Pomegranate indoor care at home photo. Indoor pomegranate "Baby" cultivation, care, reproduction

Oranges and lemons on the windowsill are already a typical occurrence. Therefore, amateur flower growers are “domesticating” all new exotic crops - kiwi, pineapples, pomegranates, which not only bear tasty and healthy fruits, but also bloom very beautifully. Breeders have bred several specifically for cultivation in captivity. dwarf varieties. Among them is Baby, who is distinguished by his miniature and unpretentiousness.

What does Baby pomegranate look like?

In nature, pomegranate is a low (2–2.5 m) tree or spreading shrub. The fruits of the latter are no smaller in size, but they have a very piquant sourness in taste.

“Natural” pomegranates are much larger than those ripened at home

The Latin name of pomegranate (Punicia) translates as “Punic” or “Carthaginian”. It was this state, located on the territory of modern Tunisia, that was the main supplier of tasty fruits to the Roman Empire. Its inhabitants quickly appreciated pomegranates; they became a symbol of fertility and long-term passionate love. And in Ancient Greece the fruit was one of the attributes of Zeus’s wife, Hera, and meant happiness in marriage. The Russian “pomegranate” comes from another Latin word, granatus (translated as “grainy”).

Indoor or dwarf pomegranates are a recent achievement of breeders. The Baby variety is especially notable for its miniature size. The height of an adult plant does not exceed 50 cm, but this does not in any way affect the abundance of flowering or the ability to bear fruit.

The height of an adult Baby pomegranate does not exceed half a meter

Baby's fruits do not exceed 3–4 cm in diameter (about the size of a walnut). But their taste is practically no different from “real” pomegranates. The benefits do not suffer either. Any pomegranate contains a lot of anthocyanins, which help increase the level of hemoglobin in the blood, have a beneficial effect on the digestive system, and have anti-inflammatory properties.

It takes about six months for indoor pomegranate fruits to ripen.

Most often, Baby pomegranate at home is a shrub consisting of 5–7 main shoots. If desired, a tree with one trunk can also be formed from it, but this does not have the best effect on the condition of the plant, preventing its normal growth. The thickness of Baby's branches is only 1.2–1.5 cm. The shoots are covered with smooth or slightly pubescent bark of a light gray color (sometimes with a brownish tint).

A tree is not the most natural configuration for an indoor pomegranate; it is quite difficult to form due to the fragility of the shoots

Indoor pomegranate- deciduous plant. If he “goes bald” in the fall, this is the norm, and not the first sign of some exotic disease. During the growing season, thanks to its shiny leaves of a rich dark green hue, it looks very attractive even without flowers and fruits.

The leaves are entire, have an elongated lanceolate shape and moderately “corrugated” edges. They are collected in “bundles” on branches evenly distributed throughout the plant, and the two that are located on the opposite edges of each “bundle”, opposite each other, are significantly larger than the others. The central vein is very clearly expressed, but from the inside out. The newly emerged leaves have an unusual bronze tint.

Baby's flowers are up to 6–7 cm long and about 2.5–3 cm in diameter, six-petaled, located on the tips of the shoots. The petals are in the shape of a wide oval, with a moderately “wrinkled” surface, the tips are slightly bent back. They are painted in bright blood scarlet, purple or crimson. The first buds appear 3–4 years after planting the seeds. If this happens earlier, it is recommended to cut them off - flowering greatly depletes the young, fragile plant.

On an indoor pomegranate you can simultaneously see flowers and ripening fruits

Flowers are either “male” or “female”. The former play the role of pollinators, lack a pistil and are shaped like bells. The latter are more like water lilies; it is in them that the fruits are set. On average, three to five “female” flowers are formed per hundred. Flowering does not stop even while the fruits are ripening.

The plant may be literally strewn with ovaries, but it will not have enough strength to “feed” everything due to its miniature dimensions. Therefore, it is recommended to leave 3–6 pieces and remove the rest. The same is advised if Baby is grown only for flowering. Fruiting greatly depletes the plant; next season it will not be as abundant and spectacular. Pomegranates ripen towards mid-winter. This takes about six months.

The taste of Baby pomegranate fruit depends on how much heat and light the plant receives

At home, Baby pomegranate is most often grown from seeds. They can be purchased without any problems at any specialized store. As practice shows, germination is not bad, at the level of 50–60%. Viable seeds can also be obtained from independently grown fruits.

Self-grown indoor pomegranate seeds are no worse than purchased ones; plants obtained by generative methods inherit the selection characteristics of the “parent”

Optimal conditions for the plant

The homeland of natural pomegranate is North Africa, therefore, as you might guess, this plant is warm and light-loving. This feature inherited from ancestors and indoor variety Baby. It is imperative to listen to its requirements regarding the microclimate, because flowering is possible only in optimal conditions. It also determines how sweet the fruits will be and whether they will turn completely red.

Baby pomegranate is placed on a south or southeast windowsill, where it will receive enough light

Baby needs a lot of light, but it must be diffused. Young plants should be especially carefully protected from direct sunlight. They are adapted to their permanent “place of residence” (window sill of a south or south-east window) gradually, starting from 2–3 hours a day. But even for adult specimens, shading is desirable during the hottest midday hours. The pot can be covered with tulle, a paper screen, gauze, or blinds.

The lighting requirements of pomegranates do not change throughout the year, therefore, in order to ensure daylight hours lasting 10–12 hours, additional lighting will be needed in autumn and winter (and in cloudy weather in summer). You can use special phytolamps or regular fluorescent ones.

