Garden Care Guide

Dwarf Pomegranate Care

Punica granatum 'Nana'

A dwarf variety of the common pomegranate, grown for its abundant bright red-orange flowers and small decorative fruit. It is ideal for pots, bonsai and small, sunny spots. It likes full sun and very well-drained soil; it is drought tolerant.

Half-hardy · -12 °C / 10 °F

Monthly care calendar

Timings are for a temperate Northern Hemisphere climate. In warmer areas tasks start earlier, in colder areas later; in the Southern Hemisphere shift them by six months.

January
  • Watering: Very rarely, lightly once a month to prevent the potting soil from drying out completely (0.2 L/pot).
  • Pruning: Main pruning time. Prune to give the plant the desired shape, open up the interior, and remove weak, dry branches.
  • Plant protection: Dormant oil (mineral oil) can be applied for overwintering pests.
  • General care: Dormancy period. Potted plants should be protected from excessive winter rain.
  • Frost risk: In hard and prolonged frosts, cover the root zone with mulch or dry leaves; also protect young plants. It is damaged below about -12 °C.
February
  • Pruning: While dormant, remove dry, broken, crossing and inward-growing branches so that air and light reach the inside of the crown.
  • Plant protection: Repeat the dormant oil application if needed.
  • General care: Rest period continues.
  • Frost risk: In hard and prolonged frosts, cover the root zone with mulch or dry leaves; also protect young plants. It is damaged below about -12 °C.
March
  • Watering: Start watering as the soil begins to dry (0.3-0.5 L/pot per week).
  • Fertilizing: Apply a balanced fertilizer or well-rotted organic fertilizer once when it wakes from dormancy.
  • General care: The buds burst and leafing out begins. A suitable time for repotting.
  • Pests & diseases: Aphids (Aphidoidea) may appear on fresh shoots.
  • Frost risk: Young shoots may be affected by severe late frosts.
April
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water every 15 days.
  • Fertilizing: Once a month, at half the label dose.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Growth accelerates.
  • Pests & diseases: Look for aphids (green or black clusters of small insects) on fresh shoot tips. If there are only a few, you can knock them off with a strong jet of water.
May
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water once a week.
  • Fertilizing: Every 2-3 weeks, continue with a high-potassium liquid fertilizer (flower booster).
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Spread a 5-7 cm layer of mulch over the root zone; it retains soil moisture and suppresses weeds. Do not pile mulch against the trunk.
  • Pests & diseases: Look for aphids (green or black clusters of small insects) on fresh shoot tips. If there are only a few, you can knock them off with a strong jet of water.
June
  • Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. Water around the roots to a depth of 15-20 cm.
  • Fertilizing: Every 2 weeks, continue with a high-potassium liquid fertilizer.
  • Pruning: Deadheading encourages new flowering.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Main flowering period. Fruit begins to form.
  • Pests & diseases: Check fresh shoot tips for aphids (small clusters of green or black insects). If there are few, you can knock them off with a strong spray of water. Look for cottony white clusters (mealybugs) in the leaf axils.
July
  • Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. Water around the roots to a depth of 15-20 cm.
  • Fertilizing: Continue fertilizing every 2 weeks.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Flowering and fruit set continue.
  • Pests & diseases: Look for cottony white clusters in the leaf axils (mealybugs).
August
  • Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. Water around the roots to a depth of 15-20 cm.
  • Fertilizing: Continue fertilizing every 2 weeks.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Small, decorative fruits grow.
  • Pests & diseases: Look for cottony white clusters in the leaf axils (mealybugs).
September
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water once a week.
  • Fertilizing: Once a month, give a potassium-rich (flower-promoting) liquid fertilizer at a diluted dose.
  • General care: Flowering and the fruit display continue.
  • Pests & diseases: Continue monitoring for aphids and whiteflies.
October
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water every 15 days.
  • Fertilizing: From the end of the month, stop fertilizing.
  • General care: The fruits color and take on a decorative look. The leaves begin to yellow.
November
  • Watering: Cut back greatly (lightly every 10-15 days).
  • General care: Collect fallen leaves; many disease agents and pests overwinter under leaves.
  • Frost risk: Potted plants must be protected from frost.
December
  • Watering: Very rarely, once or twice a month, very lightly.
  • General care: Full dormancy period.
  • Frost risk: In hard and prolonged frosts, cover the root zone with mulch or dry leaves; also protect young plants. It is damaged below about -12 °C.

The care advice on this page is general and for information only; it is not professional advice. Plant age, soil and your garden’s microclimate can change the outcome. Plant protection products are mentioned only as general information; they are regulated, and the choice, dose and timing must be decided by a qualified professional under local rules. Consult a landscape architect or agronomist before applying.

Want reminders for every plant in your garden? Our garden-care app with monthly task lists and frost alerts is currently available in Turkish; the English version is on the way.

Browse all plant guides