Ugly 'Sumo' Pomegranate From Scratch

[FlyBri]

Gday folks!

About a month ago, I purchased this Pomegranate (Punica granatum) with the intention of attempting to make nicely tapered Bonsai material. Time will tell how well I have done, but at least it has survived the rather savage treatment I have dealt out... I'm often struck by the lack of Pomegranate Bonsai stock available, given that all the books state that it is very suitable, and our climate is almost ideal for the species.

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Updates as they come to hand.

Thanks.

Fly.

[NathanM]

Nice one, Fly I've got one little Pomegranate at ome. Just started work on it though, so nothing to photograph.
You're not wrong about the lack of material!

[kcpoole]

My Dad has grown an heap from seed ( not for Bonsai)
I must go and pinch an heap oth them Someday and start work on them

Ken

[Watto]

I agree Fly, very little stock around. I broke my golden rule last year and propergated a few from seed so they are long term projects. I do hold out hope of getting permission to dig one in particular that is growing in the front garden of a house nearby. It has the look of a great bonsai in the ground so I keep my fingers crossed.
A dramatic change in your tree Fly, keep us posted with the good news!

[Jamie]

gday mate

how true it is that there isnt enough pomegranate stock in Aus! they grow quite strong and is well under used, they would grow very well up this way too, my aunty has one out the back and if it had more interest I would of got my cousin to dig it up

this one is going to be a nice tree in time mate do you plan on some carving? and are you hoping that the gap in the middle from where there was two larger trunks will eventually grow together and fuse? you have started the tree onto a nice little sumo

jamie

[FlyBri]

do you plan on some carving? and are you hoping that the gap in the middle from where there was two larger trunks will eventually grow together and fuse? you have started the tree onto a nice little sumo

Gday Jamie & Co!

There is indeed some carving on the horizon, but for now I will let the thing grow as vigorously as possible. I don't believe that the gap will ever fuse, so I'm eventually hoping to chop the LH trunk back once the base has developed.

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Thanks!

Fly.

[Jamie]

thanks mate

very clear now! I thought that might have been the way you are going will make for a nicely tapered tree in time! keep us posted

[Jan]

don't believe that the gap will ever fuse, so I'm eventually hoping to chop the LH trunk back once the base has developed.

G'day Fly,

Just a thought, but might the left hand trunk be convinced to fuse by taking a slice off each inner face of the left and right trunks and pinning the two trunks together with a brass screw (well countersunk into the left hand trunk to facilitate carving at a later date)? As the two bark/cambium layers heal they may graft together for you; could save you some development time.

Keep us posted; this certainly looks like an interesting project.

I have a rescued dwarf Pomegranate that had minimal fine root so has been treated like a grand cutting and has survived the first six months. Our hot, dry summer, however, will tell if it will survive; fingers crossed. I'm on the look out for Pomegranate related info,

Jan.

[FlyBri]

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The angle of the photo doesn't show it, but the gap between the stumps is actually closing up a little. The skewer/toothpick treatment appears to have done nothing at all, but I've attempted to take a number of hardwood cuttings in the hope that I may eventually thread-graft some new roots onto the trunk.

Looking at it now, I'm almost tempted to grow a sumo/clump style tree, but I'll reconsider after another year's growth.

Thanks!

Fly.