Phytolamps help extend daylight hours for indoor plant up to the required 10–12 hours

Baby has a very positive attitude towards fresh air. If the temperature outside is suitable (25–30ºС), you can safely take it out onto the loggia, balcony, veranda or terrace. In the presence of garden plot For the summer, the plant is sometimes even transplanted into open ground or buried in a pot. It is advisable to place it so that the pomegranate is covered from the west and north by a natural or artificial barrier to protect it from cold drafts. And the crown of a tree growing nearby will create the necessary partial shade.

Indoor pomegranate Baby feels great on outdoors, if the weather is suitable for it

Baby loves warmth, but not extreme heat. At temperatures above 35ºС, especially in combination with low air humidity, its “defense mechanism” is activated: the pomegranate partially sheds its leaves and practically stops growing.

In nature, pomegranate blooms and bears fruit all year round, but at home it needs “rest.” The dormant period lasts about four months, from November to February. The minimum time for which it is necessary to ensure a change in conditions of detention is 6 weeks.

The beginning of the dormant period is easy to notice - the plant sheds its leaves completely or partially. In this case, the fruits, if any, remain on the branches. During wintering, it is kept cool (8–10ºС), fertilizing is stopped, and the number of waterings is reduced to once every 3–6 weeks (this depends on the age of the plant and the size of the bush). If the fruits ripen, the temperature should be slightly higher - 12–14ºС. Appropriate place for wintering pomegranates - a glazed loggia. The critical minimum for Baby is 5–6ºС.

In winter, indoor pomegranate Baby looks exactly like this, this is completely normal for the plant

Indoor pomegranate does not need high air humidity. It only needs spraying in extreme heat. The rest of the time, the standard 50–60% will suit him quite well. You can also place a special device for humidifying the air next to the plant or place containers with cool water. But Baby doesn’t like stuffiness, like cold drafts. Therefore, the room must be ventilated regularly, but carefully.

Spraying for indoor pomegranate is a useful and pleasant, but not strictly necessary procedure

Planting and transplanting procedure

Most often, at home, Baby pomegranate is grown from seeds. They can be purchased at any specialized store or obtained from fruits ripened on an adult plant. In the latter case, they must be thoroughly cleaned of pulp (the remaining scraps can become a source of rot). Seeds that are greenish in color or soft to the touch are not suitable for planting. Best time for the procedure - April or May.

Seeds can also be extracted from regular store-bought pomegranates. But such a plant will bloom at least seven to eight years after planting, and possibly later. In addition, its dimensions will not fit into most modern apartments.

Baby has no special requirements for the substrate. Its main conditions are a neutral acid-base balance (pH 7.0) and good aeration. Nevertheless, flowering and fruiting always take a lot of energy from the plant, so the soil must also be nutritious. You can mix the soil yourself from equal amounts of humus, black soil or turf soil, peat chips and coarse sand, but store-bought substrate is also quite suitable, for example, for roses and begonias. Also a good option is soil for citrus fruits mixed with expanded clay and sand (3:1:1).

Special soil for roses is also quite suitable for growing indoor pomegranates

The root system, even in adult plants, is superficial, so there is no need to purchase a large, wide pot. The correct container for indoor pomegranate is similar to a salad bowl or a deep plate. The pomegranate pot should be a little cramped - this promotes abundant flowering. In a container that is too spacious, all the plant’s energy goes into developing the surrounding space.

The Baby pomegranate does not need a deep, voluminous pot: it blooms better when the roots are a little cramped

In the landing procedure itself and further care there is nothing complicated:

The seeds are soaked for 8–10 hours in a solution of any biostimulant (Epin, Zircon, potassium humate) so that it does not cover them entirely. Also suitable succinic acid and aloe juice.
Small plastic cups filled with freshly prepared sterilized substrate (a mixture of peat and coarse sand in approximately equal proportions). First you need to make drainage holes in them. A drainage layer 2–3 cm thick is required. The soil is watered moderately. To disinfect it, hold it over steam and leave it in freezer or baked in the oven.
Seeds are planted in containers, deepened by 4–5 mm. The soil is sprayed with a spray bottle, the pots are covered with glass or transparent film, creating a “greenhouse”. Condensation often accumulates there, so it will need to be ventilated daily by opening for 5–7 minutes. Optimal conditions for seeds are a dark place, temperature about 25ºС, bottom heating.
Shoots appear in approximately 12–16 days. As soon as this happens, the cover can be removed. The containers are rearranged, providing 10–12 hours of daylight, as for adult plants. As the soil dries, moisten it with a spray bottle.
Seedlings with three pairs of true leaves are transplanted into pots with a diameter of 7–8 cm filled with soil suitable for adult pomegranates. During the first two years of life, they must be especially carefully protected from direct sunlight. When they grow to 12–15 cm, pomegranates are pinched, stimulating branching.

Baby pomegranate seeds sprout quickly and quickly

Baby pomegranate grows quite quickly. When transplanting for the first time, a pot with a volume of 0.5–0.7 liters is enough. Then it is increased annually by another 0.5 liters. Plants that are six years old are considered mature and do not need further enlargement of the pot. A container with a volume of 4–5 liters is enough for them. There is no need to increase it further, but you will have to change the substrate every 2-3 years. Transplantation is carried out using the transshipment method, trying to disturb the fragile roots as little as possible.

The volume of the pot for Baby pomegranate seedlings is increased gradually; it is not recommended to purchase a container “for growth”

Indoor pomegranate needs regular pruning. Therefore, it can be propagated not only by seeds, but also vegetatively. The stalk is the tip of a fruiting shoot about 10 cm long with five to six growth buds. The procedure for rooting them is almost no different from germinating seeds, with the only difference being that they are soaked in a biostimulant solution for 4–6 hours.

