What care does home pomegranate need? Growing an exotic plant at home: indoor pomegranate.

Many gardeners often grow on their plots not only apples, cherries, plums and other fruit trees characteristic of our temperate latitudes, but also try to plant real exotics in their garden: lemons, oranges, persimmons and even pomegranates.

general information

It is customary to say "pomegranate tree", but not all gardeners consider pomegranate a tree, many call it a bush. A pomegranate can grow in several shoots, like a shrub, or it can grow in one trunk, like a tree. Even in the relevant specialized literature, culture is defined as a tree-bush.

A pomegranate is not as easy to grow as a lemon bush. But still, growing a pomegranate tree on your site, if you wish, will not be difficult. This tree can give a good harvest if properly grown. The main condition is a sufficient amount of heat of light, as well as the work and patience of the gardener.

To grow this exotic plant, a few seeds are enough.

The pomegranate tree at home grows small, more like a shrub. It is not necessary to count on a large number of fruits, but the flowering of pomegranate will cover this shortcoming. Caring for a tree is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. The main thing is to study all the rules for planting and growing a crop at home before planting a pomegranate.

Description of culture

The pomegranate is fruit tree, which can reach 6-7 meters in height. In our latitudes, the tree grows small, up to 2 meters in height. More often we plant a pomegranate in the form of a shrub, since it is much easier to provide it with everyone necessary conditions v winter time of the year. Both pomegranate trees and shrubs have thorny thin branches covered with thin brownish-gray bark.

The leaves of the pomegranate are glossy, light green, small ones are collected in small groups of 5-10 leaves each. The flowering period begins with the onset of heat, in late April-early May. Flowering usually ends in late summer-early autumn. Flowers can have a variety of colors: from pure white to orange-red. There are a lot of flowers on the tree, and they emit a unique aroma that cannot be confused with anything. There are also so-called dwarf varieties, which are usually used as indoor plants.

Home-grown pomegranate does not look as bright, but no less impressive.

The plant is strewn with small flowers that are fragrant throughout the garden or apartment with an incredible aroma.

Fruit

Everyone has seen and tasted the fruits of the grant. Obtaining them is the main purpose of growing this tree or shrub.

The diameter of the fetus is on average 12 centimeters, and the weight can reach half a kilogram.
Fruit color may also vary. It can be yellow-brown or red-brown, depending on the variety.
The whole fruit is divided into separate sectors, each of which contains many small sweet and sour red seeds.
The pulp of the fetus is often used in medicine, because it contains mass useful substances(vitamins, tannins, polysaccharides, etc.). Pomegranate fruits are able to streamline the work of the internal organs of a person: the digestive, cardiovascular and nervous systems, restore the blood formula. From one pomegranate, which grows in favorable conditions, you can collect up to 70 kg of fruit.
On a tree grown at home, there are usually few fruits, up to 20 pieces.

Pomegranate trees are grown in the countries of the Middle East, Greece, the Caucasus, and the Crimea. V wild form grenades are rare.

Planting pomegranate seeds

If you are thinking about how to plant pomegranate seeds, you need to listen to the opinion of experts. For a seed to really germinate, it must be prepared. Only prepared material will be able to sprout, which are later planted. To do this, you first need to get the pomegranate seeds, free the seeds from the pulp and rinse thoroughly under cool water. At the end of the procedure, dry the grains with a paper towel. These simple actions will help to avoid the occurrence of rot.

To plant pomegranate seeds at home, you will need dry and loose soil, made up of three components:

peat;
sand;
land.

It is extremely important to lay a thick layer of drainage on the bottom of the pot. Dried seeds should be dug into moist soil to a depth of 1 cm. It is important to observe the distance between the seeds so that the root systems do not interfere with each other's development. Immediately after planting, water the substrate moderately.

The pot with planted seeds should be placed in a warm place. It is not bad if direct sunlight falls on the seed pot. For creating greenhouse effect it is necessary to cover the soil with polyethylene. It is very important to take care of the ground. As the soil dries out, it is necessary to water it.

Viable pomegranate seeds will sprout the first sprouts after two weeks. Naturally, this will only happen if you follow all the rules for disembarking and leaving. As the sprouts grow and strengthen in the soil, polyethylene can be removed. Two - three of the strongest germinated seeds should be left for further growth, the rest should be removed. They are planted in the ground in spring or autumn in a well-lit area.

Growing a pomegranate bush from a seed is very simple, but a grown plant does not always inherit parental qualities.

From the seed of a large and sweet fruit, you can get a pomegranate with fruits that cannot be consumed.

Features of growing from cuttings

Growing pomegranates from cuttings is the most common. This method allows you to save a maximum of genetic material, which has a beneficial effect on the quantity and quality of fruits, as well as on the resistance of the plant to various diseases and pests.

The stalk should be picked up in early spring. For reproduction, annual shoots of a healthy tree are used. Before planting, prepare the ground - fertilize it and make sure that it warms up well enough. The length of the handle should be at least 15, but not more than 20 cm. 3-4 buds should be placed on the handle. The prepared branch must be placed in water or treated with a special solution that stimulates the growth of the root system. After that, the stalk must be planted in the ground for quick rooting. Already after 3-4 weeks, the stalk will acquire primary roots. The buds usually open and put out new branches of the first order. For better survival of the cuttings, they are covered with plastic wrap and slightly shaded so that the cuttings do not overheat and die.

As soon as the cutting is rooted, it should be transplanted into a voluminous pot with sandy soil, which is already suitable for a mature pomegranate tree.

When the tree acquires a standard shape and reaches a height of half a meter, the plant can be planted in open soil. If this is not possible, then the young tree should be transplanted into a larger pot for a permanent stay in it.

Basic conditions for growing and care

On the territory of our latitudes, 4 varieties of pomegranate are grown:

ordinary pomegranate;
orange master;
yellow pomegranate;
socotransky.

