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Pomegranate (Punica granatum) Bonsai – Care Manual

Punica granatum, better known as the pomegranate tree, is one of many full-sized varieties of tree that can also be found within the world of bonsai cultivation. When referring to the bonsai variety of pomegranate, some people will call it a dwarf pomegranate due to its considerably smaller area for growth and development. This article will cover all of the major aspects involved in cultivating your pomegranate tree so that you can give it the best life possible.

Placement

Your pomegranate requires lots of sunlight and air during the growing season. When the temperatures turn their hottest and driest, usually around summertime, pomegranate bonsai that have been placed in small pots should be taken out of the scorching mid-day sun from noon until sunset. Conversely, these plants must also be safeguarded against extreme cold. Once temperatures start to plummet, you should consider relocating your pomegranate tree to a cold frame that is free of frost and has an ambient temperature that ranges between 35° to 46° F (2° to 8°C for those who know the metric system).

Hydration

You should only water your bonsai pomegranate tree once its soil dries up. Expect to water it more frequently during the summer and once it starts opening its flowers. When winter rolls around, you only need to verify that the soil is a little moist. Like with most varieties of bonsai, try to avoid using calcareous water when hydrating your pomegranate bonsai.

Fertilization

You want to favor products that have low nitrogen levels but high levels of phosphorous and potassium; this will promote flowering and fruiting in mature trees. DO NOT apply fertilizer when your pomegranate tree is flowering.

Pruning/Wiring

The only season when you should consider pruning your pomegranate is during the winter. This is because the winter is when your pomegranate will go dormant, meaning there will not be any leaves to get in the way of your work. When tending to your bonsai during the growing season, you should trim any shoots that reach 4″ to 6″ in length, unless your interest is in seeing the flowers develop. For those who wish for flowers to develop, know that buds grow at the tips of new shoots. Do not allow too many fruits to develop at once as this great expenditure of its energies will weaken the pomegranate.

Wiring is done best when you do not have to worry about leaves along the tree. Old branches tend to be quite stiff and brittle but younger, twigs are flexible enough to be shaped with little to no effort on your part.

Repotting

You should repot your pomegranate every two to three years, ideally in the early portion of spring when the leaf buds have not yet opened up. Any issues with the root system can be easily pruned without a problem. A well-draining soil mixture is the best option. When it comes to soil pH, pomegranate favors soils that are neutral to slightly acidic; so long as your chosen soil’s pH is no greater than 7, it should be fine.

Propagation

The dwarf pomegranate can be propagated from seed, cuttings, or even by air-layering. While hardwood cuttings should be done in the spring, before the buds open up, semi-hardwood cuttings should be done in the summer. You might also consider propagating your pomegranate from a root cutting.

Pests, Diseases, and Other Malefactors

Under normal conditions, a healthy pomegranate tree will barely even notice most pests and diseases. However, if the health of your dwarf pomegranate tree has already been compromised due to improper location or care, such as allowing too many flowers to bloom, it can be harmed by aphids, scales, whiteflies, and mealy bugs. In those circumstances, use a pesticide dedicated to eradicating the pest and do what you can to improve your pomegranate bonsai’s vitality. While general overwatering can cause root rot in Punica granatum, watering it with calcareous water can also contribute to chlorosis. Chlorosis is a condition where a plant loses chlorophyll due to improper nutrition, causing its leaves to turn yellow as a consequence.

General Information and Cultural Touchstones of the Pomegranate Bonsai

The bark of a young dwarf pomegranate is greyish-brown yet smooth. This aesthetic transitions into a furrowed, flaky as the tree ages. Be careful when handling a pomegranate tree that you are unfamiliar with, as it is not unheard of for this tree’s twigs to feature thorns.

The origins of the pomegranate are from the hot, arid regions of Armenia, northern India, and Iran, though it has greatly proliferated throughout most of Asia and the Mediterranean. Given its geographic homeland, it makes sense why this particular tree is best kept in a warm environment that barely sees any frost. Pomegranate trees can live to be several hundred years old and the primary reasons for growing this particular variety of tree would be ornamentation and its fruit. The name “pomegranate” is of medieval Latin origin and could be translated as “seeded apple.” An antiquated name for this plant’s seeds, still found in parts of Ireland, would be “wineapple.”

The juice of pomegranates, and grenadine by extension, have been a popular ingredient in non-alcoholic drinks and cocktails for ages. Furthermore, the seeds of this plant have also been incorporated into food as a spice or in folk medicine; there are accounts from Ancient Egypt that ascribe pomegranate seed as a cure for tapeworm and infection. The pomegranate shows up multiple times in Ancient Greek mythology, always involving the underworld.

The Greeks believed that the pomegranate was a crop sourced from the underworld and connected to Adonis’ blood. Adonis was an incredibly beautiful mortal man and loved by both Aphrodite and Persephone.

Another Greek myth mentions a girl named Side, which was also the local term for a pomegranate, who heads to the underworld so she can finally escape the nefarious plans of her father. The blood that lingered from the trip is said to be the source of the first pomegranates.

In “The Claiming of Persephone,” the origins of winter are explained as Persephone remaining in the underworld for one month for each pomegranate seed she consumed while she spent time with her beloved Hades, god of the underworld; the exact number of seeds she consumed varied by the teller and the region of Greece the teller comes from. Winter then rears up because Demeter, Persephone’s mother, is depressed because her daughter cannot be with her and she thus refuses to do her work as the goddess of agriculture and the harvest.

“Nana” is the name of a Punica granatum cultivar that tends to yield smaller fruit than the full-sized tree and this quality makes it the perfect variety of pomegranate tree for anyone looking to have one as a bonsai. Another notable variety of pomegranate trees is the Nejikan; this variety is mostly known for the qualities of its trunk, which twists in a distinct and aesthetically pleasing manner.