The fickle Pomegranate

ozzerbon

G’day folks,

It appears to me that the pomegranate tree is one of the most fickle of species.

Here are several to advance my point. [All these pics were taken today.]

Punica granatum
#1 - Height, 17cm [6 ¾“]. Round, light-blue glazed, Japanese pot with fluted sides. Width, 13cm [5“], height, 6.5cm [2 ½“].
[note: this tree produced three flowers of intense red about 6 weeks ago, no fruit.]

#2 - Height, 6.5cm [2 ½“]. Hexagonal, cream-glazed, Japanese pot.
Width, 8.5cm [3 ¼”], height, 12.5cm [5”].
[note: very young, perhaps 3years, good adult leaves, no flower buds.]

#3 - Height, 34cm [13 ½”]. Rectangular, speckled-brown, unglazed, Japanese “Tokoname” pot, signed and sealed by the potter.
Width, 22.5cm [9“], depth, 17.5cm [7“], height, 8cm [3 ¼“].
[note: an incredible mass of new foliage, many impressive thorns but not a single flower bud in sight.]

Punica granatum nana
#1 - Height, 14cm [5 ½“]. Oval, cream, matt-glazed, Japanese ‘Tokoname’ pot.
Width, 16.5cm [6 ½“], depth, 12.5cm [5“], height, 5.5cm [2 ¼“].
[note: still showing late flower bud, this tiny tree had over 150 flowers this last Spring thru to Autumn season, none fruited.]

#2 - Height of tallest tree, 20cm [8“]. Rectangular, green-blue glazed, Japanese pot.
Width, 15.5cm [6“], depth, 12.5cm [5“], height, 7cm [2 ¾“].
[note: still showing late flower bud, of these three trees the tallest one had many flowers, none fruited. Of the other two the smallest one had very late buds [see pic], while the third had none.]

#3 - Height, 21.5cm [8 ½“]. Round, dark jade-green, Japanese "Tokoname" pot.
Width, 14cm [5 ½“], height, 10.5cm [4 ¼“].
[note: still showing late flower buds, a continual abundance of flowers.]

Hope you enjoy.

ozzerbon

Attached Images

	Punica granatum #1+2 (1).jpg (44.6 KB, 26 views)
	Punica granatum #1+2 (2).jpg (50.8 KB, 30 views)
	Punica granatum #3 (1).jpg (32.9 KB, 33 views)
	Punica granatum #3 (2).jpg (35.7 KB, 28 views)
	Punica granatum #3 (3).jpg (59.6 KB, 36 views)
	Punica granatum #3 (4).jpg (52.9 KB, 15 views)

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ozzerbon

And now for the Nanas

Attached Images

	Punica granatum nana #2 (2).jpg (54.1 KB, 17 views)
	Punica granatum nana #2 (1).jpg (57.1 KB, 16 views)
	Punica granatum nana #1 (1).jpg (51.3 KB, 32 views)
	Punica granatum nana #3 (1).jpg (50.9 KB, 22 views)
	Punica granatum nana #3 (2).jpg (51.9 KB, 20 views)

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Joanie

That is really interesting! So much individual diversity among the poms. The three together, were they from different sources? Because the big one looks like an entirely different cultivar than the two small ones.

Are you pruning off the ends of the branches on some, and that's why they don't flower?

Lovely trees, thank you for sharing!

Joanie

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clrosner

Ozzbon:
Please tell me more about your care, and why you think the Pom is so fickle. Are you talking about the flowering and or fruit?

I ask because I have a double trunk Pomagranate, which I traded a background painting and have only had the tree for one season. It grew beaufully as far as vegetation was concerned, but not a flower appeared all growing season.

Attached Images

POMEGRANATE 01 050505.jpg (59.0 KB, 39 views)

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carmi

Hi,
The Origin of the Pomegranate is Central Asia, probably Persia, now cultivated in Western and Central Asia, Mediterranean countries and Northern India.
If it grows in the right environment it is a very tolerant and easy growing bonsai, growing it in North West Europe will create problems.
Shalom,
Moshe.

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Moshe.

Colors are an optic illusion of light – As viewers for the bonsai creation. M.S.C.

tom_termine

Hi all -

Here is my Pom - flowered for the first time ever late this summer...because Ozzerbon said it would! Remember? He told me to lay off the pruning and voila!

So, it is resting now, and I have pruned it very little. Sorry about the makeshift background.

I have high hopes for flowers this year. I made sure not to prune the branch that flowered (the one with the spurs). We'll see...

Tom

Attached Images

Pommy 11-21.jpg (64.7 KB, 35 views)

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Tom

ozzerbon

Hello Joanie,

That is really interesting! So much individual diversity among the poms. The three together, were they from different sources? Because the big one looks like an entirely different cultivar than the two small ones.

Yep, you’re quite correct, the three were indeed from various sources. Occasionally I am forced to plant trees together temporarily [if I want to keep them] as my space is so restricted, being a mere 2 meters square [small 4th floor balcony facing east] but next Spring I shall repot them back to being individuals, as I have redeveloped a respect for shohin in my mind and outlook. The majority of my larger trees are at a bonsai buddies [bunjin san] place up North of Holland, which allows me to have more space.

Are you pruning off the ends of the branches on some, and that's why they don't flower?

I have just pruned most of them back to shape, and yes I do know that the flower buds are almost always apical, which means that one has to be quite nuts to be interested in this species at all, as the new growth is extremely vigorous and therefore the trees become very chaotic and wild-looking to say the least.

However I think that with enough time the various styles can be achieved, but how long that is, does anyone know?

Howdy Carl,

Please tell me more about your care, and why you think the Pom is so fickle. Are you talking about the flowering and or fruit?

The growth habit of this tree specie makes it an unlikely subject for a goodly success as bonsai, but we being what we are with much patience will persevere and hopefully master the/our trees. These days I keep them permanently outside, having tried in the past by bringing them indoors during the winter period, but this for me was a bad thing as the slight temperature changes brought on a spurt of new growth and eventual loss of the trees.

I ask because I have a double trunk Pomagranate, which I traded a background painting and have only had the tree for one season. It grew beaufully as far as vegetation was concerned, but not a flower appeared all growing season.

Indeed your two-trunk tree is very attractive, good quality and very scarce in Holland [me likes it a great deal], and besides I really enjoy the swap-routine [I do this often as well, as like a bonding between tree buddies], alas you will just have to let your tree get to being shaggy, with all of its tangled-unruly new growth, and only after flowering should you prune it back. I surely wish you success with it.

Hi Moshe,

TOO TRUE, you appear to have the very same notes as do I.

G'day Tom,

Very nice to hear that you have had some success, but what do you mean by spurs, I guess you mean thorns....? To my way of thinking, thorns should be encouraged and not be pruned off.

Nigel

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carmi

Hi OZ,
As a mater off fact I am growing for some years 4 bonsai Pomegranate, they are all now in various stages of shedding of leaves.
Next spring I will up load photos of them blossoming, and in the summer with fruits.
The Pomegranate are growing in Israel for over 2000 years and there is no special problems growing them as bonsai.
Shalom,
Moshe.

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Shalom (Peace),
Moshe.

Colors are an optic illusion of light – As viewers for the bonsai creation. M.S.C.

ozzerbon

G'day Moshe,

If it is at all possible should really like to see how your trees are at the present, I learn a great deal from viewing trees that have lost their foliage.

And of course you should have no trouble with this species living where you do, that climate, I would say is near perfect.

Are you lucky enough to have one of the cream coloured flower variety?

Success,

Nigel

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