If you foresee that the tree will grow at home, and not in open soil, then it is more profitable to use dwarf varieties. Such cultures grow low (up to 1 meter) and differ high yield. Many people who decide to grow pomegranate at home are often interested in what proper care should be, how to care for a pomegranate tree. In practice, this plant requires the same care as other indoor crops from the Caucasus.

It is necessary to install pomegranate trees in places lit by the sun as much as possible; the north side of the house is not suitable for them. This culture requires a lot of heat, light and fresh air. In the warm season, the tree can be taken out to the loggia, balcony or terrace, where the plant will be more comfortable.

Pomegranate is not afraid of excessively high temperatures, but it is still better to provide cool conditions in winter. At this time, the air temperature should be no more than 12 degrees. If all the above conditions are not followed, the tree may lose its decorative properties. Too dry and the air negatively affects the tree, so when planting a tree, you should prepare a cool room in advance for storing pomegranates in winter. In this case, the pomegranate needs to be watered less, not fed and wait for spring. Although, if you provide the plant with good lighting for 12 hours (using a powerful phytolamp), it will feel great all winter at room temperature.

Pomegranate trees need to be watered as soon as a dry crust is visible on the soil. During the flowering period, the frequency of watering should be slightly reduced. In the winter season, the culture does not need frequent watering, and the soil in cool conditions does not dry out so much. It is enough to water the pomegranate twice a month with water, preventing the soil from completely drying out. In summer, in addition to frequent watering, it is necessary to spray the plant with a spray bottle, but do not overdo it, because excess moisture can lead to root rot. Fertilizing is done infrequently. In June, you need to make organic fertilizers, and closer to autumn - potash and phosphorus. It is also necessary to regularly prune the plant in order to properly form the pomegranate crown and get a good harvest.

Conclusion

It cannot be said that pomegranate is a capricious, fastidious plant. A properly grown pomegranate tree will bloom within two to three years after planting, and will begin to bear fruit in the fourth year of life. Every year the number of fruits will only increase. Now you know all the features of planting and caring for a home pomegranate, how the culture grows, what conditions and care it requires.

Successful cultivation of pomegranate in open field- this is not a difficult process, the main thing is to choose a winter-hardy variety and a grafted seedling.

You can count on high yields if the rules of agricultural technology are observed:

Moderate watering.
The constant presence of mulch under a bush of straw, mowed grass, dry leaves.
Regular and sufficient application of mineral fertilizers and organics.
Annual pruning of old, thickening, diseased branches.
Competent formation of the crown.
Rejuvenating pruning every 25 years.
Protection of roots and aerial parts from frost.
Preventive spraying against diseases and pests.

Pomegranate in the open field begins to bear fruit for 4-5 years

This plant is not whimsical, but still pomegranate in open ground grows better on crushed and well-drained soils. We choose the place the brightest, protected from the winds.

landing pit should be generously seasoned with organic matter (rotted manure). We carefully straighten the roots of the seedling, sprinkle with earth and water generously.

Pomegranate in the garden usually blooms for 3-4 years. And full fruits can be expected for 4-5 years. It blooms profusely, but fruits are tied only on female flowers. And there are five times fewer of them on the bush than male ones. Garden pomegranate is a self-pollinating plant, so it is quite possible to grow it in greenhouses.

The most convenient option for growing pomegranate in open ground is to leave a maximum 5 branches in a bush. Crown formation can be done in spring or after harvest.

Only the strongest shoots remain in the bush, directed in different directions. You need to watch to the middle of the bush was well lit. Therefore, all root shoots andthickening shoots are removed.

Garden pomegranate care in spring

In April-May, depending on the region, we remove the layer of earth, brush off the branches. The plant will straighten itself out.

We immediately carry out spraying from fruit rot with a 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture.

We carefully examine the bush, cut off all rotten, broken and thickening branches.

We mulch the garden pomegranate bush with a thick layer of straw or grass.

As soon as the leaves begin to bloom, we spend foliar top dressing humisol.

V June we feed the bush complex mineral fertilizer.

Pomegranate in the open field responds very well to the application of organic fertilizers. Water the pomegranate every 2 weeks infusion of mullein or chicken manure. Autumn around the bush we add 25 grams of superphosphate and 15 grams of potassium. We mulch with manure.

Harvesting

The fruits do not ripen at the same time. The longer the fruit hangs on the bush, the it will be sweeter. If the weather does not allow you to wait, you can pick unripe fruits. They will reach the condition during the laying. Broken grenades should be dried in the attic or outdoors under a canopy.

Watering

This plant does not like waterlogging, but the lack of moisture is also harmful to it. Watering is carried out as needed. Lack of waterleads to shedding of the ovary. After watering, be sure to mulch the bush with straw or grass.

Mulch performs three functions at once:

retains moisture;
delay the development of weeds;
creates ideal conditions for life and active reproduction of earthworms.

They, in addition to processing the soil in biohumus, and also contribute better penetration oxygen to plant roots.

Shelter garden pomegranate for the winter

Even frost-resistant varieties need shelter for the winter.

First, we spray the pomegranate crown from fungal diseases 3% Bordeaux liquid.

With the onset of the average daily temperature below 10 degrees, branches we tie with a rope. If the branches are long, they can be twisted (pomegranate branches are very flexible).

Too thick branches that cannot be bent to the ground are cut off.

By the way, delicious wine is made from pomegranate fruits. We also wrote.

The well-known pomegranate bush is a plant with bright, characteristic fruits and delicious berries. In nature, it grows in warm tropical places, but it is quite possible to grow it at home.

Where and how does pomegranate grow in nature

Pomegranate has several names: pomegranate, pomegranate tree. It belongs to the Derbennikov family. It gives recognizable fruits, which, due to their characteristics, are classified as a special type of pomegranate.

Pomegranates grow along the Mediterranean coast - in southern Europe and North Africa, and in Asia they are distributed mainly in the western regions up to the Himalayan mountains. Thus it is tropical plant, which occurs in a wide range from 40 o South to 45 o northern latitude.

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Latin name punicus pomegranate is translated as Punic or Carthaginian, since this tree grows in North Africa, where the state of Carthage was located in ancient times.