Planting material for propagating indoor pomegranate by cuttings can be obtained in abundance during the process of pruning the plant

Video: planting pomegranate seeds

Important nuances of plant care

Indoor pomegranate of the Baby variety is deservedly considered unpretentious plant. Even a novice gardener can take care of it.

Despite the fact that the plant’s homeland is North Africa, its main requirement is abundant watering. But you can’t over-moisten the soil to avoid rotting the roots. To avoid stagnation of moisture in the pot, a layer of drainage must be placed at the bottom, and approximately half an hour after each watering, excess water is drained from the pan. Before the procedure, it is advisable to slightly loosen the soil.

The soil in the pot should be allowed to dry 1.5–2 cm deep, no more.

Most often, indoor pomegranate fruits crack due to too much watering.

This can be easily checked using wooden stick or toothpicks. In extreme heat, moisten the soil every day or every other day; in cooler weather, 2-3 times a week is enough. The frequency is adjusted depending on the phase of plant development. Pomegranates that have just emerged from hibernation are watered abundantly, while those that are blooming are watered sparingly (this helps the fruit set). Those on which fruits have formed - as the soil dries. It is important not to overdo it so that they do not crack. The faded plant is again watered abundantly - in the fall it forms flower buds for next year.

In nature, pomegranate blooms at the height of the dry season. Therefore, abundant watering at this time will lead to the plant dropping all its buds.

Water for watering and spraying (in hot weather you can also wipe the leaves) should be soft and heated to room temperature. Be sure to leave the tap water for at least a day and add a few granules of citric acid or 2-3 drops to it apple cider vinegar for 10 l. At all, perfect option- rain, melt or spring water. About once a month it is replaced with a pale pink solution of potassium permanganate.

Potassium permanganate - effective and popular disinfectant, destroying many pathogenic fungi

During the active growing season, Baby is fed every 12–14 days. Flowering and formation fruit ovaries take a lot of energy from the pomegranate, so fertilization is necessary, especially if the weather is cloudy and cool for a long time. Any complex product for flowering indoor plants that does not contain chlorine will be suitable. This trace element greatly weakens the root system of pomegranate, which is not very powerful anyway.

Pomegranate Baby needs regular feeding - abundant flowering greatly depletes the plant

In the spring, before flowering, pomegranates must be watered 2-3 times with a solution of nitrogen-containing fertilizer. This macronutrient stimulates the formation of green mass. You can use the same fertilizers that are usually used for garden plants- urea, ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate (2–3 g/l). In this case, it is advisable to protect the plant by wrapping the lower part plastic film: fertilizer that gets on the bark often causes burns similar to sunburn. A flowering plant needs phosphorus most of all, while a fruiting plant needs potassium. Any fertilizing is applied only to moist soil about an hour after watering.

Urea, like any other nitrogen-containing fertilizer, stimulates indoor pomegranate to increase green mass

Baby reacts well to organic fertilizers. Some gardeners generally recommend using only them so that the fruits do not contain nitrates. In this case, you can water the plant with infusions of fresh cow dung or bird droppings, nettle or dandelion leaves, wood ash.

Baby tolerates pruning, including radical pruning, very easily, as if not noticing the “stress.” It cannot be neglected - during the season the bush can more than double in volume. Thin shoots are intertwined so that it is almost impossible to separate them. The crown turns out to be very untidy, “chaotic”. This impairs its aeration, creating favorable conditions for the development of many pathogenic fungi and pest attacks.

Indoor pomegranate tolerates pruning, including radical pruning, without problems.

But you shouldn’t be overly zealous either - Baby’s buds form only on one-year-old shoots. An indoor pomegranate can be given any shape; here the gardener is limited only by his own imagination. The most common option is a spherical bush. To do this, you need to stimulate branching of young plants by pinching each shoot 3–5 cm (2–3 upper buds).

Baby Garnet is well suited for bonsai formation

The procedure is carried out at the end of winter or at the beginning of spring, simultaneously with the return of the Baby pomegranate to its “place of registration”. In adult specimens, no more than five growth points are left on each shoot, and the branch is cut off directly above the last bud.

Then they get rid of all the root growth. On the skeletal shoots (there should be no more than five to seven), branches of the second and third order are gradually formed in the same quantity. Shoots over five years old are cut off to the growth point and replaced with new ones.

Young pomegranates of the Baby variety are distinguished by their growth rate, so pruning is a mandatory procedure for them

Video: correct pruning of indoor pomegranate

Baby rarely suffers from diseases and pests. The main danger threatening him is root rot, the development of which is often provoked by the grower himself by watering the plant too often and/or abundantly. If the room is also cool, the pathogenic fungus will not be long in coming.

A pomegranate affected by rot practically stops growing and the leaves turn yellow. The bases of the shoots turn black and become slimy to the touch. It comes from the soil bad smell, often it becomes covered with mold.

Root rot is a dangerous disease, the appearance of which is often the fault of the owner of the indoor pomegranate.

It is impossible to save a plant if the disease has progressed far. All that remains is to throw it away. When rot is noticed on early stages, radical pruning and replanting with a complete replacement of the soil with disinfected one and sterilization of the pot can help.

Remove all parts of the plant on which the slightest traces of rot are visible, capturing 3–4 mm of healthy tissue. The roots are washed in a bright pink solution of potassium permanganate. When transplanting, add Trichodermin or Glyocladin to the soil.

Growing homemade pomegranate is the dream of many gardeners and flower growers. not only brings tasty and healthy fruits, it also performs a decorative function. Growing exotic crops at home is becoming increasingly fashionable. If you follow the basic rules of care, you can get a fruit-bearing tree that will live and bear fruit for decades.

considered a subtropical plant. Under natural conditions, it can be found in warm countries. It grows well in India, the Caucasus, and China. Garnet loves light and warmth.

