots. The quantity depends on how many trees you plan to grow.
- Fill each pot with drainage and substrate with pine sawdust.
- Make one hole 2–2.5 cm deep. Be sure to moisten the soil so that the pomegranate quickly takes root.
- Carefully distribute the roots over the hole. Sprinkle the seedling with soil and compact the soil a little.
- You can add water, but if the substrate is wet enough, watering should be postponed for several days.
It is recommended to throw away seedlings that are too thin, weak or crooked. They grow into sickly trees that are constantly attacked by pests or fungus.
Irrigation water and sunlight
Pomegranate comes from warm countries, so the tree loves the sun and tolerates high temperatures. The pot with the plant can be placed on a southern windowsill, closer to the light, but be sure to shade the delicate leaves from ultraviolet radiation. It is advisable to hang patterned curtains or blinds on the windows, which diffuse the sun's rays and make them softer.
In summer, it is useful to take the pomegranate tree out onto the balcony. Owners of summer cottages move the pot with the plant into the garden. In the fresh air, pomegranate blooms faster and develops better. It is recommended to bury the pot with earth, hiding the seedling under a taller tree.
In winter, water pomegranate 2 times a week, and in summer up to 4–5. If the soil inside remains wet and the top layer dries out quickly, it should be sprayed with a spray bottle. Water should not get on tree leaves and flowers. Use only warm, settled liquid, to which you can add fertilizers for indoor flowers or complexes for tomatoes and sweet peppers in spring and summer. Natural supplements include manure infusion and aquarium water. You need to fertilize the soil twice a month; before adding nutrients, the pomegranate is watered generously.
Other nuances
- To make the tree fluffy, you need to pinch the fourth pair of leaves after the third pair of leaves appears. This will cause the pomegranate to grow with two crowns.
- The plant will bear fruit if it is grafted. In other cases, a tree grown from a seed only blooms, but no fruit appears on it.
- Closer to winter, around November or early December, the pomegranate sheds its leaves. When the last one falls, you need to take the pot to a cool greenhouse or cellar. The plant should overwinter at a temperature of +5–0 degrees.
- From November to March, pomegranates are watered once every 1.5–2 months. No need to fertilize.
During the flowering period, you can try pollinating the plant with a brush or cotton swab. No one guarantees that an ovary will appear on the pomegranate, but it is likely that by autumn several fruits will ripen on thin branches. Even if the tree does not bear fruit every year, it is worth planting for the beautiful pink buds that will appear every 10 months.
Video: how to grow pomegranate
Indoor pomegranate at home photo
Indoor pomegranate is also called dwarf pomegranate. Considering the fact that in nature these plants usually grow on saline lands or in rocky areas, one should not be surprised at their unpretentiousness. In apartments or houses, they adapt perfectly to the microclimate of the home. But still, let’s try to look at some of the nuances of breeding this crop.
Growing pomegranate from seed at home
Growing pomegranate at home, contrary to many opinions, is not a labor-intensive or complicated process. If you planted a plant as exotic decorative tree, both methods are equally suitable for you: from grain, or by layering. But to obtain a harvest and preserve the varietal qualities of the fruit, only the second of them should be used.
How to plant pomegranate at home from seed
As a material for planting and propagation, you can use seeds, which can be carefully collected from a plant flowering at home or purchased at specialized exhibitions and agrotechnical stores. For the best effect, they are soaked for a day in a solution with root growth stimulants (Kornevin).
Then they are sown in flowerpots and covered with a transparent film. With the appearance of the first shoots, you can remove the improvised greenhouse and place the plant in a well-lit and warm place.
To grow pomegranates from seeds at home, it is important to properly prepare them for germination by carefully removing the pulp, rinsing them in cool water and drying them thoroughly. This point is really important because it helps prevent them from rotting.
It is advisable to plant the seeds to a depth of 1 cm in a loose soil mixture (peat and black soil - 1:2), while not forgetting about drainage. The location here must be chosen in the same way as in the case of seeds - where there is enough sunlight. As the earthen ball dries, it should be moistened.