About the beneficial properties of pomegranate

A lot is known and said about the benefits of pomegranate. It contains a variety of vitamins, organic substances and trace elements that have a good effect on various organ systems and the body as a whole:

vitamin C improves immunity;
vitamin P helps strengthen the tissues of the walls of blood vessels;
vitamins of the group provide metabolic processes, improve hematopoiesis;
tannins have a bactericidal effect.

The main benefit of pomegranate is the optimization of blood flow, strengthening the strength of blood vessels, which improves heart rate and stabilizes blood pressure.

Description of dwarf ornamental varieties of pomegranate

In nature, the pomegranate tree grows up to 5-6 meters. However, at home, special decorative varieties, which, due to their size, are called dwarf. Basically, they grow within 80-120 cm. The leaves are small oval shape with a nice gloss. They have a bright light green color.

Interesting detail – The leaves change color almost constantly. When the growth period begins in spring, they are more saturated bronze tones, and over the summer they manage to acquire juicy green tones. By autumn, they turn yellow, like most of the trees we are used to.

How to grow indoor pomegranate (video)

The flowers are bright red, larger than the foliage, so they look favorably against their background. They are elongated, cone shaped and live for only a few days. However, new buds are constantly being formed during the season, thanks to which the pomegranate bush almost constantly decorates the room. Fruits are formed only in 4-5 flowers out of a hundred. Moreover, if the fruit began to form, then the flowers continue to appear on the bush, which creates a very beautiful, elegant look.

Currently, quite a few varieties of dwarf pomegranate have been bred. The most famous are the following:

Nana(nana) grows up to 100-110 cm, has graceful, proportional forms;
Baby(baby) - very graceful plant, grows to a size of no more than half a meter;
Ruby slightly larger than baby, its flowers have a classic bright red color;
Uzbekistan- a real giant, because it can grow up to 2 meters in height. Forms fruits with a sweet and sour taste.

Cold-resistant pomegranate varieties for growing in the garden

Pomegranate bush can be grown not only at home, but also in the garden. For this you need to choose special winter-hardy varieties:

Gulusha pink and red grow up to 2-2.5 meters in height, have a spreading crown, due to which they are used in garden landscape design. Resistant to frost down to -15 o C.
Ak Dona Crimean also stable in Russian climatic conditions. The variety forms a small tree that needs to be cut in time to achieve a beautiful bush shape. To obtain fruits, it is cultivated in Central Asia, where it was bred.

Winter-hardy pomegranate varieties take root well in climatic conditions. Middle lane Russia, but most often they do not bloom. In order to cultivate them, mandatory protection for the period of winter cold will be required, since they may not withstand frosts below -15 ° C.

How pomegranate breeds

Pomegranate can be propagated in several ways, the simplest of which is using cuttings.

Growing pomegranates from seeds

To propagate pomegranate seeds, you need to choose the most ripe fruits ( ornamental bush or ordinary tree), extract a berry from them, crush and plant shallowly (1 cm) in the soil, the composition of which is described in the corresponding section.

Have experience successful cultivation pomegranate from seeds and ordinary earth suitable for indoor flowers.Important just provide them with sufficiently warm conditions (not lower than 22 ° C) and water well. The first leaves appear in 1.5-2 months. As soon as they become 3-4, they can be transplanted into a separate small pot (take about 400 g of land). It is important to understand that pomegranate grown from seeds may lose some varietal characteristics.

Plant propagation by cuttings

The technology of propagation by cuttings is not only the simplest, but also very effective. All work is done in the fall:

Shoots are better to take the youngest (one- or two-year-old).
All leaves, branches, thorns and dryish parts are removed.
Then they are tied into a bundle and the bundle is laid at the bottom of a pre-dug hole (about half a meter deep).
From above you need to cover with a large layer of straw (30 cm) and sprinkle a little with earth.
On the next year when the soil is completely thawed, you need to take out the shoots, remove those that have dried up, and cut several cuttings of 15-20 cm from the rest.
Cuttings should be planted only in warm soil, and 12 hours before planting, they should be kept in water.

Indoor varieties of pomegranates are even easier to cut - in February, a non-lignified shoot is cut off and processed with root, after which it should be germinated in a wet mixture of peat and sand. When the 4th leaf begins to appear, you can plant it in a regular pot.

Pomegranate cuttings (video)

Reproduction by grafting

There are several types of vaccinations:

under the bark;
splitting the cutting (the so-called split);
budding - i.e. dormant eye vaccination.

All methods, except for the last one, are applied in early spring, and budding - in September. The stalk should be taken from a young shoot, 15-20 cm in size. It is better to insert it from the north side - direct sunlight should not penetrate the grafting site during the entire splicing time.

How to grow indoor pomegranate from a seed at home

Grow from seed homemade pomegranate quite realistic, you just need to take into account a few features of this method of reproduction.

Selection and preparation of pomegranate seeds for planting

First of all, you need to choose the right pomegranate fruit. You can take decorative fruits, you can use the usual ones, which are purchased at the store. The methodology is as follows:

You need to take a very ripe or overripe fruit.
Pull out a few berries, crush the pulp with your fingers.
Feel how hard the seeds are - only the hardest will do.
Before planting, all the pulp must be washed off with plenty of water, otherwise they will rot, and the sprouts will disappear with them.
Landing should be done shallow - a maximum of 1 cm.

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Contrary to popular belief, the germination rate of pomegranate seeds reaches 90-95%, but it can take a long time before a sprout appears - sometimes up to a year.

Soil and flower pot for growing pomegranate on the windowsill

The composition of the soil includes equal amounts the following types land:

sheet;
peat;
turf;
humus.

It is acceptable to take a universal soil for indoor plants or a special soil for citrus trees. The main thing is that the earth has a neutral reaction.

Important! The bottom must be drained - you can put coarse sand and small pebbles.

Initially, the grain can be planted in a small dish, and then transplanted into a regular flower pot. For decorative growing purposes, you need to choose small containers, because when the roots become crowded, the bush will give a lot of flowers. There are no fundamental requirements for the material.

