Dwarf pomegranate is a beautiful and useful addition to the interior. All about growing a tree from seeds

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Florist with 12 years of experience

If you follow some simple rules, you can grow a fruit-bearing pomegranate tree on your windowsill. A beautiful indoor plant blooms for a long time. Its walnut-sized fruits look very exotic. Whether your pomegranate will shed its leaves, hibernate, or stay green all year round depends on care.

Dwarf pomegranate and its varieties

Pomegranate or pomegranate, pomegranate tree (Latin granatum punica) is a perennial plant of the Derbennikov family. Its wild species are common in the subtropics of Southern Europe and Western Asia. Selection has bred many garden and ornamental varieties of culture.

The deciduous plant has a shallow root system. In area, it is 2 times the diameter of the crown. This contributes to the high drought tolerance of the crop.

In its natural environment, pomegranate grows on poor stony soils. Cultivars have inherited unpretentiousness from wild forms.
Dwarf pomegranate is an ornamental plant up to 1 m high. In indoor floriculture, it is grown as a shrub or standard tree. Bright green leaves are oval, with pointed tips. The surface of the leaf blades is hard, glossy. Selection created evergreen and deciduous types of culture. The flowers are simple, double, spotted, red, orange or white.

Fruiting varieties of culture on one plant form flowers of three types:

1. fruit set. They look like small jugs, the pistil and stamens protrude beyond the plane of the petals.
2. Sterile. They look like a bell, the reproductive organs are short, located inside the flower.
3. intermediate form. Something in between the first two types. The ovary is rarely formed, the fruit often has an ugly shape.

The botanical name of the fruit is pomegranate. Their diameter does not exceed 5 cm. The structure of the fruit is identical to garden varieties: berries with juicy pulp and stone are covered with a leathery yellow-brown pericarp. At home, the fruits ripen at the end of November.

Varieties for growing at home

You can grow a house tree from an ordinary garden pomegranate seed. It will be beautiful, but it is unlikely to bloom. If you go to enjoy the flowering of a tropical culture and see exotic fruits on it, purchase specially bred dwarf pomegranate varieties:

• Nana. The maximum height of the plant is 1 m. It has small elliptical leaves with blunt ends. The flowers are crimson in color, the size of the fruit is 3-5 cm. The unpretentious Nana blooms for 2 years of life. The variety is characterized by leaf fall.
• Alba. The plant can reach a height of 3 m, but with the help of pruning it is easy to keep it in a compact form. The leaves are dark green, glossy, slightly elongated. The decorative variety does not bear fruit, but throws out large (5-6 cm) white or double cream flowers. Flowering begins at 2 years of age.
• baby. Miniature pomegranate up to 50 cm high. Small elongated leaves grow evenly along the entire length of the branches. Terracotta or red flowers appear at 3-4 years of life of a home tree. Yellowish-brown fruits with a diameter of about 3 cm. Pomegranate requires artificial pollination.
• Carthage dwarf. The height of species representatives is up to 80 cm. Red flowers are 4 cm in size. Fruit diameter is 5-6 cm. If Carthage is grown from seed, flowering and fruiting begin after 6-8 years.

How to grow a pomegranate tree

Indoor pomegranate reproduces by seed and cuttings. The culture is growing rapidly: during the growing season, the volume of green mass doubles. If you provide year-round 10-12-hour lighting and proper care, a pomegranate in a pot will not shed its leaves. For the summer, transplant the pomegranate tree into open ground. Choose well-lit areas without drafts for it, water moderately.

Reproduction by cuttings

When growing a pomegranate tree from cuttings, the main features of the mother plant are preserved - resistance to diseases, the ability to bloom and bear fruit. A room pomegranate from a cutting will bloom more often in the 2nd year of life. Cutting rules:

1. In summer, seedlings take root better than in winter, so time the reproduction of the plant for summer pruning.
2. Choose a few strong healthy shoots 10-15 cm long with semi-lignified bark. There should be 5-7 well-developed buds on the handle. If you had to harvest planting material in winter, choose only lignified shoots - others will not take root.
3. Make an oblique cut with a sharp, disinfected instrument, such as a scalpel or blade. Powder the cut edge of the branches with Kornevin growth stimulator powder and leave for 1-4 hours. Do not wash off the preparation before disembarkation!
4. Mix equal proportions of peat and coarse sand. Pour the soil mixture into a container with drainage holes, pour plenty of settled water.
5. Bury the cuttings into the ground 3 cm at an angle of 60 ° at a distance of 8-10 cm from each other.
6. Cover the seedlings with a cut plastic bottle. Place the container with shoots in a warm (20-25 ° C), well-lit place.
7. Air daily, spray the cuttings. The soil should be constantly moist, but not wet. Rooting seedlings lasts about 2 months.
8. Transplant shoots into separate pots when new leaves appear.

Pomegranate on the windowsill from seeds

A houseplant propagated by seeds does not retain the qualities of the mother tree. Using the seed method of reproduction, you can get new hybrid varieties of culture. Planting material does not lose its germination for only six months, so it is important to purchase fresh pomegranate seeds.

