Why is my pomegranate not blooming?

The pomegranate is a very resistant and adaptable fruit tree whose growth rate is reasonably fast. It can be grown in any type of garden, whether small, medium or large, as its roots are not invasive. In addition, its beautiful flowers will decorate the place every spring.

But what to do if those flowers never seem to sprout? If you are wondering why my pomegranate is not blooming, below you will know the possible causes and how to solve them.

Basic characteristics of pomegranate

The pomegranate is a thorny, deciduous tree or shrub that can reach a height of 5-6 meters. Its trunk branches almost from the base, although it can be pruned to leave it without branches up to a certain height, and have it more like a tree. It can even be worked as bonsai (especially the dwarf variety, whose scientific name is Punica granatum var. Nana ).

The leaves are simple and lanceolate, measuring between 1.5-7 centimeters long and 0.8-2 centimeters wide, of a lustrous green color. Its flowers bloom during the spring, and are between 3 and 4 centimeters in diameter. The fruit is what we know as a pomegranate, and it has a spherical shape, reddish in color and measures between 5 and 12 centimeters. Inside there are several seeds of about 12-15 by 5-7mm.

In what conditions does it live?

It is a plant native to Iran and Turkey, but it has become naturalized in the Mediterranean region. It is grown without problems in places where the climate is tropical, subtropical and temperate, since it supports temperatures of up to 40ºC and -12ºC.

It favors heat, and resists drought. The pomegranate is also an ornamental shrub, which can be planted in poor soils. As long as it is in direct sun and has a little space available to grow, it will be fine.

Why doesn’t it bloom?

Image – Wikimedia/ Tulsi Bhagat

There are several reasons why a pomegranate may not bloom. Before doing anything, we have to identify it.

Lack of direct light

The pomegranate, whose scientific name is Punica granatum, is a tree that, in order to grow well and flourish, needs to be directly exposed to the sun. If it is in semi-shade, inside the house/ greenhouse, or protected in some way, it will not be able to produce flowers because it lacks energy.

Being a heliophilic plant, the ideal is that it begins to receive the impact of the rays of the star king from when it is a seedling, or if it is a cutting, from the moment it has rooted. In this way, it will have a correct development, flourishing with health and producing fruits.

What to do?

Put it in a brighter area. The sooner the better. Of course, if you have never had the sun before, you will have to acclimatize little by little so that your leaves do not suffer burns. To do this, you must first get used to receiving 1-2 hours of direct light a day. Afterwards, you can increase the exposure time little by little.

Is young

Age is a factor that must be taken into account. The dwarf pomegranate ( Punica granatum var. Nana ) is a tree that flowers early, with 1-2 years of age; On the other hand, the normal variety ( Punica granatum ) takes about 5 or 6 years if it receives water regularly. When a plant produces flowers for the first time, in general we can assume that it is ready to produce its own fruits and thus contribute to the creation of new generations.

But to get to that moment it is important that they finish their youth first, since to produce flowers, fruits and seeds a lot of energy is needed. An energy that, when the pomegranate is young, it uses to grow.

What to do?

Provide the care it needs: direct sun, regular waterings throughout the year, and make some contributions of organic fertilizer in spring and summer.

Lacks space

If we have a pomegranate in the same pot for a long time, there will come a time when it will not be able to continue growing. Even at flowering age, if its roots do not have room to grow, the plant will not be able to produce flowers.

This can also happen if it grows in the garden, but has paved soil a few inches from the trunk. The roots require space to develop, as well as air, water and nutrients.

What to do?

If it is in a pot, it should be planted in another one that measures about 7-10 centimeters in diameter and deeper than the one it has now. Likewise, that container must have holes at the bottom, since pomegranate is a plant that does not resist flooding. In addition, you do not have to put a plate or tray under it, as the water would stagnate and the roots would rot.

If it is planted in the garden, remove some of the paved soil. Theirs would be to leave soil from the trunk to a distance of about 40 centimeters at least.

It is recovering from a drastic pruning

The pomegranate can be pruned, but in moderation. If it is for example 3 meters high, we do not have to leave it with 1 meter in one go because most likely we would lose it. And it is that when a lot is pruned, the plant will consume energy in trying to recover, that is, in healing the wounds and moving forward, not in flowering.

But, if it is the case that before these wounds are sealed, some microorganism enters (fungus, bacteria, virus) the recovery time will be longer. This is rare for pomegranates, but cannot be ruled out.

What to do?

In these conditions, your pomegranate needs water from time to time to keep it hydrated. It is also advisable to treat it with a multipurpose fungicide, since if it has fungi, you can keep them at bay. You can buy it here.