Pinching and transplanting pomegranate sprouts into a flower pot

Up to 4-5 years of life, a developing bush should be transplanted annually. It can then be repotted every three years. In all cases, it is better to do the procedure in early spring. Each subsequent pot in diameter should be 4-5 cm larger than the previous one.

It is necessary to take care of the formation of a beautiful crown in the early stages of development, since a young pomegranate gives many shoots at the beginning of life. You need to pinch the top shoots so that the crown turns out to be quite sprawling. You should also limit the growth of those branches that grow too rapidly.

Pomegranate care at home

The pomegranate bush is a rather unpretentious plant, caring for it will not take much time:

It is optimal to choose windows in the west or east so that the sun's rays do not directly fall on the foliage for a long time.
During spring period nitrogen fertilizer should be applied monthly - it is especially important to do this for young bushes that are growing rapidly.
Watering in summer is plentiful, daily, in winter - 1-2 times a week. Also, in the warm period, it is better to constantly spray the leaves - the pomegranate loves moisture.
For wintering, pomegranates should not be disturbed with fertilizers. It needs to be moved to a cooler place (16-18 ° C is acceptable).
For the summer, a young bush can be transplanted into your garden, but it is better not to disturb adult plants with transplants.

Growing a pomegranate tree in open ground

In the conditions of our latitudes, the cultivation of a pomegranate tree in open ground has a number of features associated with preparing the plant for wintering.

Where and how to plant pomegranate seedlings in the garden

Since the pomegranate loves light, it is unacceptable to place it in the shade - then it will gradually begin to fade. However, strong, scorching heat should also be avoided. So the best place is next to garden trees (apple, bird cherry), which give good partial shade and at the same time leave a lot of space for the rays to pass through.

A hole is dug according to the size of the root, rotted manure and old foliage mixed with sand (20 cm layer) are poured into it. The roots of the seedling should be well straightened and planted, sprinkled with earth. You need to water immediately abundantly. When the bush takes root, it is imperative to create a manure mulch around it.

Important! If possible, it is better to plant a bush on a small hill, since the pomegranate does not like an excessively humid environment - in this case, the roots can rot.

Watering and feeding the plant

Watering weekly- if the bush is large, then a standard bucket of water (10 l). It must be kept at room temperature. If the summer is dry, water more often or more. Important to remember, that the grenade is harmed not only by a lack, but also by an excess of moisture. If the leaves begin to crumble, most likely, the bush has little moisture.

Top dressing should be done at the very end of spring, making mineral fertilizer. If organic fertilizers (humus, mullein, chicken manure) are applied regularly (1-2 times a month) during the season, the bush will grow much faster.

pomegranate pruning

To form beautiful crown, you need to leave 4-5 trunks. You can do this in spring or autumn. All dried shoots must be removed throughout the season. It is also necessary to remove basal offspring - they take a lot of moisture and nutrients.

How to care for a pomegranate tree during flowering and fruiting

If the care of the plant is good (first of all, it is connected with watering and fertilizers), then it can bloom in the first 2 years. During flowering and ovary formation, cooler water (18 ° C) should be used for irrigation. Important also slightly reduce the usual volumes (by a quarter) of moisture. Before the formation of the ovary, superphosphate fertilizer must be applied to the soil.

Preparing a pomegranate for winter

All work is carried out in October, before the onset of the first frost:

The branches are bent to the ground in 1 row and pinned with staples.
Polyethylene is placed on top of them and also fixed.
Next comes a layer of earth (20-30 cm).

Important! The stems of the bush must be treated with a 3% solution of Bordeaux liquid or another fungicide so that they are not attacked by microscopic fungi.

Problems in growing pomegranate

If you do not follow the conditions for care, the pomegranate will almost immediately respond with external signs of deviation from the norm.

Falling and yellowing of leaves

If the leaves begin to fall off and turn yellow, this may be the result of 3 reasons at once:

insufficient watering and the level of humidity in the air;
lack of fertilizers;
the location of the bush in a heavily shaded place.

Important! Pomegranate is a deciduous plant, so yellowing and dropping of flowers in autumn is normal.

Why does the pomegranate not bloom?

This is one of the most common problems. WITH The most likely cause is the lack of sufficient fertilizer. They need to be applied at least 2 times a month during the warm season.

Also, the reasons may be associated with a lack of light - in this case, it is important to analyze the condition of the foliage. If it is sluggish and turns yellow, then the plant does not receive enough sunlight.

Pomegranate tree diseases and their treatment

Pomegranate diseases are associated with yellowing and loss of leaves, lack of flowers or ovaries. There is also a specific disease. associated with the fact that the branches of the plant begin to peel off and die. It's called branch cancer and is manifested by cracked bark, the appearance of foreign formations; in addition, the branches begin to dry out in mass quantities. All diseased shoots should be removed immediately.

Pomegranate pests and their control

There are several dangerous insects for this bush:

The pomegranate codling moth harms the fruits by laying its eggs in them. Such fruits must be immediately removed and destroyed, and any insecticides will do to fight the butterfly.
Pomegranate aphid - especially loves to eat young, non-lignified branches. To combat it, the tree is sprayed with an infusion of tobacco and soap (ratio 10: 1).
Mealybug.
spider mite leaves whitish cobwebs on branches and leaves. They also fight these insects with the help of universal insecticidal agents.

Pomegranate blossom (video)

Thus, you can grow a pomegranate and wait for flowers and fruits from it both at home and in the open field. At proper care the bush grows beautiful, sprawling, with bright flowers, thanks to which it fits well into the design of any flower garden.

Indoor or dwarf pomegranate is the most unpretentious exotic plant that amateur flower growers grow at home because of its beautiful long flowering, and some still like to enjoy its exotic fruits, so healthy and tasty.

