Chapter 125 Punica granitum
125.2 Soil: General Deciduous / Rich Conifer Mix
Ratio: 3 parts bark, 1 part grit
Add-ins: dolomitic limestone (~5 lbs/yd), Tree-Tone (15 lbs/yd)
pH: ~6.5 (slightly below neutral)
Moisture: Average
125.3 Light
Routine: full sun during the growing season.
Summer: does not seem to need any summer protection.
125.4 Cultivation Notes
125.4.1 Potting & Root Pruning
Schedule: repot every two years as buds extend in spring. Very old specimens can be left longer and repotted as necessary.
125.4.1.1 Top & Branch Management
Heavy pruning: do heavy pruning after flowering, or in late winter.
Fine pruning: let shoots extend to 6 leaves, then cut back to 2. Don’t cut round tipped flowering shoots. For flowers, allow growth to extend unpruned from midsummer until after flowering. Remove soil suckers as they develop.
Leaf pruning: not appropriate.
Wiring: can be done anytime. Be careful with older branches; they are very brittle.
125.4.2 Feeding
To stimulate maximum growth, remove flowers and feed high nitrogen fertiliser. To stimulate flowering, feed every two weeks with a fertilizer that is lower in nitrogen, and higher in phosphorus and potassium. For example, feed with a 1:1 mix of Miracle-Gro Soluble Bloom Booster Food (15-30-15) and Soluble Tomato Food (18-18-21), both diluted to 1/2 strength.
125.4.3 Pests & Problems
Occasionally develops mildew in very damp, humid weather. Potential disease problems include leaf spots, fruit blotch and rots. Potential insect problems include scale, stem borers, caterpillars, whitefly, mites, and mealybugs.
125.4.4 Winter Storage
While frost hardy as trees in the ground in our area, bring trees in pots indoors when temperatures drop below 40°F in the fall, preferably after leaf-fall. Store in a well-lit, cool position.
125.5 Propagation Notes
I have never tried to propagate this species.
125.6 Artistic & Styling Notes
125.7 Additional Information
125.7.1 Natural History
Native range is southern Europe, central and western Asia to northern India.
125.7.2 In Cultivation
Plants fruit best in areas with long, hot and dry summers (90°F+) and cooler winters. Pomegranates generally do not perform well as purely indoor plants. They do much better if they spend summer outside.