Pomegranate trees are grown to produce fruits. It is of medium height, single-stemmed, with heavy, large fruits. The tree is not grown at home, so the pomegranate is turned into a bush by pinching and pruning. Pomegranate bushes are more decorative and easy to care for, and do not take up much space. Growing a pomegranate from a seed at home does not require much labor or skill, but the pomegranate must be kept in certain conditions in order for it to bear fruit.

Features of the structure of indoor pomegranate:

Homemade decorative pomegranate, grown as a bush, reaches a height of no more than 1 meter.
Its fruits will not be too large, no more than 5 cm in diameter, but they are still edible and healthy.
The flowers of the pomegranate bush are also decorative, large and red.

If you grow pomegranate at home, big harvest It's better not to wait. At home, pomegranate does not bear fruit often. On open ground You can grow a single-barreled pomegranate, which will make it easier to care for. A healthy plant has dark green, smooth, even leaves.

Pomegranate is accustomed to dry conditions, so its root system is very well developed.

It allows him to extract moisture from the very depths. Homemade pomegranate also has a fairly powerful development, for this reason it has to be replanted often, all the time increasing the volume of the pot. All varieties of pomegranate have spines that are easy to break off. Young shoots have a reddish trunk color, which then turns gray and green as they grow.

The pomegranate fruit is familiar to everyone. This is a red berry with a dense skin, inside of which there are juicy seeds separated by a thin white film. The weight of one such fruit can reach 500 g, but decorative varieties they are small. Pomegranate does not like cold, so the main task when growing it is to protect it from frost. When growing indoor pomegranate, this will not be difficult.

Planting rules: seed preparation, soil containers

Growing pomegranate at home is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. The most popular way to propagate pomegranate is through seeds. To grow a healthy plant, you need to carefully prepare the soil for planting and not neglect the basic rules for planting pomegranate seeds:

Only ripe red and burgundy fruits are selected for seeds. You need to carefully inspect them for damage, mold, and rotten spots.
The smoothest and largest seeds need to be freed from pulp and washed thoroughly. If any pulp remains on the seeds, they may become moldy and become unsuitable for planting.
In order for the seeds to hatch well, they need to be soaked in an epin solution. The solution is poured into a saucer so that the seeds are half in the water and left for 12 hours. It is very important that the seeds are not completely covered with water; oxygen is very important during hatching.
Pomegranate seeds are not stored for a long time; they need to be processed and planted almost immediately.
The same soil is suitable for planting pomegranates as for citrus fruits. It can be purchased at a gardening store.
The soil is moistened before planting. The seeds do not need to be deeply buried in the soil, no more than 1 cm.
You can prepare the substrate for planting yourself. To do this, mix peat, sand and soil. This mixture must be disinfected with a solution of potassium permanganate or heated well in the oven.
It is advisable to choose a clay pot rather than a plastic one for planting pomegranates. You need to ensure good drainage.

To make the seeds hatch faster, after planting, place the pot in a warm and bright place. It is best to place it on a windowsill on the south side. You can cover the pot with plastic, but do not forget to periodically open and ventilate it.

The germination rate of pomegranate seeds is very high when proper preparation. However, the seeds do not always germinate immediately. Some will hatch a week after planting, while others may suddenly appear six months later, when they have already been forgotten.

Pomegranate is not the easiest plant to care for. It does not require constant and complex care, but it is still necessary to observe the basic conditions for its cultivation. Only in this case will the pomegranate be beautiful, healthy and fruitful.

Caring for pomegranate at home:

After the first shoots appear, the seedlings begin to grow quickly. As soon as the first 2 leaves appear on the sprouts, they are placed into a deeper container so that the seedlings stretch upward less and produce more foliage.
As soon as the third pair of leaves appears on the seedlings, pinch out the fourth. After this, the plant has 2 tops, and instead of a tree it grows decorative bush. This is the best option for growing at home.
In order for the pomegranate to bloom in the year of planting (the first flowering begins after 10 months), it needs enough light. Pomegranate will not bloom in the shade. However, direct sunlight is also undesirable; in midday sun it is better to cover the plant.
Pomegranate does not need frequent use. In dry conditions and low air humidity, watering it once a week is enough. As soon as upper layer The soil in the pot becomes dry, you can water it.
The pomegranate makes it clear that there is not enough light for it. The plant begins to stretch in height, the leaves become sparse. Given enough light, the foliage is quite dense and the leaves are large.
If you can’t increase the illumination at home, you can arrange a short “hibernation” for the plant. Place it in the cold (up to 10 degrees).
Pomegranate does not need frequent feeding. When replanting annually, you can add horn shavings.
Pomegranate is a deciduous plant, which means it needs periods of rest. In autumn, the pot with the plant should be moved to a cooler place (below 20 degrees).
In order for the pomegranate to bloom and grow well, it needs to be regularly pruned and pinched. In this case, it will bear fruit every third or fifth year of life.

Transplantation: terms and rules

It may be necessary if the pomegranate has grown greatly and needs a larger pot, or when transplanting into open ground. It is necessary to follow the rules of replanting so as not to injure the plant. It is not advisable to touch the pomegranate for the first 3 years. During this time, it will not yet grow so much that there is a need for a transplant. A young plant is more difficult to tolerate transplantation. If a bush appears new shoots or shoots that need to be replanted, this can be done annually, in the spring.

