• The red trumpet-shaped blossom of the pomegranate treePomegranate image by Mariyan Gochev from Fotolia.com
  
  With its bright green canopy, rust-colored stems, up to four months of red blossoms followed by the distinctive fruit, a pomegranate bonsai can be a permanent addition to your home. Many books, websites, clubs and workshops are available for specific instructions and purchases, and aside from basic maintenance, the only extra challenges the pomegranate bonsai presents are the need for plenty of warmth and light. The pomegranate bonsai originated in dry, tropical Asia, making it, in most zones, an indoor plant.
  
  

Growing from Seed

• Separate the seeds from the juice sac and dry with a paper towel before storingpomegranate image by barv from Fotolia.com
  
  Because there is no such thing as a "bonsai seed," you can grow your pomegranate bonsai from purchased or harvested tree seeds. Purchased commercial seeds will improve your chances of growing a tree of the best quality but you can also buy a pomegranate in winter, when it's in season. Store your seeds in a plastic bag, without moisture, in your refrigerator until fall planting season. As of 2010, there were no pomegranate bonsai seed kits for sale, so when September rolls around, you can either buy such a kit and substitute the pomegranate seeds, or follow general the guidelines for tree germination. You will deviate by keeping your seeds indoors and by transferring them to small planters rather than the ground. Humidity trays are recommended for germinating pomegranate trees.
  
  

Growing from Cuttings or Bare-root seedlings

• Your local nursery may let you take cuttingsonion greenhouse image by Alex Motrenko from Fotolia.com
  
  Cuttings, taken during the dormant months of February and March, give you a chance to meet the parent plant. Stem cuttings are fast and simple to take, and cause no cosmetic or health damage, so you may be able to work out a deal with a nursery owner and learn from his expertise.
  
  Pomegranate bare-root seedlings, which have several years of field growth, were available for about $25 each in June of 2010. A seedling looks like an immature tree branch and will take a couple of years to reach the hardy maturity it needs for styling. The shipping season generally runs between January and March, which is also the best time for planting, and you will want to tend your bare-roots as quickly as possible after their arrival.
  
  

Pre-Bonsai

• What will show off your pomegranate best?Flower pot image by Pupurup from Fotolia.com
  
  Your young pomegranate tree is a pre-bonsai; after about three years it is sturdy enough to be trained. As of June 2010, you can purchase a pre-bonsai for $30 to $50. You may purchase it from a bonsai specialist, whose pre-bonsais have been partially trained for up to 10 years by experts, or purchase it in person or through a catalog that sells "what you see is what you get". Your pomegranate pre-bonsai will look like a miniature garden pomegranate, but it will have special characteristics that may suggest how you want to style the tree, its blossoms and fruit. Wait until you have a good idea of what you want to do with your pomegranate bonsai before selecting a decorative pot and other accessories.
  
  

Styling Your Pomegranate Bonsai

• Pruning will prevent fruit weakening your pomegranate bonsai branchesbonsai image by goce risteski from Fotolia.com
  
  The pomegranate bonsai lends itself to the "bunjin" (comic) or informal style, a highly praised form. It's also a natural for the range of styles within that category---cascade, windswept, root over rock, tree on rock, twisting trunk, twin trunk and literati. The two primary forms of training your pomegranate are wiring, which shapes the tree, and pruning, which maintains the tree's vigor.
  
  Pomegranate bonsai have slightly brittle branches so extra care should be taken.
  As Kenneth A. Schultz notes about the pomegranate bonsai in his "Tree of the Month" article for the Columbus Bonsai Society, "You will need to decide where you want it to flower and be willing to sacrifice good bonsai shape until you are ready to put it into dormancy." If you are new to the art of bonsai, this is another point at which you will want to consult experts and possibly to join your local bonsai club.