Pomegranate tree: how to grow at home? Plant features, species, care and useful properties (90 photos)

With the onset of winter, pomegranate fruits appear on our shelves. Many of us love him. Have you quite possibly seen a photo of a pomegranate tree and would like to have it at home? Surely you were wondering what would happen if you planted a pomegranate seed at home? Will the tree grow?

In nature, a pomegranate tree can reach from 5 to 10 meters in height. At the same time, its yield is about 60 kg of ripe and delicious fruits. Pomegranate is considered a medicinal fruit – it contains a lot of vitamin C, sugars, citric acid, tannin.

Among those who like to grow a variety of exotic plants and trees at home, the dwarf form of the pomegranate tree is known. In height, such trees are not very large – they reach up to 60 centimeters. They look decorative. They bloom beautifully.

Summary of the article:

The homeland of the pomegranate tree is considered to be the territory of modern Iran. It was brought to the American continent by the Spanish conquistadors at the end of the 18th century. A photo of a ripe pomegranate in the section looks more like a scattering of precious stones.

Pomegranate is a deciduous plant. The leaves are opposite, reaching up to 7 centimeters in length. They have an elongated shape, gathered in a group at the base. The flowering period falls on May-August.

The flowers are bright, red-orange, rather large. Visually similar to a large bell. A flowering pomegranate tree is very beautiful!

Growing pomegranate at home

If you decide to grow a pomegranate tree at home on your windowsill, you should immediately remember – it will not produce edible fruits. The plant will be more decorative than fruit.

To obtain seed material, it is necessary to buy a large pomegranate without visible damage on the skin of the fetus. To plant a pomegranate tree, you will need a few seeds, the rest can be safely eaten.

Peel the seeds from the pulp, rinse well and let dry from moisture. You must have hard grains. Their color is more like ivory. Grains of a different color, soft – do not fit.

Dried seeds can be planted. To do this, take a pot (a clay pot would be ideal), fill it with a loose substrate (sand, earth, peat). Do not forget about drainage – pomegranate roots do not like too wet ground.

Plant the seeds about one centimeter deep into the pot. Do not forget about the distance between the seeds – they should not be buried in one recess. Pour. You can cover the pot with polyethylene – this adds moderate humidity to the soil surface.

If you did everything right, you had mature and healthy seeds – expect the first shoots within two weeks. After they grow up a little and get stronger, you can remove the polyethylene. If there are weak sprouts in the pot, it is better to remove them immediately.

A pot of pomegranate can be moved to a well-lit place. The plant requires regular watering. You can use a spray gun for this.

As soon as the sprouts have leaves, they can be transplanted into separate pots. You can take a universal primer or make it yourself. You will need one part of leaf humus and turf, half parts of sand and peat.

Since pomegranate has a superficial root system, it grows well in shallow containers. Its main requirement is the presence of good drainage.

If the plant is transplanted into the ground in winter, when there is not enough daylight, take care of additional lighting. If the sprouts lack light, they may stop growing.

It is necessary to update the top layer of soil annually (the upper 2-3 centimeters). Plants can be formed in the form of a bush on a low stem.

Before budding, the tree needs to be pruned – to make a small eruption of the crown. It is necessary to cut out all weak and diseased branches. After five years, all branches older than this age must be completely removed.

Propagation of a pomegranate tree by cuttings

Propagation of plants using cuttings is the most common method. With the cuttings, all its genetic material, disease resistance, and crop quality are transferred to the plant.

To get a good stalk, it is necessary to choose the middle of a 2-year-old branch in the spring, on which there are already at least three buds. The length of the branch should be about 15 centimeters. Put it in water for several days to stimulate root growth.

After soaking, the cuttings can be planted in the ground, which will look like a substrate for seeds. About four weeks after planting in the ground, the stalk should have a root system. After a month, the plant is ready to be transplanted into a larger pot.

The soil should be sandy for an adult tree. After it gets stronger completely and its height is at least 50 centimeters, your pomegranate tree is ready to be planted in the open ground or transplanted into a large pot, where it will grow constantly. As you can see, planting a pomegranate tree does not require huge efforts.

How to properly care for a pomegranate tree

Pomegranate tree does not require care at home. He is quite unpretentious in care, but some basic rules still have to be followed.

The ideal summer temperature for growing pomegranates should not be higher than 25 degrees. In winter, the plant tolerates a temperature of 15 degrees well. When the frosts are over, the pot can be moved to the balcony or to the winter garden.

The earth in the pot should not be dry. In summer, watering should be abundant and frequent. In winter, it is necessary to reduce it a little. It is watered exclusively from above.

To obtain fruits (at home they will be mainly decorative), you can feed the plant. Use universal fertilizers about once every two weeks.

During the dormant period, the tree will shed its leaves. This is a natural process, so don't be scared. In order for the pomegranate not to shed leaves, you can put it in a warm room. However, this does not affect his growth very well.

After the buds appear on the branches, rearrange the pot with the tree in a brighter time. Increase the amount of watering. All weak shoots will need to be removed. Thus, all healthy branches will receive more nutrients from the ground.