The bones of the ripened fruits of the indoor pomegranate are laid in the soil, having previously cleaned them of the pulp. Flowering and fruiting will occur 5-8 years after planting. February is the best time to plant seeds. Adhere to the following landing algorithm:

1. A few hours before laying in the ground, place the seeds on cotton wool moistened with a solution of the Kornevin growth stimulator.
2. Prepare a mixture of peat and river sand (1: 1), pour into a prepared container on top of the drainage.
3. Plant the seeds in a moist substrate to a depth of 0.5-1 cm at a distance of 4 cm from each other.
4. Cover the container with plastic wrap and place the mini-greenhouse in a warm (+ 25-27 ° C), well-lit place. Keep the greenhouse out of direct sunlight.
5. Every day, spray the sand abundantly with settled water from a spray bottle, open the film for a few minutes to ventilate the seedlings.
6. Seeds will hatch no earlier than a month later. Shoots do not appear together, within 2 weeks. Wait until 3-4 true leaves appear at the sprouts, and plant the seedlings in separate pots.

Flowering and fruiting indoor varieties

The pomegranate blooms in April-May and August-September. Empty flowers fall off quickly. Fruitful flowers delight with beauty for 6-10 days. Blooming pomegranate on your windowsill can be seen 2-5 years after planting, depending on the method of reproduction. If an indoor pomegranate grown from seed older than 5 years has not begun to bloom, graft a varietal cutting of the crop.

In the first year of flowering, all ovaries must be removed. The following year, leave 2-3 fruits. Flowering and fruiting takes a lot of energy from the plant. If you leave all the ovaries, you will not get abundant flowering next spring. To prevent the branches from breaking off under the weight of the fruit, be sure to put props.

How to care for pomegranate at home

Growing pomegranate at home is not always accompanied by flowering. This is due to care errors and choosing too large a flower pot for the plant. It is noticed that the tree throws out flower stalks when it experiences discomfort. If the diameter of the flowerpot is much wider than the volume of the root system, the pomegranate intensively increases its green mass and does not bloom.

The pot should be low and narrow. Transplant a young pomegranate when the roots fill the entire volume of the flowerpot. An adult indoor pomegranate (over 6 years old) is not transplanted. A 5 liter pot is enough for him. Change the topsoil in the flowerpot every spring and feed the tree regularly.

Requirements for light and air humidity

The pomegranate can receive maximum natural light on the windowsill of the southern windows. Closer to noon, protect young bushes from direct sunlight with curtains. An adult pomegranate tree normally tolerates the intense light of the sun. It does not bloom in the shade.
In winter and cloudy weather, use lamps to illuminate plants. Illumination is especially relevant for a flowering and fruiting pomegranate tree.

With a lack of lighting, the grenade sheds foliage.

If the flower has gone into hibernation, keep it in a shady place. With the advent of the first leaves (February - March), return the indoor flower to a well-lit windowsill. The culture does not suffer from dry air in the room if the temperature is maintained. Pomegranate loves spraying with cool water (18-20 ° C) in the summer heat.

Temperature regime

During the active growing season, the optimum air temperature for homemade pomegranate is 20-25 ° C. In a hot, stuffy room, it sheds leaves, buds, flowers and slows down growth. In summer, it is better to take out a pomegranate tree on a balcony or an open veranda.

Keep the pomegranate in hibernation (from November to March) at t + 10-12 ° С.

When new buds appear, bring it back to a warm place.

The pomegranate tree cannot be kept in an unheated room. The lower temperature limit for it is + 6 ° С. Dwarf evergreen varieties do not shed their foliage, but they also need a winter rest. Lowering the temperature to + 16-19 ° C will allow the plant to go into a dormant phase and gain strength for the next growing season.

Soil composition

Homemade pomegranate is not picky about the soil, but its acidity should be neutral (7pH). A potting mix for roses or begonias or self-prepared soil is suitable for him. Mix in equal parts garden or soddy soil, peat, humus or compost, sand. A few days before use, disinfect the soil in one of the following ways:

• pour abundantly with a 1% solution of potassium permanganate (1 g per 100 ml of water);
• bake for 10 minutes in the oven at t 200°C.

Watering

Indoor pomegranate needs abundant watering only when leaving the dormant phase. When the buds swelled on the tree, and you moved the flower pot to a warm place, water it to start the life processes of the plant. When growing an evergreen variety, water it more abundantly in February (March) to bring the flower out of the dormant phase. During the active growing season, the optimal irrigation regime is 2 times a week.

To stimulate active flowering from April, water the indoor tree with cool water (t + 18-19 ° C) and reduce watering.

Light stress from lack of moisture encourages the plant to actively throw out flower stalks. From May, water it as the top layer dries by 2-3 cm.

Be vigilant - the appearance of brown spots on the leaves indicates that the tree is suffering from a lack of water. Tropical culture does not tolerate waterlogging. Avoid abundant watering during fruiting - this leads to cracking of the fruit. During hibernation, water the pomegranate tree when the top layer of the earth dries out by 5 cm (2-3 times a month).

Plant nutrition

The soil in the flowerpot depletes over time, so feed the potted pomegranate the next day after each watering, once every 14 days except during the winter months. Top dressing scheme:

• February - April. For top dressing, use urea or ammonium nitrate (1.5 g per 1 liter of water). Nitrogen fertilizers contribute to the growth of green mass.
• May - September. Phosphorus-containing dressings activate flowering, help the plant form full-fledged fruits (double superphosphate 1.5 g / l).
• October November. Potash fertilizers help strengthen the root system, increase the immunity of the plant (potassium sulfate 1 g / 1 l).

Pomegranate pruning and crown shaping

Trimming indoor pomegranate is necessary to maintain decorativeness and activate flowering. Buds are formed only on strong annual shoots. Crown molding begins from the first year of the flower's life. If you do not cut the root growth, you will grow a pomegranate bush. Leaving one powerful shoot with 4-5 skeletal branches, you can form a standard tree.