You should know that sowing seeds often does not bring the desired result and this method is used mainly when breeding new breeding products and when it is not possible to use layering.
How to grow homemade dwarf pomegranate from seed video
Growing pomegranate at home using cuttings
Grow pomegranate room care at home, which will be easiest to carry out, you can propagate it by ordinary cuttings. It is this method that is considered the most common due to the complete preservation of genetic material and high level survival rate. The quality of the harvest and the seedling’s resistance to diseases will ultimately depend on this.
- For layering, at the very beginning of spring, the middle (about 15 cm) of an adult stem with 3-4 buds is selected.
- Next, you can place the cutting in water or treat it with Kornevin to stimulate growth.
- The soil for rooting does not differ from that recommended for germinating seeds.
If all stages are carried out properly, then within a month the pomegranate will form a primary root system, and new branches will begin to appear from the buds. Strong pomegranate trees are usually planted in separate pots after 1-2 months.
Pomegranate indoor care at home photo
Caring for pomegranate at home is simple. In summer, it is even planted in open ground to decorate the flower garden in an original way. The main thing is to take into account that shaded places are suitable for this culture. This will avoid sunburn.
When growing home pomegranate, care should include systematic spraying and abundant watering, and in the spring it would not be amiss to apply light nitrogen-containing fertilizers. This will help the flower recover more quickly from the cold season, enhance growth and have a beneficial effect on the density of the bush and the richness of the color of the leaves. In summer experienced gardeners It is recommended to use fertilizers with phosphorus to stimulate the appearance of buds and the beginning of flowering.
With weak growth and a small number of ovaries, it is necessary to reconsider temperature regime, humidity level, watering frequency or location. To prepare a crop such as pomegranate for wintering, care at home will include the introduction of complex mineral fertilizers, alternating them with potassium supplements.
During this period, the plant may change, dropping its foliage - this is a completely normal phenomenon. But, since the plant loves fresh air, it is worth taking it out onto the loggia, while avoiding sub-zero temperatures and drafts. As for the frequency of watering in general, in winter their number can be reduced to 1-2 times a month. Is it true this advice is relevant only for mature seedlings; young ones will need more moisture.
Growing homemade pomegranate and caring for it video
Pomegranate home plant care: pruning and replanting
Those who are wondering how to care for pomegranates at home should not forget about the formation of the bush. Typically, shoots growing inwards are removed, as well as all dry branches. It is best to do this in the off-season, then the pomegranate will grow fluffy and beautiful.
You can grow a pomegranate plant at home in the form of a compact tree or shrub. With the onset of heat, the so-called stimulation of branching is carried out, leaving the shoot so long that there are from 2 to 5 pairs of leaves on it. To avoid excessive thickening, you need to prune on the buds looking inside the bush.
In order for pomegranate to grow full and healthy at home, it is advisable not to transplant it into new pot at least 3 years. After this, every spring you can replace the soil depleted of minerals and the flowerpots themselves with larger ones. Chernozem and turf soil are excellent for pomegranate. It is also important to remember the need for drainage (small pebbles work great) to protect the roots from rotting.
Trimming homemade pomegranate video
Bottom line
Indoor or dwarf pomegranates, caring for them at home, which really does not take much effort and time from gardeners, are often bred by those who want to get to know the art of bonsai better. And it is not surprising, since with high-quality pruning and pinching, the plant can be given almost any shape. Whatever you choose this crop for: obtaining tasty and healthy fruits or for aesthetic pleasure, following simple rules and recommendations, the result will not be long in coming.
Preface
Lovers of indoor plants sometimes get lost in the next choice of “green neighbor”. If you want to grow a homemade pomegranate, caring for the plant is very simple and will not cause problems in growing it. This exotic plant is completely unpretentious, and can be grown in an ordinary pot on the windowsill.
Dwarf pomegranate - beauty and prosperity in the home
The name of the fruit comes from the Latin granatus, which means grainy. According to historical information, the pomegranate was a symbol of a rich harvest and gave faith and life.
