How to Grow Pomegranate in Containers

Eating a truly healthy diet can sometimes be a drag. It’s often expensive and requires being able to make it to the grocery store pretty often because most healthy foods don’t have preservatives added to them that keep them shelf-stable for long periods of time.

But, how would you like to have a world-class super food on hand in your very own home that offers benefits way beyond just healthy snacks?

You can grow your very own 3-foot pomegranate tree in a container in your home. Think of how amazed your friends and family would be when you have a pretty little tree as the centerpiece in one of the rooms in your home. It offers small edible snacks depending on which variety you plant, grows beautiful flowers among its pretty green foliage, improves air quality in your home, and is a sure conversation starter.

Why Pomegranates?

Pomegranates are widely recognized as an amazing super food because they are loaded with critical nutrients. Below are links to the evidence on how pomegranates may be able to improve your health:Pomegranates are widely recognized as an amazing super food because they are loaded with critical nutrients. Below are links to the evidence on how pomegranates may be able to improve your health:

They reduce inflammation, which may help with osteoporosis, arthritis, joint pain and many other conditions (as too much inflammation is generally unhealthy)

1. Slows the growth of prostate cancer (links here and here)
2. Promotes heart health by reducing LDL oxidation and reducing blood pressure (here and here)
3. One of the few foods containing aromatase inhibitors which inhibit estrogen production and can reduce the risk of breast cancer
4. Pomegranates have anti-angiogenic properties, which means they may prevent tumors from gaining a blood supply
5. Protects memory and brain functions
6. Fights bacterial and fungal infections

• Convinced? Great, now let’s go grow your own!

Convinced? Great, now let’s go grow your own!

Items Needed to Grow Your Own Pomegranate Tree Indoors

Take the following steps with this tutorial on planting and caring for your very own pomegranate tree:

– Choose a dwarf pomegranate tree variety
– Select a perfect spot with enough airflow, lighting, and space for your indoor tree
– Pick a container; terra cotta is a good choice
– Get some sand
– Get organic potting soil
– Find some peat moss
– Get your pruning shears
– Find a quart container for mixing fertilizer
– Use liquid fertilizer with a 10-10-10 blend
– Optional accessory – a grow light

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step One: Find the Perfect Variety of Pomegranate Tree

The first step is to find the perfect pomegranate tree. A dwarf pomegranate tree is the right size for growing indoors as it only reaches about three feet whereas a regular pomegranate tree can grow up to 30 feet tall if it’s being grown in the right climate zone. You could grow a regular pomegranate tree indoors, and then transplant it outdoors, but you’d need to live in zones eight to 11 to allow for the tree to reach its full potential outside.

The Nana dwarf variety of pomegranate trees is one that’s known to have a fruit that is edible. Some are more edible than others as some of the varieties have fruit that is meant to be more of an ornamental purpose.

Step Two: Mix Your Soil

You’ll want to fill up your container, terra cotta or otherwise, with potting soil. You’ll need to mix two parts sand, one part potting soil, and one part peat moss until you’ve filled up your container. This soil is perfect for creating a well-drained soil system.

Step Three: Placing the Container

You’ll want to find a location in your home that has an eastern or southern exposure to ensure that your pomegranate tree will receive the most amount of sun possible during the day. It needs about four to six hours worth a day. The more sunlight, the better as this tree isn’t happy with partially shaded areas.
If your home doesn’t have any areas that always receive a lot of sun throughout the entire year, you may have to supplement the amount of natural light that your pomegranate tree is getting with the use of a grow light. Just steal one from your hydroponic or aquaponic set up. This may seem like cheating, but think of what’s best for your tree as the more sunlight it gets along with other nutrients, the better the harvest will be for you.

Step Four: Temperature

You may not pay attention to the temperature in your home at night as you do during the day when the weather cools since at night you’re usually covered up in blankets, but your tree won’t have the same benefit. In the colder months, you’ll want to keep the temperature in the room that your tree is growing at about 40 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit at night. In the spring, the temperature should be at about 50 to 60 degrees in the evening.

Not only can pomegranates survive relatively low temperatures, but they actually need a good chill to produce fruit. Watch the short video below for some key info on getting pomegranate trees to bear fruit:

Step Five: Watering

Pomegranate trees are a little tricky in that they need just enough water to allow them to survive. It’s a balancing act to be sure, so you’ll want to get the soil just to the point of being moist during the growing season.

When August arrives, you’ll want to reduce how often you water it by waiting to water the soil until it’s dry throughout the top two to three inches. Then, you’ll want to remove any water that flows through to the tray under the pot to prevent it from being taken back up into the soil.

Step Six: Fertilizer

You’ll want to take the houseplant fertilizer that you purchased, and mix about three to four drops of it into the water-filled quart container you set aside for this purpose. It’s a good idea to label this container after you’ve used it once for mixing your fertilizer to ensure it’s not used in the kitchen.

You’ll then use this mixture to water the tree. You should be using this fertilizer mixture every two weeks starting in the spring and ending in the fall. During the colder months when you’re keeping the soil drier, you’ll want to eschew any fertilizing.

Step Seven: Pruning

You can prune your pomegranate tree to shape how it looks as well as to remove any dead branches it may have on it during the spring. Keep in mind that the flowers which turn into the fruit will be setting on new growth branches, so removing new growth will limit the amount of fruit you’ll see on your tree.

What if I do something wrong?

If you mess something up, there are always tell-tale signs. Here’s a free report—specific to container gardens—that shows you seven signs to look for and how to remedy each problem.

Conclusion

After you’ve planted your pomegranate tree, you’ll want to make sure that you continue to follow the care guidelines to ensure that your dwarf pomegranate trees last for many years to come providing you with all the benefits of growing it.

You’ll be on your way to a healthier lifestyle thanks to taking the time out for your large houseplant. Your home will have better air quality, you’ll get a special treat once it gets large enough to bear fruit, and this little tree will grace your home with its natural beauty.

Did you enjoy this tutorial? Please be sure to comment below and let us know if you’ve had any luck with growing your pomegranate tree. Don’t forget also to share with your friends if you think that they may enjoy getting to learn about how they can bring a bit of nature into their home.