Trim indoor pomegranate several times a year:

1. At the beginning of the growing season (February - March), remove dry, old shoots growing inside the crown. Leave 5-6 skeletal branches. Shorten some of the shoots a bit to encourage branching. Cut the branch above the outward looking bud.
2. In the summer, periodically cut off shoots that are strongly extended beyond the crown.
3. Before the dormant phase, remove thin, weak branches. Thin out the thickened places of the crown.

Diseases and pests

Inspect the plant regularly to notice signs of disease, the appearance of pests in time. Indoor pomegranate diseases occur due to improper care.

powdery mildew

• External signs: the leaves are covered with a whitish bloom.
• Reason for the appearance: a fungal disease occurs against the background of poor crown ventilation, high humidity and a sharp temperature drop.
• Treatment: wipe the leaves with a sponge dipped in a solution of soda ash (5 g / 1 l of water + 10 g of liquid soap), in case of severe damage to the culture, use fungicides such as Topaz, Skor, Hom.

spotting

• External signs: yellow-brown spots are observed on the leaves.
• Reason for the appearance: waterlogging.
• Treatment: transplant the pomegranate into new soil. Before that, free the root system from the ground, remove rotten roots, hold in a 1% solution of potassium permanganate. Water the plant according to the rules of agricultural technology.

Pests can spread from other indoor plants to pomegranates. If there are not many, collect them manually. Use insecticides (chemical preparations) only with severe damage to the crop.

whitefly

Shchitovka

• External signs: small brown tubercles appear on the leaves, under which the pest hides.
• Treatment: mechanically clean the pest shields with a sponge moistened with soapy water. With a strong defeat, the use of a drug such as Aktara, Doctor, Golden Spark is justified.

Video

The pomegranate tree (Punica), or as it is also called pomegranate, is represented by not very large shrubs and trees, and this genus belongs to the Derbennikov family, although more recently it was called the Pomegranate family. The Latin name of the genus comes from the word Punic, or Carthaginian, since this plant is widespread in the territory of modern Tunisia (for a long time it was called Carthage). The origin of the Russian name for such a plant is associated with the Latin word "granatus", which translates as "granular". The pomegranate in the ancient world was called the "grainy apple", while in the Middle Ages it began to be called the "seed apple". Interestingly, even today in Italy they believe that it was the pomegranate that Eve was tempted to in paradise. Today, in nature, such a plant can be found in Western Asia and Southern Europe. Gardeners and flower growers cultivate only 1 species of this genus, namely, the common pomegranate. The fruits of such a plant are very useful and have an excellent taste, which is why pomegranate is widely distributed in culture, and it is grown both in open ground and indoors. At the same time, it can be grown using the fruit bone, which scientists call pomegranate.

1. Bloom. After planting, the plant blooms only after 3 years.
2. Lighting. The light should be bright, but always diffused.
3. Temperature regime. During the intensive growth of the tree - from 18 to 25 degrees, and during the dormant period - from 12 to 15 degrees.
4. Watering. During the period of active growth, watering should be frequent and plentiful, but during the flowering period, watering should be reduced. In winter, it is necessary to water the bush sparingly.
5. Air humidity. Experts advise on hot days in the evening to moisten the foliage with tepid water from a sprayer.
6. Fertilizer. In the spring-summer period, top dressing is carried out 1 time in 2 weeks and for this purpose a mineral complex fertilizer for house plants with a low nitrogen content is used. In winter, all top dressing is stopped.
7. rest period. It starts in late autumn and ends in February. When the bush needs rest, its foliage begins to fly around.
8. Transfer. Young trees need regular transplantation, which is carried out once a year. Shrubs older than three years should be transplanted only if necessary, after the roots no longer fit in the container.
9. . The bush is pruned in February to form a crown and to stimulate branching.
10. reproduction. Seed method, cuttings and grafting.
11. Harmful insects. Mealybugs, spider mites, scale insects, aphids, codling moths and whiteflies can settle on the bush.
12. . Branch cancer, root rot.

Pomegranate features

Pomegranate is a long-lived deciduous tree. In nature, it grows in the subtropics and has a height of about 5-6 meters. However, at home, such a tree does not exceed 200 cm. The branches are thin and prickly. Greenish shiny leaf plates are oval in shape, while their length is about 30 mm. Pomegranate blooms in the last weeks of spring, while flowering continues throughout the summer. The flowers are orange-red in color, and they are of 2 types: there are a large number of sterile bell-shaped flowers, and there are also bisexual, pitcher-shaped flowers that set fruits. A pomegranate has a spherical fruit, which is essentially a large berry with a leathery pericarp, in diameter it reaches about 18 centimeters. The color of the peel is brown-red, orange-yellow, or some other intermediate shade. The fruit is divided into 6–12 nests or chambers, which are placed in 2 tiers, they contain up to 1200 seeds, sometimes more. All seeds are surrounded by a juicy cover. The first fruiting is observed at the age of three. The tree bears fruit for 7-40 years. Today, Homemade Pomegranate is very popular with flower growers, for example, such as: coffee tree, mango, indoor lemon, orange, date palm and other exotic plants that cannot be grown outdoors in mid-latitudes. However, before planting a pomegranate, it should be noted that all efforts and years of waiting may be in vain.

It is quite possible to grow such a tree at room conditions from a seed, but this can only be done if optimal conditions are created for it, and also if it is properly cared for.

