13 Tips for Growing Juicy Pomegranates Indoors
If you’ve ever dreamt of growing pomegranates but lack the space, why not try them indoors? In this article, gardening expert Matt Dursum goes over a few tips for growing juicy pomegranates indoors.
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Pomegranate trees (Punica granatum) produce one of nature’s most emblematic, nutritious, and delicious fruits. You’ll see these iconic fruit trees growing in gardens from California to the Alhambra in Spain and the palaces of Rajasthan.
Fortunately, you don’t need an ornate garden or any outdoor space at all to grow pomegranates. They can thrive in containers indoors with their shallow and sturdy root systems.
All these evergreens need to thrive is enough light and some tender love and care. Below are 13 tips for growing juicy pomegranates indoors.
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Choose the Right Variety
Some varieties are better suited for growing indoors than others. Many gardeners love growing dwarf varieties such as the ‘Nana’ in indoor containers. These trees are short, compact, easy to trainm and cold-hardy to zone 7.
Another popular indoor variety is the small and shrubby ‘Provence.’ You’ll see this elegant pomegranate in gardens and balconies around the Mediterranean. It stays compact and can handle cold winters of up to 5°F (-15°C).
‘State Fair‘ is another great indoor variety with trainable foliage, beautiful flowers, and tons of juicy red fruit. This variety can grow up to five feet tall and become a centerpiece for most indoor patios and garden spaces.
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
| Provence | Punica granatum ‘Provence’ |
| Nana | Punica granatum ‘Nana’ |
| State Fair | Punica granatum ‘State Fair’ |
Choose the Right Soil
These ancient trees grow in most types of soil. In their native habitat, you’ll see them protruding from limestone cliffs or growing out of rocky hillsides. From acidic to calcareous, you can plant them in just about everything as long as it’s well-draining and not too alkaline.
To get deep, dark, and richly flavored fruits from your indoor pomegranates, simply make sure your soil quality is superb. Choose fertile loam with rich organic material. Add compost or organic plant food before planting your tree to boost its nutrient level.
Don’t use anything that absorbs excess moisture, such as clay. This soil waterlogs easily, which will ruin the roots. Choose any other soil type that allows easy drainage, and you’ll be good to go.
Select the Right Pot Size
Pomegranate trees have shallow roots that make them suitable for growing indoors in containers. To help them thrive, choose the right size pot, such as a wine barrel. Make sure there’s enough drainage at the bottom to let excess moisture drain away. Soggy soil stunts their growth and will cause several health issues.
Metal pots and raised beds are another good option. Make sure the metal is galvanized or covered with a non-toxic and food-safe paint. This way, you won’t have any dangerous heavy metals leaching into your soil.
A classic pot for pomegranates is an old wine or whiskey barrel. To convert a barrel into the perfect pomegranate planter, follow the steps below.
- Mark the center radius of your barrel with a pencil
- Put on protective gear, including gloves, earplugs, and a mask
- Have someone hold the barrel securely and make sure whoever’s trained with a circle saw is the one using it
- With your circle saw, carefully saw the barrel in half along the pencil mark
- Drill four to eight holes in the bottom of the two-barrel halves for drainage using a spade bit on your power drill.
- Sand your barrel and remove splinters and wood fragments.
- Now you’re ready to plant your pomegranate trees!
Provide Enough Sunlight
Pomegranates are native to Northern India and Iran and quickly spread throughout the Mediterranean and the Middle East. All these regions have one common thing in common — lots and lots of sunlight.
Ensure at least six hours of sunlight a day. Ideally, closer to ten hours of sunlight is best. To do this, place them near a south-facing window or in a room with plenty of open windows facing different directions. They can handle a little of shade, but your room should be lit up from morning to night.
Keep Your Space Warm
These trees thrive in USDA hardiness zones of 7-10, with plenty of days above 80°F (27°C). They do especially well in regions with dry heat, such as California and Arizona.
Make sure you keep your indoor space warm, especially through the summer. In winter, don’t worry if your home gets a little cold. Pomegranates are cold-hardy to around 10-15°F (-12 to -9°C) so a little indoor chill won’t hurt them.
Having enough warmth in your indoor space will help your trees grow plenty of fruit. Even in colder regions, if your space is warm enough, you can expect fruit after the third year.
Keep Humidity Low
Pomegranates thrive in warm climates with dry air, similar to the Mediterranean and Middle East. Too much humidity in the air may prevent them from flowering.
