Plant Care and Gardening Tips

Gardening advice and plant care notes

January 5, 2009 · Avocado / Garden Review

Growing Avocado

I have an avocado plant that we started from a seed (pit).  What are its requirements – soil, water, light, etc. for optimal performance??

Avocado makes an attractive houseplant and a great project to try with the kids. Plant in well drained potting soil. When watering, soak the plant so that all the roots get wet and then allow the soil to dry before watering again. You may have to water more often in warmer weather. It does best in partial shade (bright indirect light) and will tolerate temps of 55-65F for a few months. Excessive heat, dry indoor air and excess fertilizer can cause leaf drop and marginal browning of leaves.You can increase humidity by placing it in a pebble tray or mist around the plant. In  Spring start feeding it with 1/2 strength houseplant fertilizer that includes micronutrients(zinc).  If you can, place your avocado plant outside in the shade for the summer. It will enjoy the warm, humid air. Once the stem reaches 12″ cut it back by half to a node to control the size and shape. It will not flower or bear fruit indoors but makes a great houseplant.  Hardy in zone 9-11

How to grow an Avocado plant from a pit.  start an avocado plant

Choose a nice ripe avocado for guacamole and save the pit.  Insert 3 toothpicks evenly spaced, half way up around the pit. Suspend the pointed end up over a glass of water making sure the bottom touches the water and stays moist all the time. If the water evaporates, add more and change it every two weeks. In 2-6 weeks, you should see the pit crack  and a fleshy white root emerging from the bottom. If not, start over. Once well rooted, carefully plant the pit 1/3 exposed into a 6″ pot in a well-drained soil mix and place in bright indirect light. Keep the soil moist but not wet. When the plant is 6 inches tall cut it back by 1/2 and then again when it is 10-12″.  This will promote  fuller and healthier growth.

Another way to start from seed. Cut off 1/4″ of the tip and place the rounded bottom into soil- deep enough so that only the flat end is showing. Water and keep the soil moist.

Plant tips
Low light will produce to a tall, lanky plant.
Leaves will yellow and drop in wet soil.
Brown leaf margins and leaf drop indicates that the soil is too dry
Brown leaf margins-fluoride damage
Brown tips- salt accumulation.

From the reader archive

Useful reader questions

I HAVE A SMALL AVOCADO PLANT I AM GROWING INSIDE MY UPSTATE, NY APARTMENT…NOT REALLY AVOCADO TERRITORY, I KNOW. IT HAS BEEN DOING FINE UNTIL RECENTLY WHEN DRY BROWN SPOTS STARTED SHOWING UP ON THE LEAVES. THE BROWN SPOTS STARTED ON THE…

Read Terianne discussion

Avocado plant care I have two avacado plants that I started from pits – they did pretty well, but now they look like they are dying – there are definitely gnats – so I suspect this is the problem – I have…

Read bkind discussion

I have a beautiful Avocado tree that I started from the pit ten months ago.it was outside for the summer aghlynd now it is indoors for the winter. The problem is that it keeps dropping leaves. Always the oldest leaf and usually…

Read Angela discussion

Grow avocado from seed I have a different way of starting an avocado plant. I did it with one of the ones I have now. This August will be 2 years since I started it. I put 1 seed in a double…

Read Debbie Quintero discussion

63 Comments

  1. Kris - July 9, 2006 at 3:02 pm

    Name: CINDY BROUSSARD |

    I HAVE AVOCADO TREES PLANTED AND THEY ARE DOING FINE. I HAVE HEARD IT WILL BE ALL MOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET FRUIT.IS THIS SO? IF SO HOW CAN I GET THEM TO PRODUCE? I LIVE IN LOUISIANA AND THE STONES THAT I USED WERE FROM FL

    The question is are you willing to wait 20-30 years for the seedling to produce fruit and once it does will the quality of the fruit be worth the wait. Grafted trees from local nurseries planted in the spring will take less time to produce fruit. One recommended variety is Mexicola Grande which is hardy in the low 20’s. Enjoy your avocado plant as an attractive houseplant.

    Reply
  2. Denise - August 24, 2007 at 7:16 pm

    I planted an avocado pit about last summer. It is about three feet high and has a nice round shape. I want to move this tree to a diffrent location, Right now it gets sun most of the day. I need to move it back a little that would put it to have more shade. Can I replant this small tree to its new location now in the middle of summer or should I wait ? Would transplanting this tree cause harm? Would the new location be a good choice. I live in Florida. Thanks for your tip?
    Need advice!

    Best time to plant is in March-June before the heat of summer. Avocado trees will grow in a shaded area but will not produce fruit unless in full sun. Plant where it can get protection from wind and frost. The shallow tree roots will need lots of room to spread(up to 20 ft) and good draining soil with a ph 6-6.5. Plant in an area with no lawn so there is no competition with the shallow roots. For more info go to www. ucavo.ucr.edu

    Reply
  3. denise - May 8, 2008 at 7:44 pm

    Transplant shock
    I transplanted a three foot avocado tree about a week ago. Now the leaves are wilted and seems very dry and crisp. Should I cut off these leaves for new growth? There seems to be little spurts that are on the branch. I thought that maybe if I prune off the wilted leaves that this would help the new spurts. What should I do about this, and is there anything I should feed the plant with at this time. Its been very warm I live in Florida.