Seed selection

Fresh pomegranate seeds are quite suitable as seeds, which must be taken from a ripe, beautiful and completely healthy fruit. Remember that pomegranates bought on the market or in a store are hybrids, in connection with this, a tree grown from such a seed is not able to preserve the taste of the mother plant, but it can have a very high decorative effect. The best option would be to find a delicious and fully ripe pomegranate obtained from a houseplant. From the bones pulled out of the fruit, all remnants of the pulp must be removed. Seeds suitable for planting should be cream colored and very firm to the touch. Pale green, as well as soft bones, cannot be sown. Seeds must be kept for half a day in water mixed with 2-3 drops of Epin or Zircon, this is necessary to stimulate germination. Make sure that the bones are not completely immersed in the solution, as they need both moisture and oxygen.

To grow such a tree, you will need a loose soil mixture, which includes peat, nutrient soil and sand. To do this, in a specialized store you can buy a universal substrate for flowering plants, the fact is that such a plant is undemanding to the composition of the soil mixture. When the bones are prepared, they need to be dried, after which they are planted in the substrate to a depth of 10 to 15 mm. Crops should be watered with a small amount of water, then the container is covered with glass or film on top and cleaned in a sunny place.

In order for the seedlings to appear in just half a month, sowing should be done in the last winter or first spring weeks. If sowing is done at a different time, then seedlings may appear only after a few months.

In order for the cultivation of such a tree in room conditions to be successful, optimal conditions should be created for it. It feels comfortable at an air temperature in the room of about 25 degrees, the room must be systematically ventilated, and the soil mixture must be moistened in a timely manner with tepid water from a sprayer. After the seedlings grow the first real leaf plates, they must be seated, while the root must be shortened by 1/3. They are planted in individual small pots, which are filled with a fertile substrate, and do not forget to make a good drainage layer at the bottom. The bush should be placed on a well-lit window sill, the fact is that direct rays of the sun should fall on it for at least 2 hours a day. If the seedlings appeared in the winter, then they will need additional lighting. When the plants have 2 pairs of true leaf blades, they will need a pinch, which is needed to stimulate the growth of the bush with two crowns. After 3 pairs of leaf plates also grow on all stems, they will also need pinching. Thanks to this, the bush will be thick and spectacular. The temperature in the room where the young tree grows should be about 20 degrees, while it should be systematically ventilated. In the warm season, such a plant is recommended to be moved outside (on a terrace or balcony), where it will feel comfortable, since it needs a lot of sunlight and fresh air.

10 months after the seedling appears, the first flowering may begin. In autumn, all foliage will fly around the pomegranate, and it will begin a dormant period. Of course, you can make it grow actively in winter, but this will lead to a rapid depletion of the plant. In this regard, he must be given a rest. The bush should be moved to a cool place (from 10 to 12 degrees), watering should be reduced, and it should also be stopped feeding. The tree will rest for 1-2 months. When the bush rests, fresh foliage will grow on it, and it will be even more beautiful than before.

How to water

Watering a young pomegranate should be done under the root, while trying to prevent drops of liquid from falling on the surface of the leaf plates. It is most convenient to water the bush with a watering can with a narrow spout. Make sure that the soil mixture in the container is always slightly moist. During the flowering period, watering should be reduced, but in no case should the earthen ball dry out. Water should be used well-settled (at least 24 hours), and it should also be lukewarm (1-2 degrees above room temperature). Experienced flower growers advise, to compensate for the reduction in watering, moisten the foliage of the bush from a spray bottle with boiled warm water. During the dormant period, watering should be scarce.

top dressing

To stimulate the growth of plants during the seedling period, they must be fed with a solution of wood ash (1 tsp of ash per 1 liter of water), it is used to water the bushes. Top dressing of the tree is carried out in the spring and summer once every half a month and for this purpose universal liquid fertilizer for houseplants is used. In the event that the tree is cultivated for the sake of obtaining fruits, then it is recommended to feed it not with mineral fertilizers containing a large amount of nitrates, but with organic matter (a solution of chicken manure or slurry). When top dressing, one must be extremely careful, because if the bush receives too much nitrogen, then it will not form flowers, and hence fruits.

When growing at home for a pomegranate tree, you need to choose a fairly tight container. The tighter the pot, the less bell-shaped barren flowers will form in the bush. The first bush transplant is carried out after 1 year. Adult bushes are transplanted only if necessary, they do this when the root system becomes too crowded in a pot. During transplantation, the new pot should be only 20–30 mm larger than the old one in diameter. After the plant is four years old, transplants should be stopped, however, once a year, it should replace the top layer of the soil mixture.

Pomegranate can be formed as a compact tree with a low trunk and 4 or 5 skeletal branches, as well as a bush with 3 or 4 skeletal branches. As the bush grows on the formed skeletal branches, 4 or 5 branches of the second order must be laid, and then, if desired, branches of the third order can be formed on them. Root shoots, as well as fat and excess stems and branches, must be removed. Over time, old branches are cut out, because they will not be able to produce a crop. Fruiting of the tree is observed on the shoots of the current year.

Pests and diseases of pomegranate

Such harmful insects as: mealybugs, spider mites, scale insects, aphids, codling moths and whiteflies can settle on a room pomegranate. Also, the tree can be affected by branch cancer (phomopsis), root cancer, leaf spot and gray mold.

If an aphid has settled on a bush, then a two-day infusion of tobacco is used to get rid of it (40 grams per 1 liter of hot water). Before spraying, the finished infusion must be mixed with water in a ratio of 1: 2, and with another 4 grams of laundry soap, which is pre-ground on a grater. To destroy spider mites, whiteflies and scale insects, onion or garlic infusion is used. To prepare it, you need to combine 1 liter of water and 20 grams of husk, after 5 days the infusion will be ready, it remains only to strain. If a codling moth has settled on a bush, then in order to get rid of it, it is necessary to remove all the affected fruits, both those that have fallen and those that hang on the branches.

