Hello

CosmoKing · White Belt Joined: 26 Apr 2008 Posts: 1

Hi everyone,

My name is Dino(pron. Dean-oh) and I am originally from Bosnia&Herzegovina but have lived in England for some 8 or 9 years now. My main interests are carnivorous plants(5 years experience) and Orchids(4 years experience) but have recently developed an interest in Bonsai. I probably will not have the room for a large Bonsai collection, as I already have over 100 carnivorous plants and over 120 orchids, but for the trees I do get I'd like to be able to grow them really well and turn them into masterpieces.

Here is my first question: I have 4 small pomegranate seedlings, between 4 and 6 inches high. They are around 3 or 4 years old and were a bonus from one of my Italian contacts when I traded some carnivorous plants with her. This was about 2 years ago, and the trees were in the same pot and were allowed to grow and develop large roots, but because the pot was small they only increased from 2 or 3 inches tall to 4-6 inches tall. I have forgotten about them....until today, when I finally decided to upot them and put them in seperate pots so they can develop properly, but then I realised that they have great Bonsai potential. One in particular has a nice shape and has branched out several times.

What should I do next to turn them into Bonsai's? I have read some sources that state that trees should be put in a big pot and left to get fairly big and develop a big trunk, while others state that the trees should go into a Bonsai pot as soon as they are about 3 years old(which is approximately the age of these trees)

Thank you for any help! Very Happy

Dino

Stymie · Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 3:30 pm Post subject: Re: Hello

Hi Dino and welcome.
Punica granatum (pomegranate) are not completely hardy in the UK but can go out into full sun when the temperatures achieve double figures. Pots, therefore, are the best way forward. When they have had time to settle into their new pots, which can be fairly large while they are getting thicker, after about a month, feeding with a balanced fertilizer at two week intervals can be initiated. They will need plenty of moisture during the growing season and rather less during the winter although they should never be allowed to completely dry out. If you want them to flower, don't trim the shoots with rounded ends. This is where the flowers will come from. The planting medium which you pot them in should have around 20% of coarse frit added to facilitate draining. As the other shoots extend to four or five leaves long, they may be trimmed to leave only two leaves. Doing this continually through the summer will result in denser twigs and foliage. This is the ideal time to do the potting on, after which they will be okay to leave for two years until spring 2010.
You will find another carnivorous plant fan on here called Jimothy. I'm sure that he will be getting in touch. Meanwhile keep talking to us.

Dick · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 4:41 am Post subject: Re: Hello

Hi Dino,

Welcome to the forum. I too have been raising bonsai and orchids for over 35 years and have recently started a small collection of carnivorous plants as well. My greenhouse is very helpful to keep all my plant interests "well fed." But I have noticed that I could use some added space from time to time.