    HI Denise
    It sounds as if your tree is going through a bit of transplant shock. The roots were disturbed and now need to regrow to support all the leaves on top. Since the leaves are dry and crisp they are mostly dead and can be cut off. The only thing I would suggest to feed it at this time is a root starter solution that will stimulate new root growth. Make sure it gets adequate water especially in hot weather.

    Reply
  4. ROBERT - June 30, 2008 at 10:48 am

    I have an Avocado tree with small green, what seem to resemble sm peach’s. I’ve never seen sm Avocado’s before. Could these be the fruit? If so how long before it matures? Thanks

    Sounds like the fruit. The harvest time for avocado depends on the variety.Mexican variety ripen in 6-8 mo. from bloom, others Guatemalan take 12-18 months. Avocado is usually picked unripe and then allowed to ripen. There are subtle signs that let you know when its ready to pick.

    Reply
  5. art nunez - July 14, 2008 at 3:02 pm

    I HAVE 3 AVOCADO TREES RANGING FROM 3 TO 10 YEARS OLD. THIS YEAR THEY BORE NO FRUIT, HAVE NO NEW GROWTH. THE LEAVES ARE SMALL SPARSE BUT GOOD GREEN COLOR.I WATER THEM DEEP WHEN THE WOOD STAKE THAT I HAVE NEAR EACH ONE IS DRY. I HAVE FED THEM WITH AVOCADO FERTILIZER THREE TIMES THIS YEAR.THE SOIL PH SHOWS A 6.5 AVERAGE. THEY ARE IN FULL SUN.IN SANTA BARBARA CA. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY SUGGESTIONS. THANK YOU.
    ART

    Hi Art
    Here’s a link that hopefully will help you. http://www.ucavo.ucr.edu/

    Reply
  6. Andres - August 28, 2008 at 3:20 pm

    I just transplanted a 6 ft avocado young tree. A lot of the root system got damaged. Now all the leaves are wilted, some completely dry, and I’m just scared to death the tree is going to die. I’ve been watering the tree often adding some root starter. The tree is also in direct light and it’s not helping we are having a heat wave this week. Any help on what to do? can the tree survive even if all the leaves are wilted? should I create some sort of shade for it? Please help!!

    Hi Andres
    Create some sort of shade (umbrella) so that the leaves won’t loose so much moisture and pray for cooler weather. The tree can survive as long as the leaves don’t drop.

    Reply
  7. Andy - October 15, 2008 at 7:03 pm

    I have just moved into a house in Sydney, which has an Avocado tree. It’s pretty big -must be about 20-30 years old – and at this time of year has plenty of avocado on it. However, they look healthy but with a black ‘mould’ at the bottom. When we pick them early, the fruits don’t have the mould, but don’t seem to be ripening after a week or so. Does anyone have any advice for me please?

    Hi Andy

    Maybe you’re picking the avocado either too early and then too late. Check out this site. there is some good info on When to pick avocado http://www.ucavo.ucr.edu./AvocadoWebSite%20folder/AvocadoWebSite/General/Answers.html#anchor728187

    Reply
  8. John Pommerich - October 26, 2008 at 1:45 pm

    1. how can i tell when the avocado is mature enough to pick and ripen?
    2. I have a decent crop this year. This the first year I have abunch of small ones about the size of my thumb? Can I eat them? I opened one up there is no pit.

    Hi John
    Pick a couple of avocados and try to ripen them. “If the fruit shrivels up and is rubbery instead of soft, then it is not ripe. Keep picking fruit every few weeks. “1
    It may be that the flowers did not pollinate properly and produce small elongated fruit that are called “cukes”. You can pick and eat them when they are ready. These are sold as “cocktail” or finger avocados.

    Reply
  9. Ryan - December 27, 2008 at 9:38 am

    Hi – I’ve looked everywhere but can’t find anything about my Avocado tree. I have 4 in my garden, but on only one of them the fruit reaches 3-4 inches and then turns completely black and falls off. It is a very mature tree, but gets no more or less watering than the others.

    Hi Ryan
    It could be an insect problem or poor pollination. See the above link to avocado Q’s. Take a sample to your local extension office and see if they can identify the problem

    .

    Reply
  10. Terianne - January 18, 2009 at 2:35 pm

    I HAVE A SMALL AVOCADO PLANT I AM GROWING INSIDE MY UPSTATE, NY APARTMENT…NOT REALLY AVOCADO TERRITORY, I KNOW. IT HAS BEEN DOING FINE UNTIL RECENTLY WHEN DRY BROWN SPOTS STARTED SHOWING UP ON THE LEAVES. THE BROWN SPOTS STARTED ON THE LEAVES TOWARD THE BASE OF THE TRUNK AND HAVE MOVED UP. NOW THE BOTTOM LEAVES ARE STARTING TO FALL OFF. WHAT AM I DOING WRONG?

