Pomegranate problems

[LemonBonsai]

So I have 10 little seedlings ive started last fall, and i havent been able to get the watering down just right yet, and im wondering if ones with insight on this species can let me know what im doing wrong. So ive heard they are used to arid conditions, so they like drying out for a bit before being watered, and that will work sometimes but it seems like im getting leaves yellow and fall off no matter if I let it dry out or just water it.

Yesterday I realized some pomegranates were very wilted and in need of a drink (i dont usually let them get this dry I missed a day or so of watering). So of course i gave them a drink and today on each one about the 4 or 5 bottom leaves had turned yellow and fell off.

Now I know for example in citrus trees if you let the soil dry out to much, once you water they will drop leaves, do pomegranates do the same? Or am I missing something here.

 

[badatusernames]

I'm uncertain, but thought I would bump this thread. I just got a pomegranate myself recently, and I don't recall reading anything about letting them dry out, so I'm curious if either I've been overwatering, or perhaps whether or not you have been underwatering. I've not had mine long enough to say one way or the other, but based on what I'm reading you say, my inclination is to think it is underwatered. If it has anything to do with water at all. I can say that mine is not yellowing right now.

I see you're from Canada so my other thought is that perhaps it's not getting enough light.

Are you letting it dry out all the way? I know they apparently don't like overwatering, but it sounds like you may be getting too aggressive with the drying side of things perhaps? Mine is "dry", in terms of trees, but it's not "dry" in terms of desert if you know what I mean.

 

[LemonBonsai]

I'm uncertain, but thought I would bump this thread. I just got a pomegranate myself recently, and I don't recall reading anything about letting them dry out, so I'm curious if either I've been overwatering, or perhaps whether or not you have been underwatering. I've not had mine long enough to say one way or the other, but based on what I'm reading you say, my inclination is to think it is underwatered. If it has anything to do with water at all. I can say that mine is not yellowing right now.

I see you're from Canada so my other thought is that perhaps it's not getting enough light.

Are you letting it dry out all the way? I know they apparently don't like overwatering, but it sounds like you may be getting too aggressive with the drying side of things perhaps? Mine is "dry", in terms of trees, but it's not "dry" in terms of desert if you know what I mean.

Mostly not letting it dry out all the way such as i do for succulents. My citrus get a little more water then the poms. So if nobody here reaponds that have more experience with the speicas I will need to do some trial and error this summer .

And as for the light it is for sure getting enough, I have a high powered grow light that my citrus have been thriving in all winter

 

[badatusernames]

Mostly not letting it dry out all the way such as i do for succulents. My citrus get a little more water then the poms. So if nobody here reaponds that have more experience with the speicas I will need to do some trial and error this summer .

And as for the light it is for sure getting enough, I have a high powered grow light that my citrus have been thriving in all winter

hah, fair enough!

 

[Carol 83]

I have one, still in a nursery pot. I don't let it get really dry. It's been blooming under my lights most of the winter. This summer I'll get it into at least a training pot.

 

[LemonBonsai]

I have one, still in a nursery pot. I don't let it get really dry. It's been blooming under my lights most of the winter. This summer I'll get it into at least a training pot.

Noted. I am going to try and give it the same amount of water my citrus get for a week or so and see how it goes

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Does your soil contain any nutrients?
It might just be sacrificing the older leaves to recycle nitrogen, hence them turning yellow and dropping off.

 

[LemonBonsai]

Does your soil contain any nutrients?
It might just be sacrificing the older leaves to recycle nitrogen, hence them turning yellow and dropping off.

it does have potting soil in the mix I have for them. Cant remember if I added compost but its probably time to fertilize anyways!

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Potting soil holds a few nutrients for a couple months, but you started these in fall. Small container, four plants, I think the soil has been devoid of nutrients for a few months now.

My pomes go yellow in winter just before the leafs drop. Even though they come from arid regions, they seem to love water. But I honestly think it's just nutrients. If the lower foliage goes yellow and drops off, the easiest explanation is nitrogen recycling; a depleted soil.

 

[LemonBonsai]

Potting soil holds a few nutrients for a couple months, but you started these in fall. Small container, four plants, I think the soil has been devoid of nutrients for a few months now.

My pomes go yellow in winter just before the leafs drop. Even though they come from arid regions, they seem to love water. But I honestly think it's just nutrients. If the lower foliage goes yellow and drops off, the easiest explanation is nitrogen recycling; a depleted soil.

will try giving them some food next watering. I have fed them since growing them but yes have not fed them in a little bit.

 

[Deano]

Potting soil holds a few nutrients for a couple months, but you started these in fall. Small container, four plants, I think the soil has been devoid of nutrients for a few months now.

My pomes go yellow in winter just before the leafs drop. Even though they come from arid regions, they seem to love water. But I honestly think it's just nutrients. If the lower foliage goes yellow and drops off, the easiest explanation is nitrogen recycling; a depleted soil.