Keep your plants away from bathrooms, kitchens, and anywhere where steam can build up. If you notice foggy windows, it’s a good sign that your space is too humid.
Try using a dehumidifier near your plants to cut down on excess humidity. These machines will draw in the moist air and condense its excess water vapor into water droplets. You can even use the collected water to water your plants!
Follow a Watering Schedule
Although these small trees are native to drier parts of the world, they prefer regular watering. During your tree’s first three years, keep your soil moist but not waterlogged. If there’s too much water, it will slow fruit reduction, lead to fungal infections, or cause your fruit to split.
Check your soil and make sure it’s slightly moist throughout the year. Plants growing in containers can dry out quickly, especially in dry areas of your home. Once you notice the soil feels dry, give your trees another good watering.
After your pomegranates establish themselves and start to fruit after their third or fourth year, you’ll want to be extra vigilant. Over watering during fruiting can cause your beautiful fruit to prematurely split in half.
Prune Frequently
Some trees can grow to over 12 feet when planted outdoors in the right conditions. Give them regular pruning after their first year. This will also help concentrate their fruit and foliage in one section.
After planting your tree, skip pruning the first year. Let three to six trunks develop around the base. Remove any suckers growing around the base.
To get incredible flowers and fruit after your third year, prune your trees in their dormant period during the winter. More light and air reaching the inner foliage and branches is ideal. Trim secondary branches to give your plants enough open space towards the middle.
Fertilize
Add fertilizer to your soil slightly before and after the growing season in early spring and early fall. Pomegranates love a balanced fertilizer formula, such as an All-Purpose Vegetable Fertilizer.
Simply add the granular fertilizer over six inches from the trunk. Work it into the soil towards the edges of the container. Once you’ve worked the fertilizer into the soil, add a little water to moisten it into place.
During their dormant period in winter, you won’t have to fertilize. Be sure not to over-fertilize because this could cause health problems for your trees.
Watch Out for Pests and Diseases
Like other fruits, your indoor pomegranates can encounter diseases and pests. As your trees mature, keep an eye out for tell-tale signs of poor health and infections.
You may notice insects such as thrips, mealybugs, whiteflies, and citrus flat mites. Other pests include the dreaded Deudorix isocrates or pomegranate butterfly. This insect lays its eggs on your plant’s flowers and its larva bores into the fruit as it develops, though it is less likely to be found indoors.
To eliminate these pests, hand-pick the caterpillars as you notice them or use Bt. This versatile organic bio-pesticide helps rid your plants of caterpillars without hurting the plant. It’s actually a bacteria that only targets caterpillars, so it’s also safe for your soil and health. However, most of the time, indoor plants only contend with thrips, mealybugs, and whiteflies. Remove these with insecticidal soap.
Keep an Eye on Your Plant’s Color
The color of your leaves and fruit will tell you a lot about your plant. The most common sign of disease, overwatering, or malnutrition is yellow leaves.
If you over or under-water your plants, your leaves may start to yellow. Another cause may be micronutrient deficiencies for minerals such as zinc or iron.
Common diseases include Alternaria, which causes leaf spots, and Botrytis cinerea. This disease affects the plant’s blossoms and spoils them. To prevent these diseases, keep your pruning sheers disinfected and watch for any changes in your plant’s appearance. Prune away any damaged or infected branches and dispose of them far away from your garden.
Let Fruit Ripen on the Tree
Unlike some other fruits, you’ll need to leave your pomegranates on the tree to ripen. If you prematurely harvest your fruit, it will be inedible and intensely astringent.
To check their ripeness, give your fruit a good weighing with your hand. If they feel dense, it’s a good sign. Give them a good tapping with your finger and listen. If they sound dense, compact, and even metallic, they’re probably ripe.
The final test is their shape. If they’re perfectly round, they probably need a little more time on the tree. Boxier-shaped fruit is ideal. This indicates their seeds are fully ripe and juicy.
Overwinter the Right Way
Try not to let your indoor space become too cold during the winter. Temperatures below freezing will send your trees into full dormancy.
Keep them away from hot or cold drafts of air. Place them away from heating vents or anything else that will quickly raise or lower their ambient temperature. Turn their pots throughout the season so every part of your trees gets enough sunlight.
During the winter, don’t worry about watering them too much. Simply keep a consistent moisture in the soil down to an inch every week. Once spring comes, you can place your plants outside to kick-start them out of dormancy. After their leaves start to form, bring them back inside and start watering routinely for another season of amazing flowers and fruit!