    HI Terianne
    Several factors can cause browning of the leaves on your Avocado. If the leaves turn brown at the tips and margins, or show petiole/leaf rot then the problem may be excess soluble salts caused by using softened water, hard water or overfertilization. Plants can only utilize a small amount of salts; any excess becomes toxic to the plant, irritating the roots and causing leaf burn as well as changing the soil ph. To flush out these excess salts, water the plant until it pours out from the bottom of the container. This method will leach out some of the salt build up. Use distilled, spring, rain water or melted snow when watering your plants and repot the plant in fresh soil in the spring. Low humidity, underwatering, disease and insect infestation will also causeleaf spots and leaves to turn brown and drop.

    Reply
  11. Barb Kelley - January 25, 2009 at 10:14 am

    My avocado tree produced good fruit last year (fall season of 2007 into 2008). This year I have gotten no fruit. What can I do to get fruit this coming fall/winter. I live in St Petersburg,

    HI Barb
    The tree can bloom as early as Dec.-April, if there is a frost during that time, it can damage the flowers and produce no fruit. Fortunately, the avocado trees bloom over a span of several months and later bloom can still produce fruit. You are at the mercy of the weather.
    U of Ca. has a great site with lots of info on growing avocados outdoors.

    Reply
  12. Natasha - March 21, 2009 at 5:50 am

    I am staying in Malaysia, Borneo island. I had an avocado tree which is 4 yr old. She has started to bloom quite often since last year but never bear any fruit. Should I do anything to help her? ?Is it true that I have to wait 10 years?

    Hi Natasha
    Yes, it can take 10 years. It may not be mature enough to produce fruit yet. It takes many flowers to set fruit. The proportion can be 1 fruit to 10.000 flowers.

    Reply
  13. carol free,am - March 26, 2009 at 10:23 am

    I planted avocado seeds approsimately 12 years ago. The plants have always been healthy. this year, for the first time I have lots of blooms. I think this means I may have avocados. there are plenty of bees around the blooms. is there anything else I can do to help with polination?

    Hi Carol
    The best you can do for your avocado tree is to keep it stress free. Don’t over or underwater it. Fruit set is best when temperatures are around 65-75F. It is thought that pollination is improved when there are more than one avocado tree present.

    Reply
  14. irene - March 31, 2009 at 10:44 am

    i have two avocado trees that i got from my friend she grew them in her backyard when she moved we took them out of the ground and put them in our yard but it has been two days and they look like they are dying what should i do thank you

    Your avocado tree is suffering from transplant shock. Make sure it has adequate moisture, provide some shade (if you can)for the summer months and water it with a root stimulant to get some root action going so that they can feed the rest of the tree. Pruning it by 1/3 could also help-that way the roots will have less to feed.

    Reply
  15. Valex - May 11, 2009 at 10:42 am

    Avocado roots
    I just want to help make a note about Avocado trees, if you decide to have them in the ground of your place, careful not to have it way to close to your house for the plant itself will develop a very large and powerful root system that does spread. Here in Hawai’i, Avocado trees are very common and many foundations are cracked cause of the roots.

    Great info. Mahalo

    Reply
  16. jonni - May 31, 2009 at 1:42 am

    I recently planted a 3-4 year old avocado tree, it is about 8 ft tall, but lots of the tips of the leaves have gone brown and many feel dry, despite watering it morning and evening… anyone got any suggestions?

    Reply
  17. Corey - July 5, 2009 at 9:52 am

    I have an approx 8mo. old avocado plant that I planted from the seed (its fruit was delicious!). The upper leaves as well as the lower leaves are drooping down. I watered it a lot and the upper leaves started to raise a little. But the lower leaves are still quite droopy. The leaves are a very nice rich green. I live in Sacramento, Ca. The temp is pretty hot but he (Mr. Avo) lives inside and is in temp of around 78. Although when its in the hundreds he is in about 86 degrees. I have never fertilized him.

    Reply
  18. Kathrine - August 14, 2009 at 2:45 pm

    I have a Lola Acacado tree and I noticed black markings on the stems resembling mold. When I touch the stems the black stuff some of it comes off. Plus the leaves look wilted and looks sick. What should I do and please let me know what it is and what action I should take. I live in Orlando, Florida, where it has been raining so heavily recently. I also have another avacado tree a brogan and I am scared it will also get contaminated too. Please help! Thanks,

    Reply
    2. mc - August 31, 2009 at 1:22 pm

      could be a fungus from all the water…try a fungicide spray with copper…too much water will kill avocados…does it have good drainage

      Reply
  19. neeccee - October 5, 2009 at 9:53 am

    Hi
    I live in northern Alabama. I started from a avocado seed and now it is about 5 months old. Do you think it will live if I bring it inside each night and take it out in the morning.

    HI Neeccee
    It should be fine outside in a warm protected area, provided you bring it in when night temperatures get down to the 40’s. You can also grow your avocado plant inside as a houseplant by keeping it in a bright, sunny window. Although indoors, it won’t get as much light compared to outdoors.

    Reply
  20. jessica - December 4, 2009 at 10:02 am

    Fungus gnats
    Hi, i am growing an avocado from seed, it is almost a year old and looks healthy. however, there are many insects, similar to fruit flies, hopping in and out of the soil. How do i get rid of all these quick, winged insects?

