How to grow avocados at home?

Avocado is a type of tropical fruit tree that is very popular with exotic plant lovers. Many of them have a plant in their collection, since it is quite easy to grow an avocado with your own hands. But in order for it to grow and please its owner, careful care is needed.

Features of homemade avocado tree

A home-grown avocado tree has a number of features:

In its natural habitat, the plant grows to a height of 20 meters, and a small tree growing at home reaches a maximum of 2.5–3 meters.
Fruiting of this tree is very rare. It is mainly used as a decorative element.
If you are lucky, the fruiting of the tree begins at 3–6 years of growth. Its fruits are quite edible, although they are slightly inferior to the imported ones in taste.
The plant purifies the air, and thanks to the original and lush crown, a warm and cozy atmosphere prevails in the room.

Conditions for growing avocados

To grow an avocado from a seed at home, you must adhere to some rules. It is better to plant the seeds in the spring, it is during this period that active growth of plants is observed. For harvesting planting material, it is necessary to choose a ripe fruit that does not have deformations.

Indicators of a ripe product are the peel of the fruit of a dark color, dense and elastic pulp, after pressing on the fruit, it regains its shape, the bone is easily separated from the pulp, a high-quality bone is the size of a quail egg.

If the product is slightly unripe, you need to put it in a paper bag with products that contain a large portion of ethylene - this is a gas that accelerates fruit ripening. These include bananas, apples, or tomatoes. When storing the fruit at a temperature of 18 to 23 degrees, after 2 days, the avocado will reach the required condition.

Avocado seed germination stages

Growing an avocado at home from a seed is done in this sequence.

The seed is removed. For this, a small incision is made in the center of the fetus, 1 cm deep and carefully, with rotating movements, its bone is cut out. Further, it is washed under running water without damaging the brown shell.

Before germinating an avocado, a place is prepared for its growth:

A drainage system is laid in the pot, for which ordinary gravel or expanded clay is suitable.
A nutrient mixture is prepared, consisting of equal parts of humus, garden soil and sand. Since the avocado can be planted directly into the soil, for the normal germination of its seed, it must have a loose consistency.
The prepared mixture is poured into the pot, leaving a little free space, 1–2 cm from the top edge.

The seed is germinated using different methods.

How to germinate an avocado seed

The closed method provides for the germination of planting material directly in the soil.To do this, the bone is placed in the ground 25 mm deep, the sharp end is on top and watered well, soaking the entire soil. The container is placed in a warm place with good lighting and watered throughout the entire germination period. After 20-30 days, a sprout will appear.

The open method of growing avocados is to hang the seeds in a container of water, suspended. This requires:

prepare a glass or other container;
in the middle part of the seed, from different sides, make 3-4 holes into which toothpicks are inserted, 2-3 mm deep (they act as a support so that the seed cannot completely submerge in water, but only its lower part);
the seed is placed in a prepared container with cold water, with a blunt end, and the immersion of the planting material should be 1/3 of its part;
instead of water, you can use a hydrogel, which is able to retain moisture for a long time;
throughout the entire period of germination, you need to ensure that the water level does not decrease;
after the first root appears, the plant can be transplanted into the ground, but in order for the plant to take root, its roots must be at least 30 mm.

It takes 2 to 6 weeks for the first roots to appear.

Avocado seed contains a substance such as persin, which disrupts the digestive system and causes various allergic reactions. Therefore, it is recommended to work with rubber gloves.

Conditions for growing an avocado tree

After the avocado seed has been planted at home, it is necessary to carry out a number of measures to arrange its place.

For the normal growth of avocados, you need to comply with some requirements:

Regular moistening of the soil, which occurs as it dries. On average, watering is performed once every 10 days. In the winter season, the tree is watered less often, allowing the soil to stand dry for a couple of days, this is necessary to maintain the optimum level of soil moisture.
Maintaining moist air is achieved in different ways - this is placing a pot with a tree next to crops that release a lot of moisture, spraying the leaves of plants, in the summer season or heating, the pot is placed on a pallet with wet sand.
Providing a favorable temperature regime in the room, which should be in the range of 16-20 degrees. In winter, the temperature is favorable - 10-12 degrees, as the plant falls into a state of dormancy and sheds its leaves.
Timely feeding of the plant. On average, it is performed 1–2 times a month. For feeding, mixtures are used for growing ornamental crops.

When the leaves turn yellow, you need to pay attention to the frequency and amount of watering. This is usually a sign of over-watering.

Avocado tree decoration

Before growing an avocado from a seed at home, you need to think over all the nuances of its decorative design:

Some options include planting several shoots in a pot, with further intertwining of their stems, thereby obtaining a lush and original tree.
To obtain a tall tree, it is recommended to transplant it at least once a year. The favorable period for this procedure is the end of February, this is the time when the plants actively begin to grow. The first transplant should be carried out when the tree reaches a height of 15 cm.
To reduce the intensity of avocado growth, pinching of its top is carried out. This procedure accelerates the growth of lateral shoots, which makes the crown lush and attractive.

Forming pruning is done in the spring when all plants are actively growing. The first pruning of the top is done after 8-10 leaves, in the presence of lateral shoots, their shortening is performed after 5 leaves.

From seed germination to a formed tree - video

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, 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.

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.
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.
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 salt, 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, homemade avocados with fruits are 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 regular and abundant, 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 inside the pot for about two more days the moisture necessary for the avocado remains.

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 intertwine their stems 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 contributes to 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 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 do 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 will 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 previously 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 don't like soils that are too heavy, acidic and clayey, 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.

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.
The tree must be pruned regularly, otherwise it will stretch out and no longer be so attractive.
The plant is very hygrophilous. In summer, it is necessary to provide frequent watering, in winter a little less often. Overdried soil will cause the plant to shed its leaves. (Discarded leaves do not always indicate a lack of moisture, however.)
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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Date of publication:Growing at home