History says that the fruit came to our countries from Carthage and was called the “Punic apple.” In every country, pomegranate is a symbol of something special. In Greece it is fertility, in Persia it is passionate love. And the wife of Zeus holds a pomegranate in her hand as a symbol of marriage. Even in the real world in Greece, flowers and tree fruits are thrown at the feet of the bride and groom during a wedding. And during the celebration, the bride herself can throw a juicy fruit to her bridesmaids instead of a bouquet.
Mostly at home they prefer dwarf or indoor pomegranate, the cultivation of which will be a pleasure. It should be noted that the plant perfectly decorates not only any interior of a room or garden, but also has a lot of useful properties.
The first mention of the dwarf pomegranate dates back to 1803. The plant reaches a maximum height of 120 cm. Its leaves are light green with a glossy tint, located on red cuttings. Due to the change of seasons, pomegranate leaves change their color: in spring the plant acquires bronze tones, in summer - shades of green, in autumn - yellow.
The bush blooms from May to September. Pomegranate flowers are large with a diameter of up to 4 cm and purple, but most do not form a fruit. The duration of flowering of one flower is a maximum of 3 days, but every day new buds are formed on the bush. Only flowers with long columns can ripen into small pomegranates. So, out of a hundred flowers, only 3 form a fruit. Do not worry that the remaining flowers fall off: this individual property plants.
The indoor pomegranate fruit itself can be colored as orange, and in brown-red and ripens in winter. But pomegranate does not have a special, pronounced taste, and the fruit itself is very small. Therefore, the dwarf tree mainly serves as a decoration for the room. To ensure that the plant puts all its energy into color and has a sufficient number of new buds, the owners cut off the ovaries.
Necessary conditions for a home tree
Indoor pomegranate is a light-loving plant, so the pot must be placed on any window, with the exception of northern ones. But the plant does not tolerate direct sunlight, especially young growth. In summer, when it is warm and light, it is better to take the tree out onto the balcony or veranda, and to winter the plant should be brought indoors.
Homemade pomegranate, like any exotic plant, needs warmth, especially during flowering. Therefore, the temperature in the room must be maintained above +20°C. But if the room is very hot, the pomegranate leaves may begin to fall off. To prevent this, you can spray the leaves with cool water. During the ripening of the fruit, pomegranate prefers cool rooms at home with a temperature of +14°C, and during the dormant period - even lower.
To ensure flowering and fruiting, the soil of homemade pomegranate must be rich and valuable in various mineral components.
Watering the plant also needs to be approached wisely to prevent waterlogging or dryness of the soil. The most abundant watering of the shrub occurs during the period after flowering, so that the plant can then delight with its flowers. In winter, homemade pomegranate practically does not need watering - once every 2 months is enough.
Homemade pomegranate will not refuse feeding, but no more than twice a month. Must be applied to moist soil and in spring. nitrogen fertilizers, during color - phosphorus, in autumn - potassium.
After the fruit of the tree has ripened, it usually sheds its leaves, that is, a dormant period begins. To do this, a grenade must be created optimal conditions with a temperature of no more than +12°C. It is difficult to ensure such a temperature at home. You can, for example, move a pot with a plant to the window or put it on the balcony for 3 weeks.
After a period of dormancy, in February, homemade pomegranate begins to form buds. During this period, it is important to trim dry or unnecessary branches of the plant. Pruning is carried out in such a way that the bud of the bush faces outwards, otherwise with further growth the inner bud will thicken the plant. You can shape the pomegranate into a tree by trimming the root branches. It is important to avoid severe pruning, otherwise the plant will weaken and the number of buds and, accordingly, flowers will decrease.
For young plants, replanting is carried out every year until they reach 3 years. Homemade pomegranate does not require large containers and pots, and, conversely, the tighter the root system, the stronger the flowering will be.
How to grow pomegranate?
Homemade pomegranate can be propagated in 2 ways:
- cuttings;
- seeds.