Chemical preparations can also be used to protect the tree from harmful insects. To exterminate mealybugs, the bush is sprayed three times with Mospilan, Confidor or Aktara, while the procedures are carried out with an interval of 5-6 days. And you can cope with spider mites with acaricidal preparations, for example, Fitoverm or Aktellik.

If the bush is affected by cancer of the branches or roots, then it has cracking of the bark and the formation of wounds with spongy swelling, while the branches and stems begin to dry. If the tree is hit very hard, then it dries out completely. As soon as the first symptoms of the disease are noticed, all wounds must be cleaned to healthy tissue, after which they are sprayed with a solution of copper sulfate and treated with garden pitch. In the event that almost the entire surface of the tree is covered with such areas, it is recommended to cut it down to a stump, perhaps this will help save it. The most common causes of pomegranate damage by such diseases are mechanical damage to wood or bark.

If the bush is not properly cared for or not provided with suitable growth conditions, then problems may arise with it:

1. Tree yellowing. This problem is very common. To begin with, the bush must be carefully examined for the presence of harmful insects, in particular spider mites. If there are no pests, then the bush is likely to turn yellow due to the excessively high air temperature in the room. Also, yellowing may be due to insufficient moisture in the soil mixture, but in this case, dark spots form on the leaf plates.
2. Foliage flying. Flying around the leaf plates may be the result of their yellowing, and this may be due to the fact that pests, for example, spider mites, have settled on the bush, or the plant is affected by some disease, as well as excessively poor watering or due to the fact that in the room very hot. Foliage may also be due to the fact that the plant is preparing for a dormant period, because it is deciduous. In this case, the process is quite natural and you should not be afraid.
3. Tree drying. Drying of the foliage may be due to the fact that the humidity in the room is excessively low, or problems with the root system that occur when the tree is watered incorrectly. In this case, the substrate in the pot must be smelled, if it has a strong smell of mold, then the bush will need to be transplanted into a fresh soil mixture. During transplantation, carefully inspect the root system of the bush and cut out all rotten areas. Wounds on the surface of the root system must be sprinkled with coal powder.

Reproduction methods

Homemade pomegranate tree is propagated by seeds, and also by cuttings and grafting. It has already been mentioned above that seedlings grown from seeds may not retain the varietal characteristics of the mother plant, however, the trees obtained in this way are suitable for grafting a varietal cutting. Plants obtained by cuttings or grown from cuttings completely retain the varietal characteristics of the parent bush.

Pomegranate from cuttings

When harvesting cuttings, the growths of the current year are cut off, while their length should be about 10 centimeters. For cutting cuttings, you can also use root shoots. First, the lower cut of the cuttings is immersed in a solution of an agent that stimulates the formation of roots, they must stay there for 6 hours. Then the cuttings are washed under running water and planted in a soil mixture that includes sand and peat (1: 1). The lower cut of the cuttings must be deepened into the substrate by 20–30 mm, after which the cutting must be covered from above with a cut plastic bottle or a transparent dome to create a greenhouse effect inside, which is necessary for successful rooting. Then the containers with cuttings are rearranged in a well-lit place. They should take root completely after 1.5–2.5 months, after which they are transplanted into individual pots, which are filled with soil mixture for citrus plants or a substrate consisting of soddy, humus and leafy soil, and also sand (2: 1: 2: one). If a bush grown from a cutting is well and properly looked after, then its first flowering can occur as early as 2 or 3 years after planting. You can also propagate a pomegranate tree with lignified cuttings, but their roots form for a very long time, while most of the cuttings die.

Reproduction by grafting

Indoor pomegranate is also propagated by grafting. If a varietal cutting is grafted onto a pomegranate rootstock that was grown from a seed, then you will get a varietal plant. Varietal cuttings that are suitable for grafting can only be taken from a fruiting bush. Different methods are suitable for grafting pomegranates, it all depends on the thickness of the scion and rootstock. To date, there are more than 150 vaccination methods, and it is up to you to decide which one is suitable in a particular case. The most popular among flower growers, as well as the simplest, are vaccinations with a simple copulation, copulation with a tongue (English), behind the bark, in a split, in the butt and in a side cut. A successfully grafted plant should flower for the first time after 3 or 4 years.

In nature, there are only 2 types of pomegranate, namely: ordinary pomegranate (Punica granatum) and Socotrans pomegranate (Punica protopunica), which is endemic to the Yemeni island of Socotra. Socotrans pomegranate differs from the ordinary one in pink color of flowers, as well as in smaller and less sweet fruits. The common pomegranate is described in detail at the beginning of this article.

The dwarf pomegranate is a hybrid, but since it is very popular with flower growers, it has been separated into a separate species called Punica nana. This species is most often cultivated at home, including as a bonsai. The height of such a tree does not exceed 100 centimeters. This species differs from the rest in that it begins to bear fruit very early. The first flowering is already observed for 3-4 months. And in two-year-old garnets, the formation of about 10 small garnets is observed, reaching up to 50 mm in diameter. This species grows well at home due to the fact that it is resistant to low humidity. This species differs from an ordinary pomegranate in that it practically does not throw off leaf plates for wintering. Thanks to breeders, more than 500 varieties of this species have been born, most of which are cultivated at home. For example:

