How to properly grow avocados at home?

At first glance, it may seem that growing an avocado tree from a seed at home is difficult, if not impossible. But this is not the case. Everyone can afford to grow this decorative tree without much effort, and enjoy its fruits in the future. True, you need to know some secrets. We will disclose them to our readers in this post.

Content:

• The first step is to buy an avocado at the store
• Germinating an avocado seed
• We plant a bone in the ground

The first step is to buy an avocado at the store

The avocado tree has wide leaves and flexible stems, which makes it possible to form various decorative compositions from it. Usually, three trees are planted in pots, from which pigtails are formed during the growth process. There is a belief that the presence of an avocado tree in the house harmonizes relationships and creates a romantic atmosphere.

To do this, you need to purchase a ripe avocado from the store. To check it for ripeness, you need to press the fruit with your palms on both sides, and then release it. The ripe fruit will restore its structure, so you can safely buy it. But even if the avocado is not yet fully ripe, then you can also buy it - over time it will ripen.

For the fruit to ripen faster, it can be placed next to apples or bananas, as these fruits emit ethylene gas, which promotes early ripening.

Germinating an avocado seed

The avocado fruit must be peeled, pitted and sown on the same day. Usually the seed germination rate is 100%. There are three ways to plant a bone.

1. An unpeeled bone can be planted directly into the ground, leaving a third on top. The blunt end must be in the soil. We leave the bone in this state, it is necessary to water it once a week.
2. An unpeeled bone can be pierced in three places with toothpicks 3 mm deep, and then placed in water with a blunt end. The bottom must be in water and the puncture sites must not be submerged.
3. The peeled avocado seed must be placed in water, leaving a third on top. A peeled seed germinates faster, and in this case, you can observe how the root system and stem are formed.

Avocado seeds sprouting in water

For planting, it is better to choose a large bone, since it has more energy for growth. Soaking water should be used at room temperature (23-25 ​​° C). You can add charcoal or activated charcoal to the water, but this is not necessary, since the stone is unpretentious and will germinate perfectly without these additives.

The seed can sprout in a week, or maybe in two months. It depends on the season. It is best to plant it in the spring, as at this time it will germinate faster.

We plant a bone in the ground

As soon as the sprout grows 3 cm, it can be planted in the ground. The soil must be loose, well-drained so that the bone can breathe.Avocados don't like stagnant water in their roots, so drainage is a must. You can take a small pot for planting, later, after a year, the plant can be transplanted.

The drainage should be 2 cm high. It is necessary to make a small depression in the soil, plant a bone in it so that a third comes out of the ground, and then pour it with ordinary settled water, preferably with a small amount of salts, preferably filtered.

Next, the pot must be placed in the brightest place in the room, you can fertilize once a month or once every two weeks, any mineral fertilizers are suitable for this. In this case, the plant will grow and develop rapidly.

If the tree is stretched out due to lack of sunlight, then it needs to be pinched. To determine if watering is required for a plant, it is necessary to deepen your finger into the soil by two phalanges. If it is wet, no watering is needed.

To give the tree a more decorative look, you can sprout several avocado seeds, and then, as they grow, weave a pigtail from the stems. In this case, the pigtail should not be very dense. It is imperative to leave gaps between the segments, because the trunk grows over time. Otherwise, the decorativeness of the plant will be lost. When there is a gap, you can fix the weave due to the flexibility of the stem.

Starting from the third year of life, yellow-green flowers may appear on the tree. For a tree to begin bearing fruit, it is desirable to have two or more avocado plants. This is necessary for cross-pollination of trees.

It is advisable to take out the plant in the summer to the country and expose it under the crowns of trees in a sunny place. Then the avocado will begin to bear fruit already in the third year.

Avocado is an exotic evergreen plant. Many flower growers know that it is not easy to grow an avocado at home, much less wait for the harvest. Its fruits, unique in taste, could please more than one grower. But, unfortunately, avocado with fruits at home is rather an exception to the rule. Although they do not always plant an orange or persimmon seed, hoping for a quick result. You can wait for more than one year, hope and at the same time enjoy a fruit bush or tree.

If you wish, you can plant an avocado seed and patiently follow all the necessary rules for growing and caring. What if your dream comes true, and you wait for the harvest at your home?

