Growing avocados at home

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 more than one year, hope and at the same time enjoy a fruit bush or tree.

If you want to, 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 germinating 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.

Avocados - 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 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 feeding.

Avocado transplant

In nature, avocados grow up to 20 meters in height. Although at home it will not reach such heights, 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 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 indoor plants, 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 with 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.

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 growth. 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, then no need to water.

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 decorative effect 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 put it under the crowns of trees in a sunny place. Then the avocado will begin to bear fruit already in the third year.

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 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 caution. 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 of earth, 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 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, and 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.

Avocado is an unusual fruit that is increasingly found on the Russian table. It is called the alligator and butter pear, perseus and agacat. And yes! It's a tropical fruit! Someone loves avocado, but someone, on the contrary, does not like it at all. If you are a fan of this oily fruit, and wondered how to grow an avocado from a seed at home, this article will be useful to you. And even if this fruit is not to your liking, you will learn how to ennoble your home with a beautiful plant with a lush crown.

How to plant an avocado seed

Regardless of which germination method you choose, this is a simple and fun activity. In order to plant an avocado at home, you first need to get a ripe, good fruit in the store. Give preference to representatives with dark green skin. With light pressure, the fruit should easily regain its shape.

If you purchased an unripe fruit, place it in a paper bag along with a ripe apple, tomato or banana and leave it at room temperature for a couple of days. The released ethylene will accelerate the ripening of the avocado. The fruit must be ripe for seed avocado cultivation to be successful.

Carefully cut the alligator pear so as not to damage the seed from which the new tree will grow. If there are signs of rotting inside, it is better to choose another, unspoiled fruit.

1. The first method is closed, more familiar to gardeners and flower gardens - planting seeds in the ground. The ground for the avocado should be loose and well-drained. Put expanded clay, pebbles or other small stones in a clay pot in a layer of a couple of centimeters. For soil, mix garden soil, sand and humus in equal parts, additionally add peat or charcoal. Plant the seed with a blunt tip in a pot of soil to a depth of 2-3 cm. Under good conditions, 30 days after planting, the seed will germinate and the first roots will appear on its surface.
2. The second way to get a sprout, more unusual, one might say exotic, is to sprout an avocado in a container of water. A peeled avocado seed is prepared as follows. 3-4 toothpicks gently pierce the seed so as not to damage it badly. The toothpicks will act as a support when fixing the avocado with the bottom side in a small container. It is important to monitor the water level. The blunt part of the seed must be constantly in the water, and the sharp tip must be on the surface. After 20-30 days, the first root will appear. When it grows up to 3-4 cm, you can transplant the seed into the ground, and soon admire the young sprouts of avocado.

Both methods require neatness and careful attention during the germination process. Compliance with the temperature regime, correct planting and fixation of the seed, sufficient heat and light are the main conditions for obtaining a beautiful ornamental home plant.

How to grow an avocado

In nature, this plant reaches 20 meters in height, but an avocado at home grows no more than 2.5-3 meters. It is possible that the tree will begin to bear fruit in 3-6 years, but this happens very rarely. This happens more often if several seeds are germinated in one pot. In the flowering phase, the plants will be pollinated, and it is possible that fruits will appear in the future. They taste good, but differ from the usual taste of their tropical counterparts. But the lush crown perfectly cleans the air and adds comfort to the home atmosphere.

If you decide to plant an avocado at home, be prepared to care for it.First of all, you need to plant a bone so that its sharp part always remains on the surface. It is necessary that soil moisture and air temperature are as close as possible to tropical conditions.

The pot of avocado should be placed in the brightest place in the house. Once a month, you need to use top dressing and fertilization to ensure rapid growth of the plant. Water the avocado as needed, but do not add too much water. To determine if watering is required, deepen your fingers 2-3 cm into the soil. If it's dry, it's time to add water.

If the buttery pear is pulling upward due to lack of sunshine, pinch the top slightly. You can also plant not one, but several seeds to intertwine the trunks as the plants grow, creating beautiful compositions of young trees.

Features of caring for an avocado tree

Avocado care includes the correct temperature regime, timely fertilization with minerals, watering, transplanting and observing the light regime.

Water the tree as needed, and do not allow an excess of water in the pot. In the cold winter season, the plant is watered for 2-3 days after the soil has completely dried. In summer, for home care, avocados are watered no more than 1-2 times a week.

The tropical fruit is not compatible with dry room air. To create favorable conditions and adequate air humidity, plant plants with massive leaves that evaporate a large amount of moisture next to the young tree. You can also spray the leaves with a spray bottle 3-5 times a day. During the heating season, it is optimal to hang wet towels on the radiator or place the plant pot on a pallet with wet sand.

Location and lighting

As already mentioned, the soil for the avocado should be loose so that excess moisture does not linger in the pot. An excess of it, like a deficiency, can ruin the plant. Alligator pear is a tropical fruit, but direct sunlight is contraindicated for it. An adult tree, like a planted seed, is best placed on a windowsill on the south, east or west side. In autumn and winter, the daylight hours for avocados are extended to 12 hours using fluorescent lamps, and during the flowering period up to 15.

How to pinch an avocado

Pinching or formative pruning of a tree for decorative growth is carried out in March. In the first year, the plant is pruned at the level of 7-8 leaves, and 5-6 at the side shoots. After that, the height is maintained at the desired level. This is necessary for the young tree to form a crown, develop evenly, and not only in height.

Diseases and pests

There are also a number of avocado diseases that affect the condition of the leaves. With little watering, the leaves dry out. With a lack of light, the leaves turn pale. And when the temperature is too low or high, the leaves fall off the plant.

Like all houseplants, avocados are afraid of scale insects and spider mites. The spider mite is able to destroy all the leaves on the plant, and the scale insect completely deprives it of juice. Also, this tropical tree is susceptible to powdery mildew, which covers the leaves with a white bloom and gradually kills the entire plant. You can cope with pests with the help of special preparations and folk methods.

It turns out that growing a tropical tree at home is not difficult at all. The main thing is to be patient and thoroughly approach the process. If you choose a healthy ripe fruit, remove and germinate the seed correctly, provide the sprout with proper attention and favorable climatic conditions, you will soon become the proud owner of a gorgeous ornamental home plant.