1. Uzbekistan. At home, the height of such a tree can reach about 200 cm. Saturated red spherical fruits have a mass of about 120 grams. Their peel is thin, and the grains of wine-burgundy color have a sweet-sour taste.
2. baby. The height of the bush, as a rule, does not exceed 50 centimeters. Flowers are collected in bunches of 5-7 pieces or are single. The color of the fruits is brownish-yellow with a red blush, they reach 50–70 mm in diameter, while pomegranates ripen at the end of the first half of the winter period. Such bushes must be pollinated artificially.
3. Carthage. Flowering is observed in May-August. Red flowers in diameter reach 40 mm. Slightly sour juicy pomegranates are very tasty.
4. shahnar. The variety was born thanks to Azerbaijani breeders. Red fruits have a pear-shaped or rounded shape, they are covered with a peel that has an average thickness. The taste of small grains is pleasant, sweet-sour.
5. Ruby. The height of such a tree is about 0.7 meters. Unlike other varieties, this one has flowers of a more saturated ruby ​​​​color. If the plant is well looked after, then its pomegranates will weigh about 100 grams, and will reach 60–80 mm in diameter.

Among gardeners, such varieties are popular as: Kzyl-anar, Vanderful, Ulfi, Lod-Zhuar, Ak-Don, Guleisha red and pink, Purple, Salavatsky, etc.

If you have a desire to grow pomegranates at home, then for this you can choose not only compact, but also vigorous varieties. The fact is that in room conditions they very rarely grow more than 200 cm.

Pomegranate properties: harm and benefit

Pomegranate is one of the healthiest fruits. The fruit contains vitamins P, C, B12, B6, fiber, sodium, iodine, phosphorus, iron, potassium, manganese, calcium and magnesium. The composition of pomegranate juice includes sugars - fructose and glucose, malic, tartaric, citric, oxalic, succinic, boric and other organic acids, sulfate and chloride salts, phytoncides, tannin, tannins and nitrogenous substances.

Due to the fact that pomegranates contain all these substances, which are very useful and necessary for the human body, they also have healing properties. Such fruits help to quench thirst, strengthen the nervous system, vascular walls and immunity, as well as the formation of red blood cells in the blood and the production of hemoglobin. For a long time, an infusion of flowers and fruits of this plant has been used as a hemostatic agent. Older people who have undergone surgery are advised to eat pomegranate for quick recovery. It contains a lot of vitamin K, which is needed for normal metabolism in connective tissues and bones, and in particular for the absorption of calcium.

Such a plant helps to slow down the development of osteoarthritis, while it eliminates swelling and inflammation of cartilage tissues. Pomegranate juice, among other things, normalizes blood pressure, and it is recommended to drink it as a hematopoietic agent for diseases of the heart, kidneys, liver, circulatory organs or lungs. This juice also contains estrogens, which help to alleviate the condition with menopause, as well as fight insomnia. It is very important to include pomegranate in your diet for vegetarians, as its juice contains 15 amino acids, while almost half of them can be found mainly in meat. Due to the fact that a vegetarian will regularly eat pomegranate, he will not feel a lack of animal proteins. The juice is also distinguished by choleretic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and diuretic effects on the body. Another such plant is considered to be an excellent remedy for scurvy, uric acid diathesis, atherosclerosis, headaches and gastrointestinal disorders. Experts recommend drinking the juice of such a plant regularly for people who live in a zone of increased radiation, who have undergone irradiation or who work with radioactive isotopes. It is also recommended to drink it for anemia, hypertension, malaria, bronchial asthma and diabetes. The composition of the peel of the fruit includes alkaloids, so it is used as a powerful antihelminthic. A decoction of the peel is used for inflammation of the kidneys, eyes, liver and joints. It is also used for intestinal disorders and for gargling an inflamed throat. The powder prepared from the peel is slightly fried in cow or olive oil, the resulting mixture is used for burns, abrasions and cracks, and also as a mask for oily skin.

Pomegranate seeds are a powerful tool that increases intestinal motility. And they also contain a very valuable oil, which includes fat-soluble vitamins E and F, which contribute to the rapid healing of wounds, rejuvenation, protection of the human body from cancer and regeneration of skin cells. Pomegranate extract contributes to the rapid restoration of the epidermis, which has undergone prolonged exposure to sunlight. Dried white films inside pomegranate are added to tea, as they contribute to the normalization of the nervous system, eliminate anxiety and agitation, and fight insomnia.

In official medicine, decoctions and tinctures prepared from flowers, bark, fruits, peel and seeds of such a plant are used, which help with stomatitis, burns, anemia, diarrhea, conjunctivitis and other diseases.

Contraindications

Pomegranate juice should not be drunk with peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum, and even with gastritis with high acidity. If necessary, the juice can be heavily diluted with water. Since the pomegranate contains a lot of acids, it can cause the destruction of tooth enamel. In this regard, when a pomegranate is eaten or juice is drunk, the teeth should be thoroughly cleaned and rinsed. Since this fruit has a fixing effect, it can cause constipation in people with digestive problems. Remember that the peel contains toxic substances, so a decoction from it can only be taken after consulting a doctor. With an overdose of decoction, there is a significant increase in blood pressure, vertigo, a sharp deterioration in vision, weakness, convulsions and irritation of the mucous membrane.

Indoor pomegranate baby grows 40-90 cm in height. It has small light green narrow leaves, about 3 cm. They are located oppositely.

The leaf surface is glossy. In autumn, yellowing of the foliage occurs, so the plant prepares for wintering.

By winter, the foliage may completely fall off. Do not worry about this, as young leaves bloom on the branches in spring.

Baby pomegranate also reacts to stressful situations by dropping foliage. So he needs to create the most comfortable terms.

The shrub begins to bloom in the first year of life. The flowering period is from May to September. Flowers are large, about 4 cm in diameter, bright red.