How to grow an avocado from a seed

To grow this unusual overseas plant, you will definitely need a ripe avocado fruit. Only the seed of such a fruit has a great chance of germination. This process can be done in two ways:

• The first method (closed) is common and uncomplicated. The avocado seed should be thrust into the soil with its wide underside to a shallow depth (about 2 centimeters). When favorable conditions are created, it should germinate in about 30 days.
• The second method (open) is interesting and even, one might say, exotic.

Before planting in the ground, the seed must be germinated in water in a suspended position. First, it needs to be thoroughly washed and cleaned. Then, approximately in the middle of the bone along the line of the circle, you need to carefully drill three or four holes, into which you then need to insert thin wooden sticks (for example, matches or toothpicks). They will act as a support when we lower the wide lower part of the bone into a container of water. These sticks, like clamps, will hold the bone at the required height. The main thing is to constantly monitor the amount of water in the container. The bottom of the bone should always be in the water.

Instead of water for sprouting avocado seeds, you can use special polymer granules (hydrogel). This polymer material can hold large amounts of water for a long time. In this method, it is very convenient, you do not need to follow the level.

It will take only 20-30 days, and the first young roots will appear, and then the sprout. The seed will be ready for planting in the ground when the roots are 4 centimeters long.

First you need a small flower pot with large holes. The earth doesn't have to be dense. It must be well loosened to ensure the necessary air and moisture exchange. The stone is planted in the soil so that two-thirds of its part is on the surface of the soil. There is no need to remove the shell on the bone.

Avocado - growing and caring at home

Location and lighting

Avocado is a light-loving plant, but partial shade will suit it. It must be protected from direct sunlight. If your house or apartment has a room with west-facing windows, then such a window sill will be the perfect place for this fruit.

Temperature

Since the tropics are home to avocados, it naturally loves warmth. In the event of a sharp drop in temperature or the slightest draft, the plant will begin to show its displeasure - all the leaves will immediately fall off. Therefore, even in warm summer weather, it is undesirable to take it outside.

And in the room, too, a constant temperature must be maintained. In the warm season, the high room temperature will be favorable for the avocado, but in the cold winter time, 20 degrees Celsius will be enough for it.

The plant also has a dormant period in winter. If in winter the temperature in the room drops to 12 degrees, then the avocado will immediately react - it will drop the leaves and switch to the "hibernation" mode. But with proper care and a constant temperature balance, this cannot happen. This tropical plant is considered evergreen.

Watering rules

Watering avocados at home should be regularly and abundantly, but taking into account the temperature and the season. Over-watering can be harmful. It is watered more often in summer than in winter. After the topsoil has dried, it should take a couple more days before you start watering the plant. Only its upper part dries immediately, and the moisture necessary for the avocado remains inside the pot for about two more days.

Air humidity

Air humidity is also of great importance. The air in the room is almost always dry, and this is very harmful for this plant. Spraying daily will help solve the problem. It is very important that during such water procedures, only the air near the avocado is humidified, but not the plant itself. Even small droplets should not fall on its leaves.

There is another way of moistening - this is a special tray for a pot with moistened expanded clay.

Top dressing and fertilizers

From September to March, the plant does not need feeding. But the rest of the time, once a month, the avocado must be fed with the fertilizer recommended for citrus fruits or any other complex dressing.

Avocado transplant

In nature, avocados grow up to 20 meters in height. Although at home it will not reach such heights, but it grows quite actively and requires frequent transplantation. Very soon the first small pot will be too small for him. As soon as the tree grows up to 15 centimeters, it's time to transplant it into a large container. At a young age, avocados are transplanted every year, and then it can be transplanted once every three years.

The land in which it grows is of great importance for the development and growth of a plant. Specifically, an avocado needs any loose and light earth, but not sour. It would be good to add wood ash or dolomite flour to such soil.

When transplanting a plant into a new pot, use the transfer method. Carefully carry the tree along with the clod of earth.

You can make your own potting mix that is good for avocado. To do this, you will need: peat (or humus), garden soil and coarse river sand. All components must be mixed in equal parts.

Pruning

This tropical plant at home may well become a decorative decoration of the room. True, this will require a little experience in floriculture. For example, you can grow several plants from avocado seeds and plant them all together in one flower pot. In the meantime, the plants are young and flexible, you can twist their stems together with a pigtail.

So that the plant does not stretch in height, but acquires splendor in the form of lateral shoots, it must be pinched. This procedure can be carried out only when the tree has a sufficient number of leaves (at least eight). First, pinch the top of the plant, this promotes the development of lateral branches. And after they are sufficiently formed and acquire their own leaves, you can pinch them too.

