How to Root and Grow an Avocado Plant

Avocados are low-fat fruits with smooth flesh and bumpy skin that are high in potassium; vitamins C, E and B6; and fiber. Growing an avocado plant from the pit is an easy project for kids as long as they understand that not all avocado pits will produce a viable plant. It can take 3 or 4 years for the plant to produce fruit, but the project requires little more than a pit, patience and a sunny windowsill.

Things You'll Need

• Sharp knife
• Toothpicks
• Water glass
• Flowerpot
• Pebbles
• Potting soil

Instructions

1. Remove the pit from an avocado. The easiest way to do this is to run a sharp knife from the top to the bottom of the avocado and then up the other side. Twist the two pieces of the avocado to release the pit.

2. Rinse the avocado pit to remove any of the fruit that has stuck to the pit and pat it dry. Use a sharp knife to cut a shallow X in the thickest end of the pit. Don't cut deeper than 1/8 inch.

3. Make a support for the pit by inserting three toothpicks about 1/2 inch up from the thickest end of the avocado and about 1/2 inch deep.

4. Fill a glass with water. Hang the avocado pit over the water by resting the toothpicks on the rim of the glass. The bottom inch of the pit should be submerged in the water. Add water as needed to keep the bottom of the pit submerged.

5. Put the glass on a sunny windowsill. After about a month roots will begin to grow out the bottom of the pit, and the top will split open as a sprout emerges. Continue watering the plant and leave it on the windowsill until leaves start to form.

6. Pinch back the top set of leaves. Let the plant grow and pinch back new leaves as they form at the crown until the plant has developed healthy roots and several branches with established leaves.

7. Put a handful of small rocks in the bottom of an 8 inch flowerpot and fill it with potting soil to within 1 inch of the rim. Scoop out the center and place the pit, root side down, in the potting soil. Leave the upper half of the pit exposed. Press the soil down gently and water the plant generously.

8. Return the potted plant to a warm, sunny location. Water it when the top inch of the soil dries out. Pinch back the upper leaves to encourage more leaves to grow.

Tips & Warnings

• If the leaves start to yellow, you may be overwatering the plant. Put the avocado tree outside in the summertime. Bring it inside when the temperature drops below 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Plant multiple avocado trees to aid in cross-pollination if you want them to set fruit.

References

• Tips for Growing an Avocado Tree

Resources

• Regenerative Nutrition: The Avocado and Human Nutrition
• Colorado State University Extension: Gardening With Children
• WebMD: The Avocado Advantage
• TropicaMango.com: How Not to Kill Your Avocado Tree
• Hass Avocado Board