When replanting a pomegranate, you need to change the soil in the pot. Over the course of a year, they become depleted and their nutritional properties are lost, so it is advisable to replace them with fresh ones. If the pot is large enough and the plant is not crowded, you can replant it every 3 years or even less often. If the pots are small, replanting will have to be done annually.

It is better to replant in the spring after the plant's winter rest.

It is best to replant pomegranate before it begins to bloom and bear fruit. When replanting the plant, you can use ordinary garden soil or purchased soil. In the first case, the soil must be disinfected so that fungal spores and larvae of harmful insects do not remain in it. If the pomegranate is not dwarf, then it will need to be transplanted into open ground or a greenhouse. In this case, when planting, the hole is made large enough for fruit bushes. Soil mixed with manure is poured into the hole.

When transplanting pomegranate into the ground, you need to carefully choose the location. Pomegranate tolerates any soil well, except swampy ones, as it is accustomed to an arid climate. After transplantation, the young plant needs to be watered once every 7-10 days and periodically spray the foliage. Spraying is necessary not only to remove dust and dirt from the plant, but also to moisten its ground part. Instead of annual replanting, you can simply change the top layer of soil and regularly apply organic fertilizers to the plant.

Garnet doesn't get sick often. This is a fairly resilient plant. More often you can find diseased pomegranate in open ground, since insects have greater access to the plant. However, indoor pomegranate can also hurt.

Branch cancer. This disease often affects pomegranate after severe frosts or when there is existing damage to the branches. The branches of the plant begin to dry out, the bark on them cracks, and the leaves fall off. The only way to save the plant is timely removal of the affected branches and good care.

Often, pomegranate diseases occur due to improper care. It is necessary to regularly inspect the plants, wipe the leaves, monitor the humidity of the room, and avoid overmoistening the soil so that the roots do not rot.

More information can be found in the video:

The pomegranate tree symbolizes wealth, prosperity and is one of the favorite plants of gardeners. Growing it from seed at home is a fun and interesting activity. At proper care in a few years you can get beautiful bush. Varieties such as Dwarf, Baby, Carthage are ideal for sowing.

Indoor pomegranate is an unpretentious and grateful plant. If you create a comfortable environment for him, he will delight you not only with flowers, but also with fruits. They are not always edible, but how beautiful the green fluffy bush, hung with red balls, looks!

Seed selection and preparation

To grow indoor pomegranate from seeds at home, you need to purchase seeds. The Baby or Carthage varieties are available in many specialized stores. You can combine useful and pleasant things: collect pomegranate seeds. When buying fruit at the market, you don’t need to pay attention to the size and taste qualities: on sale hybrid varieties, which, when grown from seeds, do not obtain the qualities of the mother plant.

For seeds, choose ripe fruit without rot or mold. Such a fruit will have a thin skin through which it is easy to feel the grains. Ripe seeds are hard when bitten. A seed that is empty inside is not suitable for sowing.

If the seeds are taken from the fruit, then the grains are pierced in several places with a needle, placed in a jar, covered with a lid and left for several days.
After the seeds are freed from the pulp, they are washed with water, wiped and dried. It is necessary to ensure that they do not dry out and lose their viability.
To discard pomegranate seeds, they are soaked in a saline solution. Only those that fell to the bottom first are left for sowing.
Before planting the seeds, they are wiped with a nail file so that the sprout breaks through the thick skin faster.
When purchasing seeds of Baby or Carthage varieties in a store, it is worth treating the seeds in a solution of potassium permanganate to protect the plants from diseases

Preparing seeds for planting at home does not take much time, but all procedures must be done very carefully, because the quality of the indoor plant depends on this.

Rules for caring for seedlings

The seeds in the soil are waiting for the hour when young sprouts make their way to the light, but the gardener should not relax: growing pomegranate is a labor-intensive task. During this period it is important to create optimal conditions for the rapid emergence of young shoots.

Features of planting pomegranate seeds

Select a wide container with a height of 10 cm.
Expanded clay or gravel is used for drainage.
The soil is bought at the store. High peat or sand with peat 50/50 is best.
The seeds are planted in moist soil to a depth of no more than 1 cm.
After planting, the soil is compacted.
The pot is covered with glass or film - for rapid emergence.
The container is placed on the windowsill, if there is a working battery under it, or in another warm place.
Airing is carried out once a day for a few minutes.

In this period important role heat and humidity play a role. It is strictly forbidden to water the soil. When drying is allowed, the soil is sprayed with a spray bottle. If the seeds are viable, they will sprout within two months. Sometimes sprouts appear after six months, so you need to be patient.

To ensure rapid germination at home, pre-germination of seeds is practiced. The seeds are soaked in a growth stimulator and wrapped in a damp towel or soaked in a saucer with warm water for 12-20 hours. Seeds must breathe. It is important that they do not dry out and are not completely immersed in liquid. Without moisture, seeds crack and die.
After the sprouts appear, the film is removed and the seedlings are thinned out, removing weak plants. Only healthy, strong specimens are left. From these, several seedlings are later selected.

Plant care and bush formation

After two or three leaves appear, the plants are transplanted into cups. The day before the procedure, water the soil. Remove the seedlings from the container with a lump of earth so as not to damage the root system. For transplantation, take a fertile mixture for deciduous plants and do not forget about drainage in pots. The plant is buried in moist soil so that the root collar is buried 1 cm. After planting, do not water it and place it in a greenhouse on a windowsill or under lamps. In the first days, the greenhouse is shaded from light.

During this period, it is important to monitor humidity: it is necessary to ventilate the seedlings several times a day. After the appearance of new leaves, the plants are gradually accustomed to independent life.