Pruning is done in early spring. It is necessary to improve the growth and development of the plant, as well as to form the crown you need. It can be completely different. It all depends on the imagination of the grower.

Diseases, pests and other problems

Avocados, like all houseplants, are afraid of the same pests - scabbard and spider mites. The gluttonous spider mite can not only destroy all the leaves on the plant, but can also transfer various diseases to other indoor flowers. The scale insect feeds on plant sap. After its appearance, only dry leaves remain. You can fight such pests using various folk methods or insecticidal preparations.

Among the diseases, the main danger to avocados is powdery mildew.

Other problems may arise during the growing process:

The tips of the leaves dry out. Reasons - watering rules are not followed (lack of moisture), insufficient air humidity. It is necessary to establish regular watering (only after the top layer of the earth dries out) and humidify the air in the room using spraying.

Leaves are falling. The reasons are drafts and a drop in air temperature in the apartment. It is necessary to maintain an optimal temperature regime in the room and avoid drafts.

Paleness of leaves. The reasons are lack of lighting. It is necessary to find a suitable place for the plant or arrange additional (artificial) lighting for it, especially in winter.

Anyone who enjoys working with the land and growing plants will certainly love and experiment with planting seeds of various fruits at home, including overseas ones. But planting an avocado simply by burying a bone in the ground will not work - it is necessary to create special conditions so that after a certain time the “overseas” tree will turn green on your windowsill.

Growing an avocado at home - step one

To begin with, I would like to note that the avocado is grown at home only as an ornamental plant. It decorates the interior of the room, creates a special atmosphere, releases a lot of oxygen, but nothing more. Even with the most careful care according to all the rules, this tropical tree at home very rarely blooms, and fruiting happens even less often, so you should not wait for the harvest.

Even with the most careful care according to all the rules, this tropical tree at home very rarely blooms

So, if you nevertheless decide to plant an alligator pear (the second name for an avocado), then in order to achieve at least some results, you must first of all get planting material. Not every fruit is suitable for this. It is necessary to choose the largest and ripe (or better - overripe) fruits, the peel of which was not damaged during transportation. If there are only hard avocados on the counter, then for planting the fruit must be left at room temperature at home for several days, which will allow it to ripen. The bone must be removed with extreme care. The remnants of the pulp must be washed off under a stream of warm running water, after which it is worth letting the bone dry (but in no case postpone planting for a month or a week.It is optimal to take seed on the same day). When the planting material is ready, you can safely proceed to the second stage.

How to plant a bone - step two

It is useless to simply plant an avocado seed in a pot with soil, you must first prepare it. To do this, the seed is soaked in sufficiently hot water (but not boiling water) for half an hour. Next, the shell is removed from the heated bone, the tip is cut off from the narrow side, and the cut is treated with an antifungal drug, which must be purchased in advance in a specialized store. After that, the wide end of the bone is placed by a third in the prepared soil mixture. (we'll talk about how to properly prepare the soil a little later). Further, the future plant grown at home is left alone - until the moment of germination, only watering is needed once a week.

While waiting for a sprout, it is very important to monitor the quality and amount of water in the glass.

There is another way to grow seed avocados at home, which is considered more reliable. It is necessary to take three or four toothpicks, and along the perimeter at the middle level, make punctures and insert prepared toothpicks into them, sticking them to a depth of 2-5 mm. The entire structure must be placed in a glass with pre-settled water at room temperature, so that the blunt end of the bone is in the water, and the punctures remain dry. Many agronomists advise, in this case, to take not just settled water, but add a little charcoal to the bottom of the glass. If there is none at home, replace it with a simple activated one.

While waiting for a sprout, it is very important to monitor the quality and quantity of water in the glass. Fine dust, debris and microorganisms slow down the "pecking" process. Therefore, every 2-3 days, the bone must be removed and the water in the glass must be quickly replaced with a new one. The process of sprouting a seed at home is quite long, so don't be alarmed if you don't see any results even after a month. As a rule, sprouts and roots can be seen after about 5-8 weeks (it all depends on the planting season). Once the shoots have reached 4 cm, the seed is ready to be planted in the ground.