They can be single or collected 5-7 in a bunch. One flower lives 2-3 days, after which it fades. Most inflorescences do not bear fruit. For a hundred flowers, 3-4 fruits can form.

REFERENCE! To extend the flowering period, it is recommended to partially remove the fruits, leave no more than 2-3 pieces on the bush. Once every 3-4 years, you can leave all the fruits.

The fruits grow small - about 5-7 see Coloring can be from orange to deep red. The fruits are edible, but rarely eaten. They ripen In November.

You can visually familiarize yourself with the baby room pomegranate in the photo below:

Home care

Caring for indoor baby pomegranate is simple. It is quite unpretentious, besides it grows quickly.

Post-Purchase Care

After purchase, a room grenade needs to adapt to new conditions.

In order for him to get used to it as soon as possible, it is necessary to provide comfortable conditions.

First of all, a place for permanent growth is chosen. It should be well lit.

The lack of light negatively affects the general condition.

Another prerequisite is compliance with the temperature regime, sudden changes should not be allowed.

The adjustment period can take 1-3 weeks. After its completion, you can transplant the pomegranate into a new pot with prepared soil.

pruning

The pruning procedure is best done in February, before the buds open. It is necessary to remove small young branches by cutting at an oblique angle. Trimming excess branches encourages branching.

When cutting, you need to be careful. Baby pomegranate branches are different fragility, you need to try not to damage the desired shoots.

Watering

In winter, during dormancy, watering is reduced to a minimum. Enough once a month. In early spring, you need to gradually increase the amount of water. The top layer should be slightly damp.

In the summer months, the soil should be moistened regularly. You need to monitor the condition of the earth in a pot. Waterlogging or drying out will adversely affect the condition of the shrub. Experiencing a stressful state, he can drop buds and leaves.

After flowering, the plant needs abundant watering. Since the process of flowering and fruit ripening takes a lot of energy from the plant, it needs nourishment.

Foliar spraying is very important during the summer months. Water for this purpose should be at room temperature and must be settled.

Landing

You need to plant indoor pomegranate in the spring.

At home

For the proper development of baby grenades, they need to be planted in pre-prepared soil. To do this, in a ratio of 2: 1: 1: 1 is mixed:

• sod land;
• leaf land;
• sand;
• humus (peat);

At the bottom of the pot lay a layer of drainage, consisting of expanded clay or chipped red brick.

In the garden

For the summer period, indoor pomegranate can be planted in the garden. The soil must be prepared before planting. It must be loose good water permeability. To do this, sand, small sawdust and peat are mixed into the garden soil.

Transfer

The young plant is subject to an annual spring transplant. Upon reaching the age of three, this procedure can be carried out once a day. 2-3 of the year. When transplanting, a new pot must be taken on 3-4 cm in diameter more the previous one.

Growing from seeds

Consider how to properly grow indoor baby pomegranate from seeds.
It is advisable to buy seeds for planting in a store or a trusted supplier. If the seeds are of high quality, then the first flowers will appear in the year of planting, and the fruits - after 2 years.

You can try to grow a shrub from the seeds of the fruit. But the likelihood of seedlings is very small. Seeds remain viable for up to 6 months. Seeds are sown in April in seedling boxes to a depth of 0.5 cm.

Seeds remain viable for up to 6 months. Seeds are sown in April in seedling boxes to a depth 0.5 cm.

For planting seeds, sand and peat are mixed in equal proportions. Cover the seedling box with foil and leave in a room with a temperature 25-27 degrees. Periodically, the film must be lifted for ventilation and watering.

After 10-14 days, the first shoots will appear. After the formation of 3-4 leaves, the seedlings dive into separate pots.

reproduction

An efficient way to reproduce cuttings. In summer, a lignified twig with 5-6 buds is cut off and placed in a container with water or wet sand until roots appear.

You can immediately plant it in the ground at an angle to a depth of 3 cm. The planted cutting is covered with a glass jar to maintain the required humidity. Through 2 months rooted cuttings are transplanted into permanent pots.

Temperature

In summer, the favorable temperature is considered 20-24 degrees. At a higher temperature, regular spraying of the plant is performed. In autumn, you need to lower the temperature to 16-19 degrees. From November to February, the plant is in hibernation. For this period, the temperature regime should be observed within 10-12 degrees.

REFERENCE! Indoor pomegranate tolerates a drop in temperature to -5 degrees.

Lighting

Pomegranate - photophilous bush. You can place it at the eastern, southern or western windows. In summer, it is advisable to take out a pot with a plant on a balcony or loggia. The main thing avoid direct sun rays.

Benefit and harm

All parts of the pomegranate, from roots to fruits, contain useful substances and are considered healing.

Pomegranate is rich in organic acids, proteins, fats and carbohydrates. It also contains a large amount of vitamins and minerals, tannins and alkaloids.

Pomegranate juice has a general strengthening effect on the body. It is also a choleretic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic agent.

Juice is used to improve appetite, replenish vitamins, rejuvenate the body.

Forbidden use for people with stomach ulcers, pancreatitis and gastritis. It is also not recommended for children under 2 years of age and pregnant women.

Diseases and pests

An excess of moisture can lead to rotting of the roots, and a lack of moisture can lead to drying and falling of the leaves. The plant may also be affected. scab or spider mite. You can get rid of them with a soap solution with a small addition of alcohol. With a plentiful defeat, it is possible to save only with the help of chemicals.

Room pomegranate baby, with proper care, will become not only a decoration of the house, but also a healer. There are many folk recipes for getting rid of various ailments. But the most pleasant thing is to be able to grow an edible fruit on your windowsill.