Pomegranate or, in other words, Pomegranate (Punica) belongs to the Loosefly family (Lythraceae). Their genus includes only two species of low deciduous trees and shrubs. Russian name, due to its granular fruit structure, pomegranate received from the Latin word granatus (granular). And the generic name punica comes from the name of the area where the thickets of these pomegranates were first discovered (punicus is translated from Latin as Punic or Carthaginian, now it is the region of modern Tunisia).

According to legend, the pomegranate came to us from Carthage under the name of the Punic apple. Zeus's wife, Hera, often held a pomegranate in her hands, considering it a pledge of their happy marriage. In Greece, the pomegranate was a symbol of fertility. In ancient Persia, the pomegranate personified passionate love. At all times and everywhere, people appreciated the decorative qualities and beneficial properties of this exotic fruit.

Varieties of pomegranate suitable for growing at home

The most suitable for growing indoors is a variety of common pomegranate - dwarf pomegranate (Punica nana). This flower, both potted and seeded, is sold in flower shops under the general name "Dwarf pomegranate" (Punica granatum "NANA"). On sale you can find seeds of indoor pomegranates of two varieties: "Carthage" and "Baby".

variety Carthage

Indoor pomegranate varieties "Carthage dwarf" grows at home in the form of a tree up to 80 cm tall. The leaves are quite small, no more than 2 cm in length. If the flower is grown from seeds, then flowering and, moreover, fruiting, will come no earlier than in 6-8 years. Seed germination of this variety of indoor pomegranate is very low. It blooms from May to August with red flowers, up to 4 cm in diameter. The fruits are small, no more than 5 - 6 cm in diameter, slightly sour, but juicy and tasty.

Indoor pomegranate varieties "Baby" are usually grown from seeds in the form of a shrub. A low bush, from 30 to 50 cm, has 5 - 7 skeletal branches. Elongated leaves grow on twigs in groups evenly, throughout the pomegranate bush. This variety of pomegranate blooms in the third - fourth year of life.

Baby variety

Its flowers are large, up to 7 cm long, bright red. They are single or collected in 5-7 pieces per bundle. In the first year of a plant's life, all its flowers are empty flowers. The following year, miniature yellowish-brown fruits with a red blush, 5-7 cm in size, may be tied. Fruit ripening ends in mid-winter. Pomegranates of this species require artificial pollination. If more than 5 fruits are tied on a pomegranate, the extra pomegranates should be removed.

But not always indoor pomegranate bears fruit, it happens that it does not bloom at all for many years. In this case, we recommend grafting a branch from a fruiting specimen onto it.

Height different varieties grenades is somewhat different, but they are all small in size, no more than one meter. With regular restraining pruning and proper care, any plant can be reduced to 30 cm in height without losing its decorative effect and abundant fruiting. The leaves of the dwarf pomegranate are small, oval, glossy, up to 3 cm long. In spring, young leaves have a bronze color, in summer they turn green, and in autumn they turn yellow. The fruits, the so-called pomegranates, also do not exceed 3-7 cm in diameter. They are colored orange-yellow and darker shades, up to reddish and brown. Pomegranate is a spherical multi-seeded berry, divided inside into 6-12 chambers. Its pericarp is leathery, thick, usually red-brown in color. The seeds are placed in red-burgundy capsules filled with pomegranate juice. The beneficial properties of dwarf pomegranate fruits are the same as those of common pomegranate, but the taste is much worse.

Indoor pomegranates at home are cultivated more often in the form of a shrub with 5 - 7 strong stems, less often - in the form of a tree. They are grown for the long flowering of numerous bright flowers, and the fruits are tried to be almost completely removed. The pomegranates remaining on the plant (usually 2-3 pieces) ripen at room conditions in November-January. If you leave all the ovaries, fruiting can greatly deplete the strength of the plant, and on next year flowering will be less spectacular. When the plant grows up and gets stronger, after 3-4 years, you can leave all the ovaries on it in order to enjoy the exceptional spectacle of a profusely flowering and, at the same time, fruiting dwarf pomegranate at home.

The dwarf pomegranate was even awarded a diploma from the Royal Horticultural Society of Great Britain for its decorative effect and other exceptional characteristics.

home care

Indoor pomegranate is a rather unpretentious plant, caring for it is simple and easy. We will acquaint you with the conditions of his content in the home.

Lighting

Fitolamp lighting

Good lighting is one of the main conditions for an excellent type of indoor pomegranate, its development and constant flowering. In summer, it can be taken out to the balcony or planted in the garden. An adult plant feels good outdoors in direct sunlight. But young seedlings should be accustomed to the street gradually, leaving no more than two to three hours a day in the sun, and at noon it is necessary to bring pots with plants into shaded places. This will avoid sunburn its young leaves. When placing pomegranate pots in a room, choose windowsills other than those facing north. At noon, it is necessary to protect plants from direct sunlight, especially young specimens, with blinds or curtains.

With a lack of lighting, as happens in early spring or with prolonged cloudy weather in summer, we recommend using additional lighting with phyto lamps or fluorescent lamps.

In winter natural light it happens even less, and a room pomegranate can partially shed its leaves. But if you pick up powerful enough phyto lamps and organize a light day for a flower no shorter than 12 hours, then it will delight you with its flowering and fruiting even at this time.

Ambient temperature

Pomegranate is a thermophilic plant. V wild nature it grows at quite high temperatures. But indoor specimens are quite satisfied with a moderate temperature in the range of 25 - 30 ° C. during the growing season. If the temperature in the room rises higher, then you should take the flower pot to a cooler place. In summer it is a balcony or a veranda in the garden. Spraying with cool water will help in the spring. In a hot and stuffy room, indoor pomegranate will begin to lose foliage and buds, and will slow down its growth. Ventilate the room, do not let the air stagnate.

The dwarf pomegranate also does not like low temperatures. At sub-zero temperatures he dies. When the ambient temperature on the veranda or balcony is below 15 ° C, the flower pot should be brought into the room.