Transplanting into the ground - step three

Avocados do not like too heavy, acidic and clayey soils, so simple soil from a garden plot will not work. The soil mixture will have to be prepared as follows: It is necessary to take in equal proportions garden soil, peat, coarse sand, humus and a pinch of lime. Mix all components thoroughly. That's it, the soil mixture is ready. The same soil must be used in the case of planting the bones directly into the ground.

Avocado dislikes heavy, acidic and clayey soils

Since the soil from the garden can be filled with harmful microbes, it is better to try to disinfect the prepared mixture by spilling it with boiling water the day before planting a seed or sprouted seed.

For planting, it is better to take a simple plastic pot, no more than 15 cm high. It is better not to use a clay container in this case, since the walls of such a pot can allow moisture to pass through, which is vital for an avocado. The bottom of the selected pot should be water-permeable, it should also be equipped with a drainage system, which can be done using special granules or the usual expanded clay.

A seed with a sprout does not need to be completely buried in the ground. It is only necessary to dig it in by a third. This must be done carefully so as not to damage the root system.

Video about how to plant an avocado correctly

Home avocado care

But it is not enough to properly plant an avocado - it is necessary to provide the plant with proper care.

1. The plant does not like direct sunlight, so when growing it at home, you need to put a pot of avocado in partial shade or on the windows on the north side.
2. The tree must be pruned regularly, otherwise it will stretch out and no longer be so attractive.
3. The plant is very hygrophilous. In summer, it is necessary to ensure frequent watering, in winter a little less often. Overdried soil will cause the plant to shed its leaves. (Discarded leaves are not always indicative of a lack of moisture, however.)
4. In the summer-spring period, the tree needs feeding once a month. When grown at home, suitable for tropical plants that must be purchased at a specialized point of sale.

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Avocados have very fragile branches covered with smooth glossy bark. The leaves, which have a dark green tint, are rather large and tough. In length they reach 25 cm. Their shape can be oval and lanceolate. Avocado flowers are small, bisexual: the stamens are arranged in several circles around the pistil. They are located at the ends of the shoots. When growing an avocado from a stone at home, the tree can reach 2 m.

The taste of the fruit, which contains a large amount of vitamins, resembles butter. Avocado is ideal for preparing various salads, as well as Japanese cuisine (sushi). Therefore, today more and more people want to know how to plant a pitted avocado.

How to choose a bone for planting

To grow an avocado tree at home, you will need the most ripe fruit, since the bone in such a fruit is already in the condition necessary for planting. The ripeness of the fruit can be determined by pressing on its sides, after which small dents should remain on them.

To get the bone out of the fruit, you need to take a sharp knife and cut the fruit in diameter, being careful not to damage the bone itself. If the fruit is chosen correctly, it will easily come off the pulp.

The removed bone is washed in running water, after which it is laid out on a plate to dry. At this time, you can prepare the container for germination.

How to sprout an avocado from a seed

Today, there are two known ways to germinate avocado seeds. It can be planted directly in the ground or germinated in water. In the first case, obtaining any result can be achieved only after several weeks and even months, and in the second, the process goes much faster. In addition, the first method is most suitable for experienced flower growers who know firsthand everything not only about how to grow an avocado from a seed, but also about the need to adjust the moisture content of the soil and air. Therefore, the second option is more suitable for beginners.

To germinate an avocado from a seed in water, it is necessary to carry out simple preparatory work. To do this, three small holes are made on the surface of the bone using a thick needle, which pierces the top layer. It is very important not to damage the inside of it. Matches or toothpicks are inserted into the finished holes. The result should be a kind of design with handles that will stick out in different directions.

Now you need to take a glass of water and put a bone in it so that its thick side is at the bottom. Matches should lie on the sides, holding it in weight. Water is best used boiled and cooled to room temperature. The bone should only lightly touch it, and not be completely immersed in it. As the liquid evaporates, it must be added.

The appearance of the first roots can be expected in two weeks. But this is only on condition that the bone is provided with constant moisture. It can be transplanted into the ground as soon as the roots grow up to 3 cm.

Transplanting an avocado seed into the ground

To grow an avocado from a stone at home, it is necessary to prepare a loose substrate consisting of a mixture of humus, raw peat, earth and sand, taken in equal proportions, to which 14 parts of lime are added.

The planting pot must be made of plastic.For the first time, a small container will be enough, the depth and diameter of which is no more than 9 cm. At the bottom of it, small holes are necessarily made, intended for the release of excess moisture. In addition, you need to prepare high-quality drainage using expanded clay or polystyrene for this.