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Pomegranate is not picky about the soil - it grows well on clay, gravel and sandy soils, on neutral or carbonate. On moisture-intensive fertile, well-drained loamy soils, it gives the best fruits.

A pomegranate growing on properly prepared soil produces many long-pistil flowers of the first flowering period and, accordingly, more fruits.

Pomegranate growing on improperly prepared soil slows down or stops growth and flowering ceases to resist diseases and pests.

What kind of land is needed?

The soil mixture for pomegranate culture at home is prepared from four components: soddy and leafy soil, sand and humus in a ratio of 1: 1: 1: 0.5.

Step-by-step instructions for preparing soil for a houseplant

Preparation of earthen mixture for indoor pomegranate:

1. River sand must be washed with running water to get rid of excess clay.
2. The components are mixed in the right proportion, sieved or crushed - the lumps should be the size of a pea.
3. The resulting soil is disinfected in a water bath for an hour.

The bottom of the container is laid out with a layer of drainage from expanded clay, clay shards or coarse sand, and the soil mixture is covered.

Soil preparation for planting in open ground

Step-by-step instructions for preparing an earthen mixture for growing a pomegranate tree:

1. sod land- in meadows and fields, layers of earth with turf are cut, stacked in pairs with grass to each other, watered. After 2 years, a nutrient soil is obtained that is well permeable to water and air.
2. leaf ground- tree leaves, except for oak, willow and chestnut, are raked into heaps in autumn. Turn over and water regularly.

   To eliminate excess acidity of the substrate, slaked lime is added to the leaves - 500 g / m³. For 2 years, fertile leafy land is also obtained.

3. Compost prepared from soil and any organic materials - manure, fresh grass, straw, hay, kitchen waste. A layer of organic matter 25 cm high is sprinkled with 4 cm of earth. The pile is periodically watered. The compost is ready after the organic matter has completely decomposed.
4. Sand use river, washed in natural conditions.

The components are mixed and filled into the trench or planting hole.

The composition and cost of the purchased mixture

Various soil mixes for growing pomegranate are commercially available. containing all the necessary nutrients.

Ready-made soils for pomegranate, composition and cost.

Ready mixtures are used for planting and transplanting, as well as for adding or changing the topsoil.

The value of fertilizers for shrubs

Pomegranate responds positively to the application of mineral fertilizers. Feeding is carried out when the plant is fully established. Symptoms of nutritional deficiencies:

• nitrogen- growth slows down, the color of the leaves changes;
• phosphorus- growth, development of roots and flowering stops;
• potassium- brown spots and burns appear on the leaves;
• calcium- the growing points of the roots and tips are affected;
• magnesium- the process of respiration of the plant is disturbed, the leaves turn pale;
• iron- leaves turn yellow, pomegranate lags behind in growth;
• manganese- leaves curl, development slows down;
• boron- weak flowering, the growth point dies off;
• zinc- small leaves with pale spots.

With an excess of nutrients, the pomegranate is observed to droop the bush, burn the leaves, and stop growing.

How to properly fertilize?

1. In the phase of growth, flowering and at the beginning of fruiting - in the summer.
2. Immediately after removing the winter shelter from the plants, they are fed with nitrogen-potassium fertilizers.
3. Indoor pomegranate is fed during the growth period every 2 weeks with complex fertilizers.

When do you need to fertilize?

Mineral starvation is judged by the appearance of the plant- in this case, top dressing is carried out with the necessary elements. Good results are obtained by a combination of root and foliar dressings.

Types of mixtures

Mineral and organic fertilizers are used, as well as microfertilizers containing elements necessary for the plant in small quantities.

Finished

Ready-made fertilizers, which incorporate the entire nutritional complex, can be purchased at specialized stores.

Ready-made fertilizers are used strictly according to the instructions.

How to feed them?

What to look for when choosing?

Buy fertilizers intended for fruit and berry crops. Pay attention to the composition: complex fertilizers are taken for top dressing, micronutrient fertilizers are used to replenish the missing trace element.

natural

Organic fertilizers are humus, rotted bird droppings or manure of farm animals.

For top dressing, solutions of organic fertilizers are used, which contain all the necessary substances and have a prolonged action.

What is different from purchased - advantages and disadvantages

Natural fertilizers contribute to the normal functioning of beneficial soil bacteria, which process compounds that are difficult for plants to digest into easily digestible ones.

The disadvantages include the cost of fertilizers and the complexity of preparation.

How to do it yourself?

To prepare dressings, natural fertilizers are infused for several days in water.

Step by step cooking instructions:

1. Solution: fill the container up to half with chicken manure, horse or cow manure, fill with water to the brim, leave for two days. Dilute the mother liquor with water - for 12 liters of water 1 liter of the mixture. Apply as root dressing.
2. Organic fertilizers in combination with mineral fertilizers: mullein or bird droppings, poured halfway into a barrel, pour water and hold for 5 days. Mix 1 liter of mother infusion and 10 liters of water. When top dressing for 0.5 l of solution, add 1 g of superphosphate and 0.5 g of ammonium nitrate.
3. Compost or humus (0.5-0.7 kg per 10 liters of water) stand for two days, stirring regularly. The consumption of the mother mixture for top dressing is 0.5 liters per bucket of water.

Under favorable conditions, the deciduous subtropical subshrub pomegranate, like a tub culture, continuously blooms from April to late autumn, and after 2–3 years begins to bear fruit. In temperate latitudes, pomegranate grows and develops safely in open ground, withstanding frosts up to 10-12º C.

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