Pomegranate as a Bonsai?

ArcLad

My parents have a Pomegranate in a pot. They called me one day and told me that it would be a great bonsai cause they saw in it had much potential because of how the tree grew, and that it was like in a forest formation. I have never seen or heard of Pomegranate used as a Bonsai. My parent's Pomegranate bears fruit. It has about 12 Pomegranate on the tree. It's not big, it is about the size of a 19" monitor. If they turn it into a bonsai do they have to care for it exactly the same way as a normal tree? Reason why I question it so much is because it bares fruit. If i prune the roots away like a normal bonsai will it affect the fruit so much that the tree will just lose all its Pomegranate? Just wanted to see if it is possible, and if it is possible, should I do this now or wait till next spring? I don't want the tree to be threatened by the oncoming fall and winter weather.

-David

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Joanie

Search the gallery and the forum for "pomegranate"... you'll be surprised. We use poms all the time, here in the climate that suits them well. As far as bearing fruit, poms bear their flowers and fruit on the end of new growth, so you have to decide whether to keep the tree trimmed at the expense of the flowers and fruit, or whether to let it get a little shaggy and unkempt so that you can enjoy the lovely flowers and fruit.

I have about seven poms, including a white double flowering, an apricot colored double flowering, and a regular red double flowering, as well as several of the dwarf varietie. ("Nana"). Love them all!

Joanie

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rockm

The National Arb has John Naka's famous pom. Third tree down:

http://www.bonsai4me.com/Gallery/Ga...uinnPageOne.htm

It is a very impressive tree, over three feet tall and gnarly. go up to D.C. and have a look.

rschlafer

Yes Please!

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mrwally1954

they look great
Even here in "OZ" we do em !

stuart

gregb

I would wait until spring to do any bonsai techniques to your parent's pomegranate. Just focus on getting it safely through the winter. Fortunately for you pomegranate can be wintered indoors, give them a sunny location and water a bit less than you would when they are outdoors during the growing season. I would let it get a few nights of cool temps. (just above freezing) before bringing it in. They are native to the Mediterranean, where temps. rarely dip below the freeze mark, which is why you can winter them indoors. It may lose a few or even all its leaves; not to panic. Watch the buds, they are a light red in color and when they begin to swell is the time to get it into a bonsai pot. Hopefully it will coincide with warmer outside temps. When the threat of frost is clear, place the tree outside once again.

Repotter

"If i prune the roots away like a normal bonsai will it affect the fruit so much that the tree will just lose all its Pomegranate? Just wanted to see if it is possible, and if it is possible, should I do this now or wait till next spring? I don't want the tree to be threatened by the oncoming fall and winter weather."

This part scares me a little. "Prune the roots away like a normal bonsai"......

Please don't do this. Only prune enough roots to get it into the pot of choice, (assuming it is the right choice) this is what should be done in most bonsai cases. And I would only prune it in warm weather unless you have a heated greenhouse.
So much depends on where you plan to keep the tree.
And yes it will most likely lose flowers and fruit if you do it when in bloom or fruit.

Good luck, keep thinking,

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