    Hi Jessica
    It sound like fungus gnats in the soil. Let the soil dry out between waterings.

    Reply
  21. Esther Jenkins - December 7, 2009 at 12:17 pm

    Winter over
    I have grown several avocado trees from fruit seed. They usually die due to neglect. The latest one is three years or more old. Last year we planted it outside–our apartment is too small for big house plants. It dropped all of its leaves, then in the spring, it put out new leaves and a second “tree”. Now that it is turning cold, we banked the roots with pine needles, and covered it with a trash can. Question? is there a proper way to keep it warm through NC winter?

    Hi Esther
    It sounds like an easy way to protect it. I’m not sure if it will work. It may need some air circulation to release the hot air that can accumulate on a warm sunny winter day. The trick is to keep it at a steady temperature. You can try burying or covering it with soil like they do with fig trees in colder areas.
    Let us know how you tree survived.

    Reply
  22. Evadnee - December 21, 2009 at 8:02 am

    I have read that trees grown from a avo pip will never bear fruit. Is that correct? I am growing the pips from 2 old established trees from my garden and not from a grocers. They are growing very well thus far.
    I have also read that you need 2 or more trees next to each other- one male and one female. Is that correct?
    There is so much conficting information on the net.

    Hi Evadnee
    Avocado grown as an indoor plant or in a container have a slight chance of producing a fruit. Grown outdoors in the ground is another story. For best pollination, it is better to have more than one tree but a single tree will produce fruit. The flower starts as a female and then turns into a male flower and other types of trees produce flowers that start as a male and then a female.
    See http://www.ucavo.ucr.edu/General/Answers.html#anchor1425862 for lots of good info on growing avocado.

    Reply
  23. bkind - February 20, 2010 at 11:43 am

    Avocado plant care
    I have two avacado plants that I started from pits – they did pretty well, but now they look like they are dying – there are definitely gnats – so I suspect this is the problem – I have been letting them dry out pretty well and try not to over water – they get morning sun. I have read to use sticky bug traps to try to get rid of the gnats, as for the plants, the leaves appear dry and all droppped from one plant, but the other has kept it’s leaves – the one that dropped it’s leaves is sprouting new ones on top – should I prune these back? I clipped the stems when they got about 6 inches tall and they leafed out – now they are aobut 10 inches tall. I’m kind of excited about actually getting these to go, so would like to learn about the plants care – any suggested reading or sites would be appreciated.

    Hi Becky
    If you cut back the tip to 6 inches, then you should get new growth coming from the stem below. This will promote bushier growth. See the article above for more growing info.

    Reply
  24. Iliana - March 21, 2010 at 5:00 pm

    Tree suckers
    My daughter has an avocado tree that was there when she purchased the house. The tree has 2 large thick branches growing out on it’s side about 6-8 inches from ground. If I remove a branch close to trunk and transplant it in another area of the yard, would the tree keep growing or just simply die?

    Hi Iliana
    You would have to make sure you have adequate roots for the small tree to survive. The branches close to the tree trunk are probably suckers(water shoots) that grew from the roots or trunk and are usually pruned.

    Reply
  25. Valerie - April 10, 2010 at 11:27 am

    Live in So Cal. Planted a young Hass avacado tree about 4 years ago and it has only produced 4 pieces of fruit (which critters stole before ripened :C ). Every year the leaves turn brown and fall off just before summer begins. However, this year I noticed an additional problem, most of the branches are split on top and have a blackened look inside them. The tree is about 20 feet tall now but still no fruit. Should I give up on this tree?

    Hi Valerie
    Before you give up on the tree consult your local extension office or an arborist.They should be able to help you. It sounds like the tree has some issues that need to be dealt with. Sorry I can’t be of more help.

    Reply
  26. Dave Hong - May 10, 2010 at 7:41 am

    I have an avocado tree that is about 10 years old and it started bearing fruit 2 years ago. 8 the first year, 10 last year and this year there are dozens of fruit being set but don’t know how many will stay on. Is there anything I can do to help the fruit to stay on?
    Also there is a large branch thet has grown out from below the ground. I hadn’t paid much attention and now the thing is 1″ diameter and 10 feet tall. It looks different from the rest of the tree and has no flowers at all. Can I safely remove it or should I leave it alone? What is the best way to remove it if It needs to be removed?

    Reply
  27. Pat Robair - May 27, 2010 at 12:24 pm

    My avocado pit finally started growing roots after several weeks. It just grew a stem a few days ago. Now it seems to have white crusty lumps (like sugar) all over the stems!
    It seems to have happened overnight! What could that be? Is it worth keeping?

    Thanks, Pat

    Reply
  28. Judah - June 3, 2010 at 1:15 am

    I’m worried. My avocado plant is one year old, and at least 2.4 ft tall. One week, I noticed that it had several little leaves sprouting at the top, and then, after a week and a half, I noticed that the top of the plant turned brown. It was underwatered. I’ve since cut off the brown part– but without the top of the plant, will it continue to sprout and grow? Does this make sense? Is there any way to fix it?

