Baby garnet: a botanical description, bonsai cultivation, home care, as well as diseases and especially propagation by seeds and cuttings

Baby garnet is considered one of the beautiful fruit-bearing plants. He does not need to devote a large amount of time. In addition, he will sometimes bear delicious fruits.

In this article, we will tell you about this amazing representative of the flora. You will learn how to grow mini-pomegranates at home, what are the intricacies of care and how to grow a bonsai tree.

Botanical Description

Baby pomegranate is a dwarf plant that was bred artificially by breeders not so long ago (more about what types of dwarf pomegranate can be grown at home, read here). It is an absolutely unpretentious culture. In a tropical and temperate warm climate, it is grown in open ground. Under Russian conditions, pomegranate grows in ordinary pots in indoor greenhouses or on window sills. Baby pomegranate feels best in regions with dry and hot summers, cool winters.

Reference. Pomegranate Baby is a small deciduous shrub belonging to the Derbennikov family, whose height reaches 30-50 cm.

Its elongated leaves are grouped. The trunk is branched, painted in a light brown color. On thin branches there are many small thorns. Large flowers have 6 petals. They are painted bright red. Fruiting is not plentiful, but the fruits are edible. On the tree, it is advised to leave them no more than 5 pieces. Pomegranate blooms from March to November. Fruits ripen within 6 months.

Home Care

Baby grenade care is not considered difficult. The plant is characterized by rapid growth.

Temperature

The most suitable temperature for the growth of Baby garnet is:

in summer - + 24 ° С ... + 26 ° С;
in winter - + 10 ° С ... + 12 ° С, although they tolerate higher temperatures well;
at temperatures below + 6 ° C, the bush will die.

Watering

Pomegranate Baby needs watering once a month. In summer, it is necessary to spray the leaves of the plant with standing water at room temperature.

Topsoil should be slightly damp. Drying of the soil, as well as waterlogging, will harm the bush, it will begin to drop leaves and buds.

After the pomegranate fades, it must be abundantly watered, because during the flowering and ripening period of the fruit, the plant spends a lot of energy.

Shine

Since pomegranate came from hot countries, he needs a lot of light. If it is not enough, then the leaves will fall.

Note. It is best to place the plant on a windowsill, the window of which faces south. The shrub does not need to create a shadow in hot hours.

After the danger of frost has passed, pomegranates can be taken out to fresh air in a warm place where there are no drafts. Bright light must be accustomed gradually so that the leaves do not burn. In the fall, pomegranates are brought into the room.

Priming

Baby grenades are planted in soil, which consists of 2 parts of turf land and 1 part each:

humus (peat);
sheet land;
sand.

Mandatory presence of a drainage layer. It can be expanded clay or crushed red brick.

In the summer, the soil for planting pomegranate should be loose so that water penetrates well through it. Helped in this mixed:

fine sawdust;
sand;
peat.

Pruning

Before the growing season, you need to trim remove dried and weak shoots. The plant will then bloom better.

Flexible branches of Baby grenade can be directed in the right direction. For proper pruning, you need to leave 5 buds on each shoot, trim everything else.

It is required to form 4-6 main branches. In this case, only unnecessary root shoots need to be cut.

Carefully form the crown of the Baby grenade, because its branches are fragile.

Important! You can not cut the plant very much. Otherwise, it will become weak and bloom poorly.

Top dressing

Feeding is carried out:

in spring - nitrogen fertilizers for enhanced growth;
in summer - phosphate compositions for flowering;
in the fall - potassium for ripening fruits and energy storage for the winter period.

During the introduction of nitrogen compounds, experienced gardeners advise wrapping the trunks with plastic wrap. Otherwise, if a solution gets on them, burns will remain. The interval between application should be 14-21 days and clearly as indicated in the instructions

Pot

Baby grenades are grown in small pots. The ratio of diameter and height is 1: 1. When it is to be transplanted, it is recommended to take a pot with a diameter larger than the previous one by 3-4 cm. If the roots are tight in it, then the pomegranate will bloom better.

Transfer

Often a transplant is not necessary. Only young bushes are transplanted every year. Adult pomegranate transplants are involved as needed. This can happen once every 3-5 years.

This work is done in the spring, when the buds swell. A baby grenade transplant is performed using the transshipment method.

Wintering

In mid-November, the fruits of Baby pomegranate fully ripen, and then the plant discards all the leaves. It is preparing for winter peace, which lasts 2-3 months.

The absolute norm is the complete absence of leaves. If the wintering is organized correctly, then in the spring they will grow again.

Bush needs to create a certain temperature, the most suitable is + 10 ° С ... + 12 ° С.
The air needs to be dry in the room.
Before the rest period, the ground in the flowerpot must be absolutely dry.
If the pomegranates are very young in winter they are watered every 2 weeks, and the rest for the entire time - 3-4 times.

Features of growing in the form of bonsai

You can form a bonsai from Baby garnet if it grows as a single branch.

You don’t need to pinch the crown and this branch must be tied to a wire so that it becomes vertical and straight.

After the grenade becomes strong, correct its height. Baby variety is good in that it is possible to form a bonsai from it even when the plant is an adult.

Propagation by seeds and cuttings

Baby pomegranate seed is stable in germination. You can buy seeds in the store or collect from your fruits. The procedure is carried out in April-May.

Before embarking on seed planting, they are soaked for 24 hours in a weak solution of growth stimulant, which is based on biohumus. This procedure will help improve germination.
Then they are dried and planted in a small pot in which peat is poured.
Seeds are sown 2 cm deep. Cover with a film on top to create a greenhouse environment.
The pot must be put in a bright place. Seeds will sprout quickly.
It is necessary that the earth is in a moderately wet state. Watering is necessary regularly, but not plentifully, otherwise they will rot. In dry soil, they will not be able to ascend.
Do not forget about the daily 20-minute airing.
After the appearance of the four main leaves, the film is removed, and the seedlings are planted.

There is another way to propagate Baby pomegranate - cuttings:

In this case, lateral shoots are cut from the branch that bears fruit. It is necessary that each has 5 kidneys, in addition to the fact that the two lower ones will need to be removed.
These shoots are put for 3-5 hours in a stimulant that promotes root formation.
After this, the cuttings are planted in moist peat, deepening by 4 cm. A jar is placed on top or covered with a film.
For ventilation and watering several times a day, all this needs to be ajar.
After the appearance of new kidneys and the disclosure of those that remained there, the jar or film is removed.
In permanent pots, rooted cuttings are transplanted after 2 months.

Diseases and Pests

Baby fruit is not immune to diseases and pests. because need to conduct a systematic inspection:

branches
leaves;
the trunk.

They can be affected:

Whitefly, scalefish and other pests. If there are few pests, then they can be collected. Otherwise, you need to fight with chemicals.
The pomegranate Baby can rot the roots, this is evidenced by the appearance of many yellow leaves. It is necessary to transplant the plant by cutting off diseased roots, and treat the cut with crushed coal.
Also, the plant can get sick with powdery mildew, it is important to notice the disease in time and immediately begin to treat it.

Exotic plant - baby garnet will become a real decoration of the house. This very attractive tree stands out for its juicy green leaves, colorful flowers. The most important charm - delicious outlandish ripe fruits.