How to Care for an Avocado Plant

eHow may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Learn more about our affiliate and product review process here.

Things You'll Need

  • Avocado seed

  • Glass container

  • Three toothpicks

  • Water

  • Pot

  • Soil

Avocados are tropical plants that require specific environmental conditions in order for them to grow properly and produce fruit. Avocados are high in monounsaturated oils and vitamin E, which are healthy for the heart, and they make an excellent addition to any garden. In order to successfully care for avocados, it is important to follow a few basic steps for caring for tropical, fruiting plants that will ensure the avocado plant will remain healthy and strong.

Advertisement

Step 1

Prepare the avocado seed before growing. Make sure that the seed is totally clean and free of avocado meat by rinsing it off thoroughly with water. Carefully push three toothpicks into the avocado seed, spreading them out so that they are evenly distributed around the seed. Fill a glass container with water and lower the avocado seed into the water. Make sure that the bottom half of the avocado seed is submerged in the water. The toothpicks will hold the avocado seed up and protect it from falling down into the glass container.

Video of the Day

Step 2

Care for the growing avocado plant. Once the avocado seed is in its container, it will begin to grow roots that will start to fill the bottom of the glass container. A shoot will begin to appear on the top of the avocado seed that will grow straight up out of the plant. Once the shoot reaches a height of seven inches, use pruning shears to trim the height down to three inches. This will push the nutrients into producing more off-shoots, which will help the plant to grow stronger. The avocado plant will begin to grow again, and once it starts to produce leaves, it is ready to be planted in a pot with soil.

Advertisement

Step 3

Lift the avocado seed from the glass container and pull out the toothpicks. Place the leafing seed two to three inches down into a pot filled with soil. Fill soil in around the avocado seed and keep it warm. Water the seed regularly, never watering too much or too little. It is alright for the soil to become slightly dry occasionally. Prune the avocado down to six inches when it becomes a foot tall. This will force new shoots to appear on the plant, which will help the plant produce fruit. After a few years, you will be able to harvest avocados from your avocado tree.

Advertisement

Video of the Day

references

Report an Issue

screenshot of the current page

Screenshot loading...