Fertilizing is applied when there is complete confidence that the seedlings have taken root. On initial stage nitrogen and potassium fertilizers are used, later - complex feeding for fruit indoor plants. They are applied no more than once a month during the period of active growth.

When the roots envelop the earthen lump in the pot, pinch the seedling and after a week transfer it to a large container for permanent place. Once every two months, the plant is pinched under the third pair of leaves and a bush of the desired shape is formed.

Indoor pomegranate is thermophilic and tolerates hot weather well at home if a certain level of humidity is maintained. But the cold indoors can destroy it. At a temperature of +16, the plant sheds its leaves and enters the passive phase. This means that growing bushes on an unheated balcony is unacceptable during the cold season.

To form a bonsai from a pomegranate at home, you need to grow it with one branch. The top of the seedling is not pinched, but a single branch is tied to a wire so that it is straight and vertical. When the plant gets stronger, adjust the height.

Bonsai can come in many different shapes; spiral, erect, curved with an inclination to the side. The pomegranate crown is made triangular, broom-shaped, round or spreading.

The indoor variety Baby can be shaped even in adulthood.

Growing bonsai in the traditional form is very popular among gardeners. A small tree with a thick trunk and spreading branches catches the eye of every person. To get such a miracle at home, you need to make a lot of effort and spend several years, but believe me, it’s worth it.

Every gardener can grow an indoor pomegranate from a seed at home. To make the plant happy lush flowering, you need to pay a little attention to it and learn as much as possible about how to properly care for young seedlings, learn the features of bush formation and the rules for applying fertilizers at different times of the year. Learn to talk to your green pet, and he will tell you what and when to do so that a lush pomegranate bush will appear on the windowsill and delight you not only with bright flowers, but also with a rich harvest.

10Pomegranates are loved for their tasty and juicy fruits. Many people dream of growing pomegranates at home, but this exotic plant with its own characteristics. To get the long-awaited fruits, you need to know how to care for decorative pomegranate. Indoors it performs primarily decorative functions. For these qualities, the plant was awarded a diploma from the Society of Gardeners in England. Caring for decorative pomegranate at home is not difficult.

Decorative pomegranate will decorate any room

Pomegranate is a representative of the loosestrife family; in the natural environment it is represented by trees and shrubs, the height of which can reach 5-6 meters. Distribution area: mountainous regions of India, Southern Europe, and the Russian Caucasus. At home, it is rarely possible to grow a pomegranate up to a meter in height; growing is not always a quick process.

The pomegranate has a thin woody trunk covered with small leaves grouped together, the shape of which can be lanceolate or ellipsoidal. Their color changes depending on the time of year: green in spring, yellow in autumn. Funnel-shaped flowers grow individually or in inflorescences. They come in different colors (white, yellow, orange), bloom indoors in the summer, and in nature all year round.

Fruits with a diameter of approximately 12 cm and weighing up to 0.5 kg can be grown only from bell-shaped flowers. Their color varies from pale pink to bright scarlet; the berry contains about 10 cells with seeds that have a sweet and sour taste.

History of the origin of pomegranate

According to legend, the pomegranate was called the “Punic apple”; in Latin the word is “punica”, which designates the original area of its growth: Carthage (present-day Tunisia). The pomegranate was an indispensable attribute of the Greek goddess Hera and personified passionate love relationships. The color of the juice resembled the blood of warriors killed during battles in ancient times. Another Latin word "granularis" (granular) gave Russian name this fruit, it indicates the main characteristic of the fruit.

Use of pomegranate and its beneficial properties

Many people cultivate pomegranate solely for its tasty fruits. It is used:

consumed fresh;
added as a seasoning to meat and fish dishes;
obtained from juice citric acid, syrups, sauces;
pomegranate peel is used to make medicines;
in cosmetic procedures.

Decorative pomegranate is extremely rich in useful substances; they are contained in all its parts: fruits, leaves, flowers, trunk, roots, peel. It includes:

vitamins B, C;
many amino acids;
monosaccharides;
iron, iodine, calcium.

Useful properties of pomegranate:

vitamin B12 has a positive effect on the blood, hemoglobin increases, blood pressure stabilizes (it is recommended to drink juice);
those suffering from diabetes will benefit from pomegranate seeds;
it is a high-calorie fruit that helps those losing weight fight hunger pangs;
its cleansing abilities are comparable to green tea;
vitamins will support the body during the cold season;
the fruit normalizes the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
it improves immunity.

Pomegranate contains useful material not only in the berries, but also in the skin

Types of pomegranate

an ordinary pomegranate grows up to 10 meters in nature;
a variety of ordinary pomegranate grown at home is the dwarf pomegranate, 30 cm high, flowering occurs in the first year, fruits reaching a diameter of 3 cm are often removed so that they do not interfere with flowering;
the “Flore Pleno” variety has flowers that are double to the touch and bright in appearance, the plant does not bear fruit, and is slightly taller than the dwarf variety;
“Double Flower” - the owner of double flowers of various shades with patterns;
'Flore Pleno Alba' is famous for its white flowers;
Socotran pomegranate gets its name from the island where it comes from, it has small flowers and berries that taste very sweet;
There is special types, growing in Crimea.

Pomegranate flower Flore Pleno

Reproduction of decorative pomegranate

Pomegranate can be propagated in two ways: seeds and cuttings. Each gardener can choose an option that is available to him and suits the existing conditions.

Propagation by seeds

This method is best used in autumn or spring. The seeds are taken from the fruit itself, washed thoroughly, dried for 24 hours, put in the refrigerator, and filtered after a few days. Soil for flower plants or a mixture containing parts of leaf soil, peat, humus and sand is placed in the pot; the seed penetration depth is 0.5-1 cm. There must be drainage inside the pot. It is advisable to cover everything with film on top and place it where the temperature does not drop below 25 °C.