    Hi Judah
    Are there any leaves left? If the roots are healthy, the stem may send out new growth from the nodes along the stem.

    Reply
  29. Jeff - June 18, 2010 at 11:02 am

    Transplant shock
    I just planted my Avacodo tree. It was in a 24 inch wood container. The tree is anout 6 feet tall. I loosened the rootball before planting. Within a couple hours all of the leaves are drooping. I thing it has transplant shock. Will it survive? And if so, how long will it take. Thanks Jeff

    Hi Jeff
    It will take a few days or longer for your avacodo tree to recup. Make sure it gets enough moisture and place it in the shade until it perks up, then move it to a sunny spot. You can also feed it with a root starter to stimulate new root growth.

    Reply
  31. Gerda - October 14, 2010 at 7:42 am

    Pruning avocado plantThis summer, my children pushed four avocado pits, about 5 inches apart,into an 18 inch pot. They all grew beautifully and we want to keep them. Unfortunately, we live in the NC mountains. Should we repot the now 2.5 foot tall plants into individual pots (if so, how big) or let them grow in the 18 inch pot until they are larger? The leaves,(which are 4-5 inches long) start about 12 inches from the soil and splay at the top. Do these plants need pruning? Many thanks!

    Hi Gerda
    It sound like they need to be individually potted into a 6″ pots. They have a tendency to get tall and lanky if not pruned. Once the stem reached 12″ you should have cut it back by half to a node to get a bushier plant. You can trim it back by 1/3 now provided you don’t cut off all the leaves. Trim it again in the spring, when its ready to grow again.

    Reply
  32. Karen - November 9, 2010 at 1:04 pm

    Pruning avocado plantMy Avocado plant is 2 1/2 feet tall. I haven’t cut the stem…should I now?

    Hi Karen
    Once the stem reached 12″ you should have cut it back by half to a node to get a bushier plant. You can trim it back by 1/3 now provided you don’t cut off all the leaves. Trim it again in the spring, when its ready to grow again.

    Reply
  33. James - November 11, 2010 at 4:18 pm

    Transplant shock
    I have a avocado tree that I transplanted. it is indoors in a pot and all the leaves dropped off. The trunk seems to still be alive it’s 12 ft and the trunk is about 4 inches, is it possible that it will grow new leaves or is the trunk just taking longer to die, it has been several weeks and there is no new growth?

    Hi James
    You might wait and see. Once the roots recover, it may send out new growth in late winter. Keep the soil moist (don’t let it dry out completely) and place your avocado in a warm, sunny location.

    Reply
  34. c schallock - November 13, 2010 at 5:47 pm

    I have an avocado tree that I have grown from seed. We have it in a huge pot in the back yard next to a redwood as I read the shade was good for it. My problem is: it has grown so much that it is now about 20 feet tall and has fallen over (in half) since I was only able to help support it as high as the fence (8 ft. fence).
    I’m thinking I should prune it to help it be stronger (and not fall over on itself) but don’t know if November is an okay time to do it. And if it is, how much should I prune it back? Also, should I cover it during the winter to protect it from frost? In the spring can I plant it in the soil where it’s pot is now located? How much space should I allow around it? Right now it’s about 10 ft. away from the redwood. Will this hurt the redwood?
    I know this is a lot of questions. Sorry. I guess I need a lot of advise!
    Thanks so much for your time and help!
    Cindy

    Hi Cindy
    You need to consult an avocado grower such as http://www.ucavo.ucr.edu/General/Answers.html#anchor.

    Reply
  35. Kristina - January 1, 2011 at 6:41 am

    I live in Indianapolis Indiana, but my family has property about an hour away. We currently have two avacado trees growing. One is almost to the point I’m going to prune it, the other is still in the water growing in a glass.

    My question is this. Living in Indiana, will the trees survive winters outside at my parents property? The seeds were just bought local from the grocery store, so I dont think they are the mexican varity that many areas talk about.
    I’d like suggestions on how to keep the trees from dying, if we do take them out to the property, during winter. Thank you very much!

    Hi Kristina
    Avocados are semi-tropical trees and will tolerate temps of 55-65F for a few months. They will not survive the cold Indiana winter. You will have to grow them in a container and bring it indoors for the winter.

    Reply
  36. fatemeh - January 5, 2011 at 3:49 am

    My avocado is nearly 8month old , but now her life’s are turning to brown from the top look likes burning.
    i have some photos but i don’t know how to show them ,
    please let me know what should i do?

    Hi
    You can send them to Kris@Hortchat.com Are u fertilizing the plant?

    Reply
  37. pmjones - March 27, 2011 at 8:15 pm

    Root cut section of plant
    I’m in the northeast US – Rhode Island – and I’m so proud I’ve finally been able to produce an avocado plant from seed – it’s now @ 15″ tall! I know it’s time to cut back, but I really hate the idea of losing all of the leaf growth I’ve nurtured.
    THE QUESTION: Once I cut the stalk, can I take the leafed section I’ve cut off and root it in water?