Watering

Water the flower should be moderate, and after it dries well upper layer soil in a pot. Water for irrigation use settled, soft, room temperature. If you sent a pomegranate to rest in the winter, water it at this time no more than once a month. But this remark is suitable for an adult plant (for 5-6 years). A young pomegranate will need to be watered once a week. You will begin to water the indoor pomegranate more often and more abundantly from February, when you return the flower to its former bright, warm place on the windowsill. The soil will need to be completely saturated with moisture in order to activate all the vital processes of the flower. Abundant watering of the flower is needed before flowering. But during the flowering of pomegranate, from May to September, watering the plant should be reduced.

In the wild, it blooms during the hottest and driest period of the year, and excessive moisture can provoke the pomegranate, and it will drop all the buds. But, and forget about watering the pomegranate on for a long time not worth it - prolonged drought will stress the root system, which can also lead to the complete loss of all buds and the loss of decorativeness of the flower.

That is, water the indoor pomegranate regularly and when the topsoil is completely dry - and everything will be fine.

If fruits ripen on a pomegranate tree, it should be watered with caution in the fall, as abundant watering can lead to cracking of the fruits.

Air humidity

Humidity should be moderate. If the humidity is too low, we recommend spraying the flower and the surrounding air with cool water. Will increase the humidity by installing next to a wide-capacity pot with cool water and wet cleaning premises. Wipe the leaves from dust with a damp clean cloth.

High humidity in the room is also useless, it will help to reduce frequent airings. But drafts are not allowed.

The soil

Everyone knows that the pomegranate in the wild grows on poor soils in arid regions of the Earth. But, to grow a beautiful decorative indoor specimen, you will have to choose a more nutritious soil mix. It should be loose, moisture and breathable, with a neutral pH = 7. Suitable purchased soil for roses and begonias. At the bottom of the pot there should be a good drainage layer of expanded clay or large river pebbles.

top dressing

Dwarf pomegranate is grateful for regular feeding. From February to summer, he needs nitrogen-phosphorus fertilizers. At this time, the buds are being laid, the pomegranate is preparing for abundant flowering. Top dressing is carried out once every two weeks, not more often. Closer to autumn, fertilizing with nitrogen fertilizers is replaced with potassium fertilizers.

It must be remembered that fertilizers can only be applied to moist soil, for example, the next day after the next watering. Preferably in the morning or evening hours, to root system didn't get burned. In cloudy weather, you can feed the plant during the day.

If indoor pomegranate is grown for the sake of fruits, then it should be fertilized with extreme caution. It is better to feed it not with mineral fertilizers, but with organic matter, so that excess nitrates do not accumulate in the fruits. If you already feed it with purchased fertilizers, choose fertilizers for fruit and berry crops and follow the recommendations on the package. In addition, if the pomegranate is overfed with nitrogen supplements, it will not bloom and there will be no fruit.

pruning

Pruning indoor dwarf pomegranate has a beneficial effect on its decorative appearance, ability to bloom and bear fruit. A pomegranate bush or tree grows very quickly. During the season, it, without pruning, will more than double in volume. At the same time, its numerous thin crooked shoots will form the crown in a chaotic way. To make the pomegranate look not only neat and compact, but also healthy, it should be well cut.

The pruning procedure is carried out several times a year. The first time - at the beginning of the growing season. After hibernation, if your pomegranate rested in a dark, cool place, you move it to a bright, warm place and cut off all the dry branches, as well as some of the small and unnecessary shoots. To encourage branching, trim the young shoot above the outward-facing bud, leaving no more than 5 internodes on it. Strongly cut the plant is not worth it, it can weaken. Leave no more than 6 skeletal branches that are stronger.

It is important to know that buds form only on well-developed annual shoots. Try not to break them when cutting!

You can grow a pomegranate in the form of a bush with 3 - 5 skeletal branches. But, if you cut off the entire root growth, you get a pomegranate tree, with a low stem and four to five skeletal branches. Over time, four to five branches of the second order are laid on each skeletal branch, and after that branches of the third order are formed on them. Excess shoots are cut out, like old branches, on which there will no longer be a crop. Pomegranate sets fruit only on the shoots of the current year.

In summer, during the active growing season of indoor pomegranates, it is also possible to prune extra branches - stretched out or growing inside the crown. Don't worry - pomegranate tolerates such pruning well.

After flowering, if there are no fruits on the branches, the pomegranate is cut again, for the third time. Remove thin weak branches, thin out inner space crowns.

Transplantation of indoor pomegranate. Suitable pot

Young specimens of dwarf pomegranates, it is advisable not to transplant the first two to three years into other containers. When the pomegranates grow and get stronger, and their root system fills the entire space of the pot, transplant your flower into new pot, slightly larger. Moreover, it must be borne in mind that the roots of a pomegranate grow more in breadth than in depth. Therefore, the pot requires a wide, but not very deep. Pomegranate at room conditions likes to grow in a cramped pot. Transplantation is carried out by transshipment.

It is best to do this in early spring. In a new pot, 2-3 cm wider than the old one, lay a drainage layer of expanded clay or clean pebbles, some fresh soil (buy ready-made soil with a neutral pH 7 in the store, for example, soil for growing roses or begonias). Remove your flower from the old pot along with a clod of root earth. Pomegranate roots grow superficially, excess, depleted earth will remain in the old pot, it must be thrown out. Place the pomegranate in the middle of the new pot. Fill the free space with soil, while gently shaking the flower container to fill all the voids inside it. For the next three years, every spring, transplant your pomegranate into a new container with a slightly larger diameter. At the age of 6 years, indoor dwarf pomegranates are considered adult plants. Now they are rarely transplanted, if necessary, and in pots of the same size. Or they don’t transplant at all, but only replace the top layer of the substrate in the old pot with a new one. Usually, a 5 liter pot is enough for an adult plant. Too large a pot for a pomegranate is not good - it will bloom more abundantly if the root system is in flower pot it will be tight.

reproduction

Indoor pomegranates propagate with the help of seeds, seeds and layering.