This ^^^.
Letting them get too dry will do that also.
But yeah, some fertilizer is a good idea. Like mentioned above there's only so much soil in that cup and with multiple plants the nutrients get used up that much faster. I fertilize mine every watering with a quarter the recommended strength fertilizer along with Cal-Mag, and I've had very good results.
Mine will still get some yellowing leaves but since I grow indoors year round it's usually just the old leaves that are beyond their prime.

Good luck!

 

[HorseloverFat]

I take care of many poms... I USED to think that they weren’t picky with water, due to all the times they “appeared they’d had it” then came right back.

Then I realized that ACTUALLY... they are the thirstiest trees I own! And this resiliency I was experiencing was simply how TOUGH The punicas were THEMSELVES... and they were essentially ALMOST dying each time..

So I started to weigh the pots and correlate some data.. and y’know what I found?

That in good soil... YOU CAN’T over water them (as long as they are healthy)... they also are basically TOUCHING grown lamps and pressed to a south-facing window...

Mine look like THAT.. when they’re not getting the right/enough nutrients.. Poms like fert.. early, too.

 

[HorseloverFat]

Whoops.. I replied after i read the first post.. looks like what I said.. has already been said.

Whoopsies!

 

[Carol 83]

they also are basically TOUCHING grown lamps and pressed to a south-facing window...

Mine too.

 

[HorseloverFat]

FULL grown lamps....

been growin’ a while..


(“Grown” lamps.. damnit)

 

[LemonBonsai]

I take care of many poms... I USED to think that they weren’t picky with water, due to all the times they “appeared they’d had it” then came right back.

Then I realized that ACTUALLY... they are the thirstiest trees I own! And this resiliency I was experiencing was simply how TOUGH The punicas were THEMSELVES... and they were essentially ALMOST dying each time..

So I started to weigh the pots and correlate some data.. and y’know what I found?

That in good soil... YOU CAN’T over water them (as long as they are healthy)... they also are basically TOUCHING grown lamps and pressed to a south-facing window...

Mine look like THAT.. when they’re not getting the right/enough nutrients.. Poms like fert.. early, too.

Yes I fertilized this morning! Thanks for your incite as well

 

[LemonBonsai]

Just updating this, one of the two either fertilizing or watering more really helped. a few more leaves dropped the day after fertilizing but only one of the seedlings had a single leaf turn yellow since. all 10 are thriving indoors! Each of them have put out 2 more sets of leaves in the past week and a half

 

[ShadyStump]

Some have touched on this already, but when I looked at the shapes of the trunks and how they seemed to angle one way, then another, then straight again, the first though that hit me (that we've been seeing much of in our starts at home) is lighting. Pomegranates, while don't have any of my own YET, do come from climates known for their sunshine.
Windows, lights and reflectors galore I think will help overcome/balance some of the issues you're seeing.
Just thought I'd stress a bit more how important light is. I've noticed insufficient lighting can mimic other issues at times.

 

[LemonBonsai]

Some have touched on this already, but when I looked at the shapes of the trunks and how they seemed to angle one way, then another, then straight again, the first though that hit me (that we've been seeing much of in our starts at home) is lighting. Pomegranates, while don't have any of my own YET, do come from climates known for their sunshine.
Windows, lights and reflectors galore I think will help overcome/balance some of the issues you're seeing.
Just thought I'd stress a bit more how important light is. I've noticed insufficient lighting can mimic other issues at times.

Luckily I have a nice grow light that has been sufficient for my tropical trees indoors over the winter. Not all my plants have been very active but many have been growing like crazy over the winter. Either way cant wait to get them out doors in the natural light!

 

[badatusernames]

Potting soil holds a few nutrients for a couple months, but you started these in fall. Small container, four plants, I think the soil has been devoid of nutrients for a few months now.

My pomes go yellow in winter just before the leafs drop. Even though they come from arid regions, they seem to love water. But I honestly think it's just nutrients. If the lower foliage goes yellow and drops off, the easiest explanation is nitrogen recycling; a depleted soil.

Interesting you say that - I was just scanning through old threads looking for info and saw this. I wonder if you have any tidbits based on the below:

I had planned on keeping mine as a tropical as it has been previously by the place I got it, to my knowledge, but have been running into yellowing and leaf drop which I attributed to lack of light. It was in a window, but not a very sunny one, for maybe a week. It also flat out seems to have mostly stopped going through water this week. I got it out of the tray I had it on to catch excess moisture that is there for when I do water it (which I haven't done for days now) and it's under T8 lights now.

I took the Biogold and Hanasaku I was using to feed it off of it thinking maybe it was better to let it sit without outside interference for awhile.

Do you think I'm on the right path with my approach?