    Hi PM
    Yes you can eventhough I have not tried it.
    Take the 5-6″ cutting, remove lower leaves and dip the base it in rooting hormone. Plant it 1-1 1/2″ down in a pre-moistened soil mix consisting of 1/2 peat and 1/2 perlite. Keep the pot in warm, indirect light (east window) and keep the soil moist. The cutting should start to root in 2-4 weeks. Lightly tug on the plant and if you feel resistance then it has some roots. Be careful not to damage the roots. Once rooted repot is a sterile houseplant soil mix.
    I have not tried in water-rooting in soil has a better chance of success.

    Reply
  38. Pondering It All - April 1, 2011 at 6:33 pm

    The success rate on rooting cuttings either in water or potting soil is almost zero, even with rooting hormone. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be done!

    Nurseries do “air rooting” to make all grafted commercial seedlings. They keep the scion in the dark for a few weeks, nick the bark a bit, apply rooting hormone to the nicked area, and form a little pot (from a styrofoam cup) around that area, supported with a stick and tape. The pot is filled with potting soil and kept moist for a few weeks. Then the stem below the pot is gradualy pinched off over the course of a couple of weeks. If the rooting was successful, then you have a new plant!

    Only problem is that the nurseries do this with rot-resistant root stock trees, and later graft Hass, Fuerte, Mexicola, etc. tops onto the new plants. If you do this process with a standard (non-resistant) variety, then you do get that variety tree but with little resistance to root rot.

    Reply
    1. omid AMINI - April 24, 2011 at 2:42 am

      stop watering, avocadoes need water but dont like wett feet. make sure your soil has great drainage and water less.

      Reply
  39. Barbara - April 30, 2011 at 8:34 am

    Trimming avocado plant
    I have a beautiful avocado plant that I am growing from a pit. Her name is Ava. I know that is funny but she is growing beautifully and very, very fast. My question is that there is a side branch growing straight out and it looks like it is starting to branch out also at the top. Should I try to use twine to lightly hold these branches a bit more upright? The side branch is almost reaching across to where I sit. I want it to look nice and not be a weird shape. Help? Thank you for any info.

    Hi Barbara
    You can cut the side branch off or trim it back. I would cut it off and encourage more straight growth. If the plant is getting too tall you might want to cut it back by half and encourage side growth to produce a bushier plant. Can you send me a picture? Send it to Kris@hortchat.com

    Reply
  40. Annette - May 11, 2011 at 5:26 pm

    I live just outside of New Orleans and want to purchase an avocado tree with blooms or fruit already on it. My mother is from CA and said that they have them everywhere at Lowes, HD and even Wallyworld for purchase. I cannot find them in my area.
    Can you help? I am willing to order them out of state if necessary.
    Thanks,
    A

    Reply
  41. colette - May 13, 2011 at 1:33 pm

    I have a dwarf Holiday Avacado tree 8yrs old, 5ft tall,1 1/2 inch trunk diameter,growing slowly and never bears fruit. about 2yrs ago a new side shoot grew up the side quickly. looks like an avacado tree but a little bit different. it is now 8 feet tall and very healthy. Finally fruit has come this year on both trees about 5 grape sized avacados. is this ok? did the new tree polinate the old tree and thats why they are bearing fruit? will this new tree take over and kill my other tree. its already getting bigger than the other and the trunk is about 2 inch diameter.

    Reply
  42. Deborah - July 17, 2011 at 7:10 am

    I have had a potted avocado plant indoors for about 40 years. It has been fertilized and occasionally re-potted, but has never grown taller than about 3 feet. It has weathered some problems over the years and has usually looked healthy until recently.

    Now, new young leaves turn yellow and limp and fall off before they’re fully grown. I spotted tiny, tiny white specks on some larger leaves, and they felt sticky. I’ve washed the plant twice with insecticidal soap, but, so far, the baby leaves keep getting sick. (I also have some browning around the tips, but my water is no harder than it has always been.)

    I’d appreciate any advice!

    Reply
  43. Donna - August 6, 2011 at 10:26 am

    I have a Marcus Pumpkin that I got and planted in Feb. The tree is about 6 ft tall. We live at the coast and it is very hot and dry. The truck at the top is dark brown about 3 or 4 iniches. Looks like it has grown some. I was only watering once a week and was told it was not getting enough water. Now I am watering 5gal drip bucket everyother day. It has put lots of new leaves on but the brown stem is getting bigger from the top of the tree. I did give it some fert about 4 weeks ago and some Ironite. Please help thanks

    Hi Donna
    Pumpkins need a lot of water while they are growing. I’m not sure what you are asking. Are you referring to the vine turning brown at the tip?

    Reply
  44. muantei - August 11, 2011 at 2:42 am

    Caterpillars
    My avocado plant is 3 years now and about 12ft high. Its doing very well in this tropical climate, but last year there are lots of caterpillar as big as 3inch long. How will I prevent such insect, please help.

    Hi Muantie
    You can treat for caterpillars with BT bacillus thuringiensis var. Kurstaki, also sold as Dipel a safe biological control. When injested the bacteria infects the insects gut causing it to die. Make sure it is labeled for use on an avocado plant. BT is not effective against fly larvae.