When answering the question of how to sprout an avocado from a stone, it must be borne in mind that in no case should it be completely buried in the ground, since in this case it will simply rot. It is immersed in the ground with the blunt end down only halfway. In the same way, the seed is planted in the ground without preliminary germination.

A bone planted in the ground needs to create a constantly high humidity. The substrate should always be slightly wet. If everything is done correctly, very soon you will be able to see the first leaves of the avocado.

Growing an avocado from a seed: care

Avocados do well in a bright place and should be protected from direct sunlight. The plant is thermophilic. The optimum temperature for avocados is 18 ° C. In winter, the temperature of its content should not be lower than 12 ° C. If it is lower, the tree will begin to shed its leaves.

In the spring and summer, the tree needs abundant watering. In winter and autumn, watering should be moderate, as the soil dries up. In no case should you overmoisten the earth. In addition, in the autumn-winter period, it is necessary to take care of additional lighting, using special phytolamps for this.

Growing an avocado from a seed is possible only if the air humidity in the room is high, especially during the heating season. This can be achieved with frequent spraying.

Pinching avocado

The seed avocado grows quite quickly and has a tendency to stretch out. Therefore, it is necessary to regularly pinch to give the tree a bush shape. If you pinch the top of the head, you can achieve better branching of the plant. Pinching the stem is done to give it a stunted shape and further germination of shoots from dormant buds. It is produced at a level not less than 15 cm from the ground, leaving 3-4 shoots that should be directed in different directions. As soon as the stem reaches 20 cm, the tops are pinched to form the branches of the next order.

The first pinching procedure is performed over the eighth leaf, after which the plant will begin to branch. The twigs are pinched over the fifth leaf.

Proper pinching and proper care of the tree helps it to form a crown. This is a prerequisite for fruiting.

Pollination of avocados

Knowing how to plant an avocado from a stone is not always enough for a tree in this case to start blooming, and even more so to bear fruit. And despite the fact that the plant is capable of self-pollination, results can only be achieved with cross-pollination. Not even all wild avocado flowers bear fruit. So, on a twenty-meter tree with abundant flowering, 150-200 fruits are formed, no more.

At home, you can artificially cross-pollinate numerous avocado flowers with a soft brush. You need to start as soon as they bloom, and the pollen is ripe. This should be done in the early morning and preferably on a sunny day. An avocado tree that has been harvested from the seed will not be able to bear fruit. If the weather is cloudy outside and warming is not planned, you can extend the lighting of the plant during the flowering period up to 15 hours a day using supplementary lighting. Cross-pollination is carried out three times a month, after which the plant is fertilized.

Top dressing

The avocado tree begins to feed at the age of one. Mineral fertilizer should be applied 4 times a year. This should be done in the spring or summer once or twice a month.When feeding already mature trees, the amount of nitrogen is increased, which must be applied to the soil twice a year, at the end of winter and at the beginning of summer.

Sometimes the leaves on a mature tree start to turn yellow unexpectedly. The reason for this is the lack of zinc and iron. To avoid this, the plant is sprayed with iron chelate and additionally fertilized with formulations containing large amounts of iron and zinc.

Avocado transplant

Young plants need annual replanting. And it is necessary to make a transplant after the winter dormant period. For this, it is important to use fertile and well-drained soil.

Experienced gardeners, who know perfectly well how to grow an avocado from a stone, advise, if possible, to put a container with a tree outside in the summer, not forgetting that when young, avocados are very sensitive to the sun and can die from sunburn. Therefore, the plant first keeps in full shade, gradually getting used to the light. You can also whitewash the barrel to avoid problems.

If it is not possible to carry out a complete plant transplant, you can simply remove the top layer of soil and carefully spill the soil remaining in the pot with boiled water. This will prevent the tree from suffering from soil salinization.

Potential pests and diseases of avocados

The main pests of avocados are spider mites, scale insects and false scales, due to the action of which the leaves begin to turn yellow and fly around. To prevent this, there is little knowledge on how to grow an avocado from a seed. They still need to be remembered to be put into practice, namely, to regularly inspect the tree for their timely detection.

Are the avocado leaves turning brown and starting to fall off? The air is too dry. Problems can be avoided if you remember to constantly spray the plant with water at room temperature.

If the leaves begin to lose their color, you need to adjust the lighting. If the plant has been in a darkened place for a long time, then it must be taught to light gradually.