When several strong leaves appear, the sprouts should be placed in separate containers after about 2 months. Growing will be successful; the flower will have a warm and humid microclimate.

The danger of propagating decorative pomegranates by seeds is that there is a possibility that it will lose the characteristics of a particular variety. Therefore, seeds are taken only from species forms, but they sprout quickly.

Propagation by cuttings

This procedure is best done in the summer. The algorithm for growing decorative pomegranate is as follows:

Take a cutting 10 cm long from a plant that has already borne fruit more than once and has several buds.
Place the cuttings in a slightly damp mixture of peat and sand at an angle of 45-50 degrees, a couple of buds should be in the ground.
Vessels with sprouts must have recesses in the bottom, and the vessels must be covered with film.
Sprouts need to be provided good watering, ventilation, temperature more than 20 ° C, so that after propagation by cuttings they take root.
After 2 months, when the plant is formed, it can be transplanted into a separate pot. It can bloom the same year.

Pomegranate cuttings are carried out in the summer

Caring for decorative pomegranate at home

Even a novice gardener can take care of decorative pomegranate. You need to make some effort if you want to grow it not only for the sake of contemplating beautiful flowers, but also for obtaining nutritious fruits. Yellow falling leaves are often perceived as a symptom of plant disease; for pomegranate this is an absolutely normal event in the fall.

Place and lighting required for decorative pomegranate

It is preferable to place indoor pomegranate near windows facing south. If there is not enough daylight, the plant needs to be provided with additional light with phytolamps, otherwise it will shed its leaves.

In summer, the pot can be placed on the balcony, but this should not be done abruptly, but gradually accustoming the flower to the bright sun. It is better to protect it from direct rays, especially at noon.

Optimum temperature for decorative pomegranate

In the summer season, pomegranate feels comfortable in the temperature range from 20 to 25 °C. If the temperature is above this mark, then it is better to take the flower out into the fresh air; constant ventilation is also necessary. November-March is dormant time for the plant, the temperature should be around 12 °C, the critical minimum is 6 °C.

Watering decorative pomegranate

The need for moisture is determined by the stage of plant development:

active flower growing is accompanied by an excess need for water;
during the warm season, pomegranate needs abundant watering;
in winter the plant does not need a lot of moisture, watering can be reduced to 1-2 times a month;
if the pomegranate has bloomed, then you should water it less;
When the fruits appear, you need to water them carefully to avoid damaging them.

During periods of water shortage, watering is carried out 2 times a week. This is indicated by dry topsoil. To get as many fruits as possible, the water temperature when watering should be 18 °C.

Humidity

High humidity can lead to pest invasion and damage to plant parts, so moderation is important. Spraying containers with water will help get rid of dry air. In the warm season, spraying warm water The plant needs at least 2 times a week. It is advisable to wipe the surfaces in the room with the pot more often with a damp cloth, not forgetting the pomegranate leaves.

Soil for decorative pomegranate

It is best to plant pomegranate in a narrow pot, this increases the number of ripening fruits. Soil composition: turf, clay, part of leaf soil, sand, expanded clay. She should have a neutral reaction. You can buy a mixture for flowering plants, but it must be fertile, loose, well permeable to air and moisture.

The soil for flowering plants is quite suitable for planting pomegranates

Feeding decorative pomegranate

Spring and summer are the time of active feeding. Both chemical (nitrogen) and organic fertilizers (chicken droppings, mullein infusion) are suitable for pomegranate. Fertilizers are applied a couple of times a month. When decorative pomegranate is actively grown, it requires fertilizers with potassium and phosphorus; complex fertilizers can also be used.

Before adding the substance, the flower should be watered and the water should be drained from the pan so that the soil remains moist. In autumn, fertilizing is reduced.

Trimming decorative pomegranate

Pomegranate pruning is done to give it a beautiful shape, and it also increases its lifespan. It is necessary to trim the shoots above the buds, on dry and long branches that have already borne fruit, leaving 4-5 internodes. Pruning is done at the end of winter; during rapid flower growth, you can also cut off excess shoots. The cut areas need to be processed.

Replanting decorative pomegranate

A plant that has not reached three years of age should be replanted every year so that it has enough space to grow. An older flower is replanted as needed. It is best to transplant in early spring. The diameter of the new pot should be half a liter larger than the previous one; replanting is carried out using the transshipment method. The composition of the soil can be mixed with the obligatory content of turf, sand, and there must be a drainage layer below.

Preface

Lovers of indoor plants sometimes get lost in the next choice of “green neighbor”. If you want to grow a homemade pomegranate, caring for the plant is very simple and will not cause problems in growing it. This exotic plant is completely unpretentious, and can be grown in an ordinary pot on the windowsill.

Dwarf pomegranate - beauty and well-being in the home

The name of the fruit comes from the Latin granatus, which means grainy. By historical information, the pomegranate was a symbol of a rich harvest, giving faith and life.

History says that the fruit came to our countries from Carthage and was called the “Punic apple.” In every country, pomegranate is a symbol of something special. In Greece it is fertility, in Persia it is passionate love. And the wife of Zeus holds a pomegranate in her hand as a symbol of marriage. Even in the real world in Greece, flowers and tree fruits are thrown at the feet of the bride and groom during a wedding. And during the celebration, the bride herself can throw a juicy fruit to her bridesmaids instead of a bouquet.

Mostly at home, dwarf or indoor pomegranates are preferred, growing which will be a pleasure. It should be noted that the plant perfectly decorates not only any interior of a room or garden, but also has a lot of useful properties.