    Reply
  45. Tom Hobbie - April 2, 2012 at 10:07 am

    Fruit overload on avocado tree
    I have an avocado tree 13feet tall which started 8years ago as a pit(large green florida variety)this year it finally bloomed with hundreds of pea-sized fruit..do I trim back some of the fruit to make more healthier for the over-all tree harvest??

    Hi Tom
    Congrats of your successful avocado tree. It takes lots of flowers to pollinate and produce any fruit. Like any other “fruit tree” if you have to much fruit, it’s best to thin some out. This way, you’ll get larger sized fruit instead of a whole bunch of little ones and a healthier tree. A tree that is overloaded with fruit, risks damaged and broken branches when the fruit starts to mature and get heavier. Shake the tree and let some of the fruit drop to the ground. This is especially important if the branches are bending over.

    Reply
  46. Karen - April 9, 2012 at 2:22 pm

    I have a Haas avocado tree about 6′ tall. It was planted a year ago on a southern sunny slope in front of my house near a brick wall. I live in San Diego, less than a mile from the bay in a canyon with lots of eucalyptus trees. I have nipped the top so the tree does not grow too tall. The avocado seems healthy and has TONS of new buds, but the lower edges of ALL the leaves are slowly turning crispy brown. What seems to be the problem and how do I resolve? Is there too much salt in the soil? Not enough drainage? Should I remove some buds to get bigger fruit? I need your advice, please!!!

    Reply
  47. Tina Phan - June 11, 2012 at 5:05 pm

    I grew an avocado tree from pit, and it is almost about 2 ft and i forgot to cut it a little. It was indoors until I potted it in a different pot with potting soil and it started wilting. I think it’s because it used to have miracle gro until i ran out and got potting mix. It had fungus and wiltet. WHAT SHOULD I DO? I thought about cutting off the whole top but I’m not sure. Also I put some egg shell powder (I crushed the shells)and coffee grinds in.I removed the affected leaves but 2 more appeared and I made homemade fungicide but it didn’t help very much. Please I’ve never been a good gardener but I love gardening!

    Reply
  48. Leah - August 1, 2012 at 10:21 am

    Hi,
    I have been growing an avocado from a pit for a few weeks it has a great root system and the top just started to sprout! I am getting ready to plant it and noticed that the pit has some mold on it! I was wondering if it’s still safe to plant?

    Hi Leah
    The pit will eventually drop off and since you have a good root system, I wouldn’t worry. You can wipe off the mold.

    Reply
  49. Courtney Arnold - August 5, 2012 at 12:25 pm

    I found this forum recently in a google search and I hope someone will respond. I am attempting to grow an avocado tree from the pit and everything was going great. I was changing the water every few days, and I live in Texas so there is plenty of warm sunshine. I was following the steps on this website I found. The pit was sprouting and the stem was growing very rapidly, maybe an inch a week. The website told me when the stem reached around 6-7 inches, to cut it down to three to encourage growth. I did that, but now it is not growing. The top part where I had cut it turned very dry. It doesn’t look dead, but the outside of the pit turned a bright pinkish-red, and the water turns a weird foggy green color after a day if I don’t change it. I’m not sure if it’s sick or dying or if this is just part of the “growth”. Any suggestions?

    Reply
  50. Kayla - September 28, 2012 at 2:12 pm

    Ok so I’m growing 2 avacado plants. They both shot up really quickly. They are both about 8 inches in height. The only problem is one is full of leaves and the other has no leaves! I don’t know if this is a problem, I’ve never grown avacado plants before. The one without leaves is just an 8 inch stem. Does anyone know why it’s not growing leaves? Other then that they’re both healthy and growing 🙂

    Reply
    1. greg - December 27, 2012 at 3:06 pm

      Browning tipsHi Karen,

      Did you ever find a solution? I live in Solana Beach and planted two trees one 6′ the other 8′ on a hillside with well drained soils and plenty of sun. I have citrus, peaches and pears that grow no problems, but those dang avo’s slowly browned at the tips which led to leaves falling off. New buds proudly formed and popped out of the branch and some grew up to about 8 inches. but slowly the cycle repeated itself and the new shoots would wither and then branches would turn black. One of the trees had about 15 avocados when I bought it so looked pretty healthy. Now I’m afraid it may be lost but hoping a new shoot comes off of the rootball. The other tree has two new shoots from the base that are about 15″ but again the browning and withering is underway. UGhhh! It was really hot when I planted them so thought they were not getting enough water. But, I would only water after testing the soil to see how dry it was and sometimes waiting an extra day or two. Ohh and I have a third that is still in the pot watered every other day is about 3.5 feet and is doing great. Any help would be appreciated.

      Hi Greg
      One possibility for the browning tips and is a calcium deficiency which avocados are prone to. You might test the soil ph. They require an acid soil with a ph of 5.5-6.5. Adding lime (ghypsum) to the soil will help. see http://www.gypsum.co.nz/pages/product/avocado.php for additional info.
      Hope this helps.
      Kris@Hortchat

      Reply
  51. Andrew - May 4, 2013 at 10:26 pm

    I just bought a has avacado yesterday and went out today to look at it an the main stem has like white powder looking stuff on it. What is it and how do I fix this? The plant is a decent size. Still young tho.
    Please email me at A.diebold1991@yahoo.com

    Hi Andrew
    It may be a residue from spraying the plant. You might ask the place you bought it from.