Before growing pomegranate from seeds at home, you need to purchase seed material. You can buy it in a store, or you can take it from a houseplant. Before planting a seed in a container, you need to prepare it. To do this, the largest and ripest fruit is selected and several grains are taken out. To get the seed itself, you need to remove the pulp of the grain, rinse in water and wipe dry with a napkin or dry. Seeds should be planted at a distance of approximately 1 cm from the surface and away from each other. Seed germination time on average reaches 2 weeks. For good germination of the future plant, the pot should be placed in a warm place. sunny place and provide it with abundant watering.
To grow pomegranate at home when propagating by cuttings, shoots should be taken from a fruit-bearing plant with several buds and covered after planting plastic bottle or a glass jar.
If an exotic plant has become infected with a disease, there is no need to delay its treatment. When pests appear on leaves, they must be treated with special chemicals or assemble by hand. Dry rooms and air can cause spider mite. To prevent such a disease, the plant must be frequently sprayed and moistened. Overwatering can also affect the health of the pomegranate, yellowing leaves are the main sign of overwatering. In such a situation, the plant must be transplanted into dry soil and the rotten roots removed.
You should not be afraid of such seemingly excessive care. The main thing is that the process of growing indoor pomegranate brings delight, then the plant will delight the owner with its beauty.
Homemade pomegranate - benefits for family health
Pomegranate is a healthy fruit: for the treatment of diseases, raw materials are obtained from all parts of the plant: from the fruit, peel, flowers, roots.
The value of the fruit lies in the minerals and organic acids it contains. Pomegranate is rich in various vitamins, carbohydrates, proteins and even fats. The juice of the fruit has an analgesic, choleretic, and antiseptic effect. The fruits of the plant are used for digestive diseases. They normalize blood pressure, remove headache, saturate the body with vitamins. Pomegranate peel has found its use as an anthelmintic due to its ursolic acid content. Doctors recommend drinking pomegranate juice for infectious and colds, anemia, and problems with the gastrointestinal tract. For stomach disorders and colitis, the peel of the fruit is used. And pomegranate flowers are brewed as tea, which gives this drink a similarity to the popular hibiscus.
What are the benefits of pomegranate?
Thus, homemade pomegranate is perfect for those who want to acquire a decorative tree. It will not be difficult for beginning gardeners to grow pomegranates with juicy and ripe fruits, and even a schoolchild can take care of dwarf pomegranates.
Today, many people are interested in growing exotic crops. Today it is not only unusual and beautiful, but also very affordable. It is easy to purchase seedlings of tropical plants in any specialized store. You can even prepare seed material yourself. Gardeners have increasingly begun to grow pomegranate trees on windowsills or even in open ground. The pomegranate tree blooms very luxuriantly and beautifully, so such a plant will not only please the eye, but will also bear fragrant and tasty fruits.
It is customary to say “pomegranate tree”. However, not all gardeners agree with this definition, rightly considering the plant to be a bush. There is no unambiguous definition of the plant form of pomegranate. Indeed, even in the relevant specialized literature, culture is defined as a tree-bush. Pomegranate grows in several shoots emanating from one root, which is the leading characteristic of the bush. However, you can successfully grow fruit in one trunk, that is, in the form of a tree.
The pomegranate tree has a powerful root system that reaches great depths in the soil. The plant quickly takes root in a container, so it needs frequent (annual) replanting.
In unprotected soil, the plant can reach a height of 3 to 5 meters, and individuals grown at home - about 1.5 meters. There are also so-called dwarf varieties, which are usually used as indoor plants.
The pomegranate has a false berry type fruit. It is usually round or oval. The size ranges from a 2-centimeter diameter for domestic varieties to a 12-centimeter diameter intended for human consumption. The weight of one fruit ranges from 0.2 to 0.5 kilograms.
The pomegranate tree is considered to be a long-lived plant - at home it can live for about half a century and consistently bear fruit. In nature, even hundred-year-old individuals can bear fruit. Some recognized centenarians are even about 300 years old. 
Pomegranates ripen gradually on the tree, so you need to harvest them in stages, keeping an eye on the color of the skin. When the air temperature drops, the leaves fall off. However, individuals growing at home behave like evergreens. But it is still recommended to create a dormant period for the plant, not allowing it to bloom until March (plucking the flowers).