Propagation with seeds

Only species forms of pomegranate are suitable for propagation by seeds, because the seeds of varieties do not retain the characteristic properties of the mother plant. This method is mainly used to develop new selections. Seeds can be collected from a flowering pomegranate at home or bought in special stores. Before planting, they are soaked for a day in a solution of some kind of growth stimulator (for example, in Kornevin). Then they are dried and sown in containers with suitable loose soil under the lid. Put the greenhouse in a bright warm place. Make sure that the soil in the container does not dry out, spray it in time with warm, settled water using a spray gun. Ventilate. Wait 2 - 3 weeks for germination. Seedlings dive into separate cups when the first three true leaves appear. It should be remembered that pomegranates grown from seeds will begin to bloom and bear fruit only after 5 to 8 years.

Reproduction with bones

Seed planting

If you want to grow a pomegranate from the seeds of your home-ripened fruit, there is no problem. To do this, take the seeds from the largest, well-ripened fruits. Such bones are creamy in color, they are firm to the touch. Greenish and soft seeds are not suitable for sprouting! Carefully prepare the bones for planting. Remove all the pulp from them, rinse them well in cool water, possibly with potassium permanganate, then dry them properly. This will prevent the seeds from rotting during storage and germination. Dry pomegranate seeds remain viable for up to six months.

In the spring, preferably in April, plant the seeds in loose nutrient soil to a depth of 0.5 - 1 cm. In a pot with drainage under the film. Before planting, you can soak the planting material in a small amount of water with the addition of 2-3 drops of Zircon or Epin to it for 12 hours. This stimulates the germination process. The solution should not completely cover the bones, in addition to moisture, they need oxygen.

Choose a well-lit, warm place for the pot. The seed germination temperature is 25-27°C. Keep track of soil moisture. As the top layer dries, the planting should be moistened with warm, settled water using a spray bottle so as not to inadvertently wash out the soil. Seedlings appear quickly enough in spring, and seeds planted at other times of the year can sit in a pot for several months.

Plant the strongest specimens in the phase of two or three true leaves in separate small pots, up to 6 cm in diameter. Shoots, 10 cm long and forming three pairs of leaves, are pinched for better tillering of the flower. Place pots of young pomegranates on the warmest, lightest window sill. They need daily sunbathing and at least two hours a day. Still protect from the midday sun with blinds. Ventilate the room - grenades love Fresh air.

If pomegranate sprouts appeared in winter, they will have to be illuminated with a phyto lamp.

You need to know that a pomegranate grown from the seed of an ordinary large fruit bought on the market will bloom only after 7 to 8 years. And the plant turns out to be large - it is unlikely that it will fit into the dimensions of your house. In room culture, it makes sense to grow only compact decorative dwarf-sized pomegranates.

Reproduction by cuttings

Indoor pomegranate cuttings

We recommend this particular method of pomegranate propagation due to the high survival rate of cuttings and their complete preservation of the genetic characteristics of the mother plant. If you are going to root cuttings from your pomegranate in the summer, choose for this well-ripened semi-lignified shoots about 10 - 15 cm long, so that they have at least 4 - 5 buds. In winter, usually in February, lignified pomegranate shoots of the same length are used for rooting. But their rooting takes much longer and with greater losses. In any case, treat the prepared cuttings with root growth stimulants (Kornevin, for example), remove a pair of lower buds from them and then place them in a container with nutritious loose soil at an angle, to a depth of 3 cm, cover it with a film or jar. Daily airing, spraying, if necessary, watering is necessary. The rooting process is rather slow, and some cuttings may die. Therefore, we recommend that you cut them immediately with a margin, 4-5 pieces. Rooted cuttings after two to three months can be transplanted into pots prepared for constant growth. The next year, a young seedling will delight you with its flowering, and fruiting will be in a couple of years.

Indoor pomegranate can still be propagated by vaccination. A varietal cutting is grafted onto a pomegranate rootstock grown from seed. It is taken from a healthy adult plant that consistently bears fruit. Get vaccinated different ways, depending on the thickness of the rootstock and cuttings, there are a great many of them.

The simplest for beginner flower growers are vaccinations by simple copulation, behind the bark, in a split, in the butt and in a side cut. You should choose your own type of vaccination and try to implement it. You can use the services of a specialist. If the varietal cutting takes root, the pomegranate will bloom in three to four years.

Winter hibernation indoor pomegranate

Does indoor pomegranate need hibernation?

If you are unable to provide your pet with constant good lighting, it makes sense to talk about the winter rest period of the pomegranate. Usually, it happens from November to February. At this time, it is necessary to place the flower in a cool room, water less, do not feed, wait for spring. Lowering the temperature in a city apartment is problematic. You can put a flower pot close to window glass, separating it with polyethylene from the rest of the room. Or you can take out the pomegranate for this time in a heated basement.

But, we argue that in winter, at normal room temperature, good lighting up to 12 hours. per day (with the help of a powerful phyto lamp), pomegranate will feel cheerful and comfortable. The formation of numerous flower buds will not stop at this time.

Indoor pomegranate diseases

If your pomegranate grows in unfavorable conditions for it - high humidity, mustiness of the room, low temperature - then he can get sick. More often than other diseases, powdery mildew is found on the pomegranate.

With frequent abundant watering, the leaves of the pomegranate may turn yellow. Perhaps the roots of the plant could not stand excess moisture started to rot. Remove the flower from the pot, remove the rotten parts of the root system, wash the healthy roots in potassium permanganate, dry them, sprinkle the cuts with activated charcoal, and plant the pomegranate in a new nutrient loose soil. The pot should contain a good drainage layer. Water sparingly. In order for the root system to take root and cope with the loads, trim the crown of your diseased plant by one third.

If the pomegranate began to fall leaves, the reasons may be different. If this occurs at the end of the growing season, then this is normal. The pomegranate is preparing for winter dormancy. If the leaves fall during the active cycle of the plant, you may not be watering your flower enough or feeding it poorly. Analyze your plant care actions - perhaps the room is too hot, even stuffy - the pomegranate loves fresh air, frequent spraying, nutritious soil, a cramped pot with a good drainage layer.

