Dwarf Pomegranate showing off!

[Eric Group]

Thanks! The sentiment in that thread seemed to be that they are a very slow growing tree. Mine grows like a weed, so I'm not sure if they're mistaken or if I have something other than what was advertised. The trunk is definitely gnarly though. I made a thread about it last year ( http://bonsainut.com/forums/showthread.php?14090-Twisted-Pomegranate&p=211815#post211815 ).


Eric, how long have you had this tree? You aren't located too far from me; I'm surprised yours is still in leaf!

I have had it about 2 years now... This is a thread from the summer when it was in fruit. It was a tiny little thing when I got it. I up-potted it and it took off! It is leafless now... well it WAS. I bring mine in after a month of moderately cold temps- just enoh to get them to go dormant and top leaves. I have read they don't like the cold and are pretty much semi- tropicals in that they can be deciduous if you leave them in the cold or they will keep leaves all year if protected from it (read it in a Bonsai book, not sure how true?). So, I tend to protect mine from the worst of the winter's cold and bring it indoors. After a couple weeks without leaves outside, it takes a couple weeks once indoors to start growing leaves again and it just started to make new ones last week. The leavs that grow indoors are much larger than what it makes outside. Obviously the tree loved this treatment last winter as it had a huge growing season, flowered it's butt off for me... I should probably remove the flowers and fruit earlier than I do... But I just hate to do that! trees that fruit and flower are so beautiful! I don't care if I lose a month or two of growth! I tend to let them do their thing!

 

[Eric Group]

Just some updates on this little tree... Looks like a multi-trunk but it splits just above the base... It is a dwarf variety, doesn't thicken up fast real fast but I have been shocked at how much growth it has put on in a couple years! I have been taking it in during the winter, but my buddy says they are fine outside year round here so he will probably spend his first full winter outside.

 

[Neli]

Just remember that nana and normal pomegranate are different. I dont allow mine to get overly long branches and cut them back to one internode and make sure there are leaves always at the end or I get die back. I have actually given up on the nana. I have tried so many ways to develop them but top dies back no matter what. I dont like trees with taperless trunk like this but I dont dare trunk chop it. See the dead brranches on top?

 

[Eric Group]

Just remember that nana and normal pomegranate are different. I dont allow mine to get overly long branches and cut them back to one internode and make sure there are leaves always at the end or I get die back. I have actually given up on the nana. I have tried so many ways to develop them but top dies back no matter what. I dont like trees with taperless trunk like this but I dont dare trunk chop it. See the dead brranches on top?View attachment 80503 View attachment 80504

Neli! You are back! Where you been?

As for the tree, I have found it to be exceedingly easy to grow in my climate! Scorching hot sun- no problem. Bring it in for winter/ no dormancy? No problem. Leave it out all a Winter, let it freeze it's butt off- No problem... Doesn't seem to care what I do to it, when I prune it or how much/ little I fertilize... It blooms it's butt off every year and grows like a weed. I tried some cuttings this year and wishing about two weeks had new shoot firing off the little cuttings.. They are growing like weeds now! Really love this species more the more I work with it!

 

[JoeR]

Neli! You are back! Where you been?

As for the tree, I have found it to be exceedingly easy to grow in my climate! Scorching hot sun- no problem. Bring it in for winter/ no dormancy? No problem. Leave it out all a Winter, let it freeze it's butt off- No problem... Doesn't seem to care what I do to it, when I prune it or how much/ little I fertilize... It blooms it's butt off every year and grows like a weed. I tried some cuttings this year and wishing about two weeks had new shoot firing off the little cuttings.. They are growing like weeds now! Really love this species more the more I work with it!

Ive always wanted one and this posts makes me want one more!

Whered ya get it?

Not sure about you, but Im in usda zone 8a- would I be able to leave them outside all year?

 

[Geo]

I have never seen a plant grow so fast. Of course they are introduced in Southern Baja, but I planted up a volunteer seedling from the garden and the trunk was three fourths of an inch in 6 months. Just finished flowering, so i pruned it back hard for shape and will try to wire it today.

 

[Neli]

I am a silent stalker! He he he!
Same here. They grow, root from cuttings very well, but no back budding or if any very rare. Remember what I am telling your! No back budding to talk about so style it by cutting back so you get branches where you want on time. Maybe yours is a different variety. I dont know, but have this experience with them.See some more I have:
Pot plant > yes> bonsai???? I have not found a way to bonsai it yet. Trust me on this one or show me a pomegranate nana properly developed old bonsai.

Neli! You are back! Where you been?