Pomegranate is a plant of the subtropics, where, even in severe winter, the air temperature does not drop below 10°C. However, an adult can easily withstand even 15-degree frost without shelter. But still, the crop should at least be sprinkled with soil for the winter.
Video “Growing”
From the video you will learn how to grow pomegranate at home.
Growing as a cover crop
Pomegranate grows and blooms in any soil, even rocky and sandy. The culture does not get along only in saline and swampy areas. The fruit survives drought much better. Besides, he even “loves” her. The place where the fruit is planned to be planted must be well lit, because any shadow negatively affects the fruit. Individuals should also be protected from cold northern winds. On poor soils it is better to follow a 4x2 planting pattern, and on fertile soils - 5x2 or 5x3, which will help the bushes and trees grow more powerful.
When growing pomegranate at home, you should dig a hole 0.6 meters wide, long and deep and at its bottom place a 10-centimeter layer of grass and the top (most fertile) layer of soil. Next, place the bush in the “hole”, deepening it another 0.1 meters lower than it grew previously, and cover it with clay soil with the addition of sand. Experienced gardeners advise planting pomegranates at an angle of 45°. Indeed, in this way, the plant will form many additional roots, which will increase the strength of the bush and its productivity. In addition, such a bush is easier to cover in winter. 
It is worth noting that it is unacceptable to introduce fertilizers of any nature into the pits intended for planting individuals.
In the area of the root system, the soil must be compacted and filled with water so that there are no voids left between the soil. Moistening is repeated the next day, and the ground around the planting is mulched with sawdust or mown grass (a layer of at least 0.1 meters).
Watering should be done in case of urgent need, but not more often than weekly. In the first year of life, fertilizers are applied foliarly on green leaves in May and June. It is advisable to use fertilizers of a mineral nature (in no case organic). It is permissible to add Crystalon in an amount of 2 grams per liter of water per bush. The soil is treated superficially to avoid damage to the roots located close to the surface. In the second spring of the plant’s life, you should pour half a bucket of manure under the bush. The procedure must be repeated every year.
How to cover in open ground?
The sheltering procedure should begin in early November. To do this, wooden stakes are driven close to the individual, to which an inclined bush is tied. Next, it must be covered with a layer of earth about 0.15 meters. Over time, the soil will wash away and settle, but such a layer will be enough for the pomegranate to survive frosts down to -20°. It is worth removing the cover from the bushes only after the frosts have completely ended (usually the beginning of May). Before the shelters are removed, the individuals are at rest. There is no need to completely remove them from the ground; it is enough to cut off the branches near the stakes and shake off the soil from them, because all the remains will be washed away by the rains.
Trimming
It is necessary to prune the fruit bushes, as they will bear fruit only on this year's shoots. Old branches will not bear fruit, so they need to be cut as low as possible. Then many branches with fruits will appear. 
Growing in tubs
For growing in tubs, the plant can be formed as a standard with 5 skeletal branches or a bush with 4 trunks. In this case, the height of the plant should be 0.5 - 0.6 meters. Old dry shoots are eliminated in May.
Particular attention should be paid to shoots growing inward. After the crop sheds its leaves, the tub is placed in a cold cellar.
Chemical treatments are not needed for pomegranate, since in our territories the plant is not exposed to diseases and pest attacks.
Reproduction
Growing a pomegranate bush from a seed is very simple, but an individual does not always inherit the parental qualities. From the seeds of a large and sweet fruit you can get seedlings with fruits that cannot be consumed. Therefore, it is worth purchasing harvested seedlings at specialized sales points. 
When choosing seedlings, it is worth considering that the following varieties are best suited for growing at home:
- Crimean striped, which has large dark red fruits and a thin peel. Such fruits ripen quite early.
- Gyulosha pink is a variety bred in Turkmenistan. It has large, oval light pink fruits with a thin skin. Their ripening period is average.
So, pomegranate is suitable for home grown environmentally friendly fruits. And his flowering bush will delight you with a pleasant aroma.
Video “Reproduction”
From the video you will learn how to propagate pomegranate.