    Reply
  52. Angela - October 2, 2014 at 7:27 am

    I have a beautiful Avocado tree that I started from the pit ten months ago.it was outside for the summer aghlynd now it is indoors for the winter.
    The problem is that it keeps dropping leaves. Always the oldest leaf and usually one at a time. The leaf turns brown slowly and falls off. It has been doing this it’s whole life so far. It never seems to have more than four or five good leaves at a time.
    It is in a plastic pot that self waters. I am very careful not to over water it. I stick my finger deep into the soil to check for any moisture before watering. My guess is root rot. Does that sound right? I don’t want to transplant it and find out that wasn’t the problem.

    Hi Angela
    Avocado likes well drained soil. Your plant may not be getting enough water or too much water. Water the plant thoroughly until it drains from the bottom and then let the plant slightly dry out before watering again. It is hard to measure how much water your plant is getting with the self watering pot. Are you fertilizing the plant?

    Reply
  53. Nancy - October 11, 2014 at 8:48 am

    What can I do to reverse the salt acumulation in my avocado planted in container before it dies? please help, It was doing so good this summer.

    Hi Nancy
    Salt accumulation usually occurs from excess fertilizer, soft or hard water or dry soil This results in a white/yellow crust on the surface of the soil and happens when you don’t water properly.
    The easiest way to reduce the buildup is to leach out the excess soil salts by generously watering your plant to wet all the roots. Pour water until it flows out of the bottom of the pot and then do it again. Excess salts will leach out with the draining water. Make sure water drains from the bottom each time you water.

    Reply
  54. Debbie Quintero - April 13, 2015 at 9:42 am

    Grow avocado from seed
    I have a different way of starting an avocado plant. I did it with one of the ones I have now. This August will be 2 years since I started it. I put 1 seed in a double thickness of wet paper towels, folding the towels over the pit. Place it in a ziplock bag and seal it up all but about and inch. Then I placed it in a dark area. Mine was under the water heater in a cabinet. after about a week make sure it is still real moist. Don’t look inside yet. If it is still real wet put it back the same way for about another week. It will amaze you how quick they sprout this way. Must faster than the glass, toothpick, water way. Give it a try you will never do it the other way again. I then planted mine in a small pot for a couple of months and then into the ground. It works!

    Hi Debbie
    I love this idea!!! Sounds like it speeds things up a bit. Thanks for the great tip. I’m going to try it next time I eat an avocado.
    Did you take any pictures of the process? Kris

    Reply
  55. Tim - June 28, 2015 at 5:59 pm

    I have a young Haas avocado that I bought from Home Depot a couple of years ago. It is about five feet tall. It has two main branches. One, the thinner one, goes straight up from the ground. The other one, branches off to the side starting about four inches from the ground. It is fatter and seems more vigorous than the thinner one. I am wondering if the fat branch is a sucker that I should remove. Can I send a photo so you can take a look and maybe give me some advice? Thanks.

    send me a photo Hortchat@gmail.com

    Reply
    1. LJ - July 17, 2015 at 2:03 pm

      I have the same problem right now. I grew my avocado from the pit and it was doing perfectly fine. Not too long ago it started growing white crust on the upper level of the stem and it appears to be eating the skin around the stem. Your post was written in 2010, so hopefully you figured out what is going on. If so… Could you let me know what I should do because I can’t find anything on this. Thank you.

      Hi LJ
      Can you send me a picture? send it to Hortchat@gmail.com

      Reply
  56. Susan - September 2, 2015 at 10:26 am

    I was given an avocado tree when it was about 2ft high, grown from a seed. I have pinched the new growth from time to time and at one point, a lot of the lower leaves turn brown and fell off. The tree has recovered, in that it is continuing to grow and has not had any brown leaves since then. However, it is about 6ft tall now and bushy at the top but the stem/trunk is only about 2 inches in diameter and is not supporting the top growth. I have it staked, but even so, it is leaning over. Do I continue to pinch off the top or cut it back drastically to get the stem to grow and thicken. The trunk itself is getting taller, but not getting any wider.

    Reply
  57. Tim - January 14, 2016 at 5:52 am

    I have what I think is a small Avocado tree grown from seed (about 7 ft tall but spindly). It produces lots of red flowers and lots of small looking avocados but whilst they are green to begin with they eventually turn white and drop off at about the size of walnut! Is this because the tree is still young? Thanks, Tim. Cayman Islands

    Reply
  58. Paula - January 15, 2018 at 10:25 am

    PLEASE help!!! My daughter planted her avocado plant that she grew from a pit. Plant is 12 inches tall with beautiful big green leaves and sprouts new growth from the top. She recently took her plant to college. The temperature outside was below zero but she ran to her dorm. Her plant was only exposed to the freezing temperature maybe a minute or two. Now the leaves are wilted and hanging low. She is heartbroken. Is there anything she can do? Will the plant survive? Thank you in advance for your input and advice.

    Reply

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