How to care for pomegranate in a pot?

The pomegranate is a shrub that tolerates pruning very, very well, but it is also a relatively small plant , which means that it can always be grown in a pot. As if that were not enough, there is a variety, the Punica granatum »Nana» , which is even more interesting since it does not exceed two meters in height.

So if you want to have a fruit tree, we recommend choosing a pomegranate. Surely you will not regret it, especially after knowing the -few- care that a pomegranate in a pot needs.

Where to place the pomegranate in a pot?

Potted pomegranate is easily cared for outdoors

The pomegranate , whose scientific name is Punica granatum , is a shrub or fruit tree that does not exceed five meters in height. It is a plant that maintains its leaves in spring and summer, but during autumn they begin to fall and in winter it runs out of them, so we say that it is deciduous.

But in addition, it is a species that wants and needs the sun’s rays to affect it . And it is that in low light conditions it is impossible for it to grow well. For this reason, it is important to wear it outside.

When and how to water it?

When grown in the ground, it is a plant that resists drought very well; in fact, in the Mediterranean region where they can spend a good part of spring and summer without seeing rain for weeks, as it happens in my area for example, it remains well without problems. But when you have it in a pot, things change.

In a pot, a pomegranate becomes dependent on its caretaker. He lives in a small space, with a land that can dry out quickly in summer. So it has to be watered about twice a week during the hot and dry season, and once a week or every two the rest of the year.

What substrate to put on it?

If you want to have a pomegranate in a pot, you have to bear in mind that it is very sensitive to excess water. In addition, you have to plant it in substrates whose pH is between 6.5 and 7.5, as it does not tolerate acidic soils.

But don’t worry, nowadays it is easy to find suitable land for this plant. For example the following:

  • Universal substrate
  • Substrate for urban garden

Or you can even make the mix yourself:

  • Mulch with perlite in equal parts
  • 60% peat with 30% perlite and 10% worm castings

Can a pomegranate in a pot be fertilized?

Yes. But it is not only possible, but also due. It must be paid from the beginning of spring to the end of summer, with liquid organic fertilizers . For example, with guano or seaweed extract fertilizer. Although they are natural, it is necessary to follow the directions on the container, as they are highly concentrated and an overdose could be fatal.

How to plant a pomegranate in a pot?

The dwarf pomegranate is grown in pots

Image – Flickr / Scott Zona

To plant a pomegranate in a pot you will need gardening gloves, substrate, a watering can with water and of course a pot . This has to be about 6-7 centimeters larger than the one you already have, since it is a plant that grows fast. Then you have to follow these steps:

  1. The first is to take a little substrate and pour it into the new pot. Of course, you have to take into account the size of the »old» pot, otherwise the plant would be either too high or too low with respect to the edge of the container.
  2. Now, carefully extract the pomegranate, and insert it into the new pot, centered.
  3. Then, add substrate to finish filling the new pot.
  4. Finally, water and place the pot in a sunny spot.

Of course, never remove a pomegranate from a container if it has not rooted well ; that is, if you do not see roots poking out of the drainage holes of it. Also, you have to bear in mind that the ideal time for transplanting is early / mid spring, which is when temperatures are mild and the plant begins to grow.

What are the diseases of potted pomegranate?

The pomegranate is very resistant. In fact, the diseases you can have appear when you water excessively, or when it rains a lot and the soil has a hard time drying out.

Thus, you can have:

  • Alternariosis : it is a fungus that attacks the leaves, causing brown spots on the edges, and rotting on the fruits. It is treated with copper.
  • Screening : caused by the fungus Clasterosporium carpophilum . It mainly affects the fruits, where necrotic spots appear with a pink border. It can be treated with copper.
  • Phytophtora : it is a fungus that damages the roots, rotting them. Elongated brown spots will be seen on the trunk, and the leaves will quickly dry out. It is treated with specific fungicides, but it is best to improve the drainage of the pot by putting a light substrate that contains perlite.

When and how to prune it?

The pomegranate is pruned in autumn or late winter . To do this, you will need previously disinfected pruning shears and gloves. Once you have everything, you have to remove all the branches that are dry, broken or diseased. Likewise, it is important that you cut all those that grow too much, because when growing it in a pot, the space it has is limited, and therefore the availability of nutrients as well.

The most advisable thing is to leave a rounded crown and the trunk exposed, but this is a bit to the taste of the owner. In any case, it is important to avoid drastic pruning, as these would weaken it.

Potted pomegranate with yellow leaves: what’s wrong with it?

There are three possible causes that cause pomegranate leaves to turn yellow. They are as follows:

Excess of water

The yellow leaves in a pomegranate are usually an indicator of excess water, either because it has been watered too much, it has rained a lot, or because the substrate that has been put on is not suitable. Therefore, it is important to first make sure that the substrate is light, and that it contains pearlite or the like (wing, pumice, etc.), since if it is not, we would have to remove the pomegranate from the pot, carefully remove the soil that you can without manipulating the roots much, and then plant it in another pot, new and clean, with the appropriate soil.

In addition, it is necessary that the container have holes in its base so that the excess water can run its course. For this reason, you should not put a plate under it, unless it is drained after watering. And speaking of watering, you have to water very few times a week  (see the section When and how to water it? For more information).

Lack of water

If the leaves that turn yellow are the youngest, then it could be that you are going thirsty . If we see the dry land, and if when picking up the pot we notice that it weighs little, we will put it in a container with water for half an hour.

Thus, the soil will rehydrate and the plant will be able to recover.

It’s fall / winter

In the case of autumn / winter, we will not have to worry if we see that the leaves turn yellow because the pomegranate is deciduous.

How to care for pomegranate in a pot?

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