As for the tree, I have found it to be exceedingly easy to grow in my climate! Scorching hot sun- no problem. Bring it in for winter/ no dormancy? No problem. Leave it out all a Winter, let it freeze it's butt off- No problem... Doesn't seem to care what I do to it, when I prune it or how much/ little I fertilize... It blooms it's butt off every year and grows like a weed. I tried some cuttings this year and wishing about two weeks had new shoot firing off the little cuttings.. They are growing like weeds now! Really love this species more the more I work with it!

!

 

[thomas22]

Here is my Dwarf Pomegranate. Very consistent with Neli's comments. I had a long sacrifice branch for about two years and the trunk did not noticeably thicken. Also there is no taper to this trunk. I finally decided to just work with the trunk I had and I actually like the tree. One branch seems to die back every year but there are usually some new branches in the area to take its place. I going to let the nebari thicken a bit and put in a smaller, better pot and enjoy as is.

 

[Geo]

So, if there is anyone growing Punica (not the dwarf) below the Tropic of Cancer: lat. 24N; could you share some info about pruning and back budding, re potting? I don't have the trunk thickening problem. Mine went from a seedling volunteer in the garden to a shrub with a three quarter inch trunk in 6 months.

 

[Eric Group]

I am a silent stalker! He he he!
Same here. They grow, root from cuttings very well, but no back budding or if any very rare. Remember what I am telling your! No back budding to talk about so style it by cutting back so you get branches where you want on time. Maybe yours is a different variety. I dont know, but have this experience with them.See some more I have:
Pot plant > yes> bonsai???? I have not found a way to bonsai it yet. Trust me on this one or show me a pomegranate nana properly developed old bonsai.

!

Yours are a different variety for sure, I verified today, the one I have is the "Empreror" dwarf variety... Doesn't mean they have dramatically different characteristics I guess... Mine is a type that stays very small normally I think, and has some of the smallest DARK Purple fruit of any. Not very common I guess, but if they root this easy, they are going to be a lot more common before I am through I'm sure.. LOL

 

[Eric Group]

Update... Blooms long faded, it is starting to develop some ramification... Haven't pruned it yet... just dropped leaf. The first tree of the year to go fully nude!

 

[Eric Group]

Quick update!


@milehigh_7 - that cutting:

 

[sorce]

Here is my Dwarf Pomegranate.

I like how the hat and eyes of the accent head pick up the color of the fruit/flower!

Nice!

Sorce

 

[JoeR]

Is this the one you are talking about @bonsaibp ?

Do you have these as well as full size poms?

 

[milehigh_7]

Just remember that nana and normal pomegranate are different. I dont allow mine to get overly long branches and cut them back to one internode and make sure there are leaves always at the end or I get die back. I have actually given up on the nana. I have tried so many ways to develop them but top dies back no matter what. I dont like trees with taperless trunk like this but I dont dare trunk chop it. See the dead brranches on top?View attachment 80503 View attachment 80504

NELI!!!! HI HI HI

 

[bonsaibp]

Is this the one you are talking about @bonsaibp ?

Do you have these as well as full size poms?

Do you mean Emperor? If so yes and by full size are you talking about the fruit? If so yes to that as well. I also have a few small white flowering ones, some old dwarf ones, some of the common Wonderful and lots of twisted trunk ones from about $15 up to $5-600

 

[Eric Group]

Just a 2016 Spring update: New shoes!! Already popping blooms! Since I moved it to this smaller pot, it had grown well, but the tips are a bit yellow. I think it is maybe a nutrient deficiency? I am going to boost ferts this spring, see if that straightens it out a bit. Still, obviously healthy- growing and blooming like mad!

 

[JoeR]

Such an attractive plant, leaves and blooms/fruit!


I wish the soil wasn't piled so high in the pot.

 

[Eric Group]

Such an attractive plant, leaves and blooms/fruit!


I wish the soil wasn't piled so high in the pot.

Thanks!
It is not mounded as high as it looks in the pics. A bit over the rim, yes, but the angle of the shot makes the horizontal depth look like it is higher vertically than it really is... In reality, the little tuft of moss at one end is probably the highest point of the soil's surface. I want the roots to slowly get a bit more exposed as small amounts of soil wash away... It has some interesting roots down there... Not going to be "exposed root" style, but I do want more of the nebari visible. Next time I repot it, more will be taken off the bottom probably.

 

[Eric Group]

So, this one grows so fast and develops fruit/ blooms so early, it makes it hard to wire during the growing period I find... I'd like to add more up/ down wiggle to the branches like you'd expect a fruit tree to have, but I don't want to knock off any blooms in the process or severly damage the branches as they quickly grow and the wire cuts in... Thinking Fall might be a better time to wire these guys... Anybody have input on when they wire Poms?