The first mention of the dwarf pomegranate dates back to 1803. The plant reaches a maximum height of 120 cm. Its leaves are light green with a glossy tint, located on red cuttings. Due to the change of seasons, pomegranate leaves change their color: in spring the plant acquires bronze tones, in summer - shades of green, in autumn - yellow.

The bush blooms from May to September. Pomegranate flowers are large, up to 4 cm in diameter, and purple in color, but most do not form fruit. The duration of flowering of one flower is a maximum of 3 days, but every day new buds are formed on the bush. Only flowers with long columns can ripen into small pomegranates. So, out of a hundred flowers, only 3 produce fruit. Don’t worry that the remaining flowers fall off: this is an individual property of the plant.

The indoor pomegranate fruit itself can be colored as Orange color, and in brown-red and ripens in winter. But pomegranate does not have a special, pronounced taste, and the fruit itself is very small. So basically bonsai serves as a decoration for the room. To ensure that the plant puts all its energy into color and has a sufficient number of new buds, the owners cut off the ovaries.

Necessary conditions for a home tree

Indoor pomegranate is a light-loving plant, so the pot must be placed on any window, with the exception of northern ones. But the plant does not tolerate direct sunlight, especially young growth. In the summer, when it is warm and light, it is better to take the tree out onto the balcony or veranda, and overwinter the plant should be brought indoors.

Homemade pomegranate, like any exotic plant, needs warmth, especially during flowering. Therefore, the temperature in the room must be maintained above +20°C. But if the room is very hot, the pomegranate leaves may begin to fall off. To prevent this, you can spray the leaves with cool water. During the ripening of the fruit, pomegranate prefers cool rooms at home with a temperature of +14°C, and during the dormant period - even lower.

To ensure flowering and fruiting, the soil of homemade pomegranate must be rich and valuable in various mineral components.

Watering the plant also needs to be approached wisely to prevent waterlogging or dryness of the soil. The most abundant watering of the shrub occurs in the period after flowering, so that the plant can then delight with its flowers. In winter, homemade pomegranate practically does not need watering - once every 2 months is enough.

Homemade pomegranate will not refuse feeding, but no more than twice a month. Must be applied to moist soil and spring period nitrogen fertilizers, during flowering - phosphorus, in the fall - potassium.

After the fruit of the tree has ripened, it usually sheds its leaves, that is, a dormant period begins. To do this, the pomegranate should be created in optimal conditions with a temperature of no more than +12°C. It is difficult to ensure such a temperature at home. You can, for example, move a pot with a plant to the window or put it on the balcony for 3 weeks.

After a period of dormancy, in February, homemade pomegranate begins to form buds. During this period, it is important to trim dry or unnecessary branches of the plant. Pruning is carried out in such a way that the bud of the bush faces outwards, otherwise with further growth the inner bud will thicken the plant. You can shape the pomegranate into a tree by trimming the root branches. It is important to avoid severe pruning, otherwise the plant will weaken and the number of buds and, accordingly, flowers will decrease.

For young plants, replanting is carried out every year until they reach 3 years. Homemade pomegranate does not require large containers and pots, and, conversely, the tighter the root system, the stronger the flowering will be.

How to grow pomegranate?

Homemade pomegranate can be propagated in 2 ways:

cuttings;
seeds.

Before growing pomegranate from seeds at home, you need to purchase seed material. You can buy it in a store, or you can take it from a houseplant. Before planting a seed in a container, you need to prepare it. To do this, the largest and ripest fruit is selected and several grains are obtained. To get the seed itself, you need to remove the pulp of the grain, rinse in water and wipe dry with a napkin or dry. Seeds should be planted at a distance of approximately 1 cm from the surface and away from each other. Seed germination time on average reaches 2 weeks. For good germination of the future plant, the pot should be placed in a warm, sunny place and provided with abundant watering.

To grow pomegranate at home when propagating by cuttings, shoots should be taken from a fruitful plant with several buds and covered after planting plastic bottle or a glass jar.

If an exotic plant has become infected with a disease, there is no need to delay its treatment. When pests appear on leaves, they must be treated with special chemicals or assemble by hand. Dry room and air can cause the appearance spider mite. To prevent such a disease, the plant must be frequently sprayed and moistened. Overwatering can also affect the health of pomegranates, with yellowed leaves being the main sign of overwatering. In such a situation, the plant must be transplanted into dry soil and the rotten roots removed.

You should not be afraid of this seemingly excessive care. The main thing is that the process of growing indoor pomegranate brings delight, then the plant will delight the owner with its beauty.

Homemade pomegranate - benefits for family health

Pomegranate is a healthy fruit: for the treatment of diseases, raw materials are obtained from all parts of the plant: from the fruit, peel, flowers, roots.

The value of the fruit lies in the minerals and organic acids it contains. Pomegranate is rich in various vitamins, carbohydrates, proteins and even fats. The juice of the fruit has an analgesic, choleretic, and antiseptic effect. The fruits of the plant are used for digestive diseases. They normalize blood pressure, relieve headache, saturate the body with vitamins. Pomegranate peel has found its use as an anthelmintic due to its ursolic acid content. Doctors recommend drinking pomegranate juice for infectious and colds, anemia, and problems with the gastrointestinal tract. For stomach disorders and colitis, the peel of the fruit is used. And pomegranate flowers are brewed as tea, which gives this drink a similarity to the popular hibiscus.

What are the benefits of pomegranate?

Thus, homemade pomegranate is perfect for those who want to acquire a decorative tree. Beginning gardeners will not find it difficult to grow pomegranates with juicy and ripe fruits and take care of them. dwarf pomegranate even a schoolboy can do it.