Pests of indoor pomegranates

Indoor or dwarf pomegranate is a very interesting exotic plant. Subject to the simple rules of cultivation and care at home, pomegranate all year round will delight you with its bright green glossy leaves, large purple flowers and miniature fabulous fruits. Caring for a pomegranate will not take you much time and effort, but you will get full pleasure. Try experimenting with it appearance. You can give the pomegranate any shape - he is very grateful for pruning and pinching his shoots. You can even master the art of bonsai using the example of a pomegranate. But it has been noticed that it is better to grow a spectacular decorative dwarf pomegranate, constantly blooming and hung with fruits, for caring and good-natured people who are interested in taking care of their pet, enjoying every flower and tiny fruit.

The pomegranate fruit is known to everyone. A red fruit with the same filling is considered one of the best helpers in increasing hemoglobin in the blood. And, meanwhile, it has other useful properties. Read more about where the pomegranate grows and how it is used, read below.

General description about the pomegranate
Popular varieties of pomegranate
Useful properties of pomegranate
Contraindications for the use of pomegranate
Interesting Pomegranate Facts
Recommendations for choosing fruits
Video about grenade

General description about the pomegranate

pomegranate trees

The birthplace of the pomegranate tree is Central Asia and North Africa, Persia (present-day Iran). To date, pomegranate is cultivated in all subtropical countries. In nearby regions, the tree can be found in Azerbaijan, the Crimea, the Mediterranean.

A pomegranate tree can grow up to 5 m in height, but more often it has the shape of a bush. Refers to deciduous species. Blooms profusely and long from May to August. The flowers on the trees are large, bright orange, up to 3 cm in diameter.

The fruits ripen from September to February, depending on the variety. Outside, the peel has a red-brown hue, inside there are numerous seeds with juicy bright pulp. The edible seed coat makes up 50% of the weight of the whole fruit. They are between white spongy partitions. One pomegranate can contain from 200 to 1400 seeds.

pomegranate blossom

Popular varieties of pomegranate

More than 500 cultivars of this fruit have been developed. Of the Iranian varieties, the Asvad, Akhmar, and Sharodi pomegranates are considered the sweetest. From Indian: "Dholka", "Bedana". There is a seedless variety of pomegranate - "Vanderful", grown in America. On the market you can often find the Crimean striped pomegranate, which was bred in the Nikitsky Botanical Garden. It is an early-growing variety with small seeds and sweet and sour pulp.

Useful properties of pomegranate

Pomegranate is an amazing fruit, because the beneficial properties are contained in its pulp, seeds, and peel. From the bones, bark, peel, various medicines are made. As part of the fruit: vitamins C, P, B6, B12, acids, fiber, tannin.

The pomegranate itself, due to the high content of nutrients, quenches thirst well, increases appetite, promotes the production of hemoglobin, the formation of red blood cells. The fruit strengthens the walls of blood vessels and nervous system. It is recommended to use it for the prevention of colds, problems with the thyroid gland and the heart.

All parts of the pomegranate contain beneficial substances

V traditional medicine decoctions from the peel and flowers are used as an anti-inflammatory agent for gargling. Also, various infusions are prepared from the peel, which have an antihelminthic and stomach-strengthening effect. The juice from the grains has a diuretic and choleretic effect. Pomegranate oil is obtained from the seeds.

Natural pomegranate juice helps prevent cancer, improves immunity. It contains 15 types of amino acids. Juice helps to normalize blood pressure, has a diuretic and antiseptic effect, helps to normalize the work of the stomach.

Contraindications for the use of pomegranate

Despite a lot of advantages, pomegranate also has contraindications. Pomegranate juice is contraindicated in people suffering from chronic stomach diseases such as gastritis and ulcers. It is not recommended to give it to children under 1 year old, and for children under 7 years old, it is better to dilute pomegranate juice with water.

Freshly squeezed pomegranate juice can negative impact on tooth enamel. Therefore, it is better to dilute it with water or rinse your mouth thoroughly after use. The peel contains not only vitamins, but also harmful substances (alkanoids, isopelletierin, pelletierin), so you should take homemade remedies only after consulting a doctor.

Pomegranate juice should be used with caution

Pomegranate juice is healthier than apple, pineapple, orange.
The pomegranate fruit contains 40% of the daily dose of vitamins for an adult.
Pomegranate contains more antioxidants than green tea.
Pomegranate juice helps fight excess weight and is part of many diets.
This fruit is one of the most commonly used in folk medicine.

Video all about pomegranate fruits, its seeds, peel and juice

The use of pomegranate fruits and juice

You can often meet the question: how to eat pomegranate: with or without seeds? Because bones are complex carbohydrates and are dietary fiber, they are not digested in the stomach. But the chewed pomegranate seeds, passing through the gastrointestinal tract, absorb harmful substances and bring them out.

The bones contain vitamin E, polyunsaturated acids and vegetable fats, they improve the overall hormonal balance in the body. The use of fruit with seeds helps to normalize blood pressure, reduce headaches, and reduce PMS in women.

Pomegranate seeds must be chewed. This should be done with care as they may have different hardness. It is believed that whole bones, when consumed, provoke inflammation of the appendix, and they will not absorb harmful substances from the tract in this case.

The peel of a ripe pomegranate has no cracks or defects.

When choosing a pomegranate, pay attention to the peel - it should have a dark red tint, be free of defects and cracks. It is better to choose a large fruit, as it will have the most juicy seeds. The heavier the pomegranate, the juicier its flesh.

The ripeness of the fruit can also be judged by tapping. A ripe pomegranate will make a metallic sound, while an unripe pomegranate will produce a dull sound. Overripe fruits make a muffled sound, dents may remain on the peel. Try the pomegranate to the touch. A good fruit will be firm, but a bit resilient. If traces remain on the peel, it is better not to buy such a fruit.

By consuming pomegranate regularly, you will provide your body with vitamins. Pay attention to contraindications so that the use of pomegranate brings only benefits.