See the growth of this avocado tree, featured in two videos four years ago when it was young. See how the avocado tree, which is now 4-feet-tall, is growing. Also find out how to take care of your own indoor avocado tree so it thrives. Learn about proper lighting, fertilizing, watering, pruning, when to repot and how to hand-pollinate if the plant flowers and you want fruit.
#healthyhouseplantsย #IndoorGardening #AvocadoTreeCare #HouseplantTips #PlantParenthood
[Music]
Welcome to HealthyHouseplants.com, where we talk about gardening and the great indoors. Today weโre visiting an avocado tree that started from the pit. I first filmed this tree as a baby in 2014 and did a follow-up a few months later. Some viewers asked about this tree โ I named him Sam โ and here he is after about five years.
Sam grew in water for quite a while before being potted. Heโs doing well, but could use fertilizing, so Iโll cover care for indoor avocado trees once you have them growing. Sam has been potted up several times into larger containers. One nice benefit of a larger container is being able to grow companion plants at the base โ this helps keep the soil from staying soggy. Iโve planted a coleus and some strawberries around Sam.
Lighting. Bright light is critical. This room has western exposure and gets pretty bright. I also use a grow light (youโll see an AeroGarden) to add extra light for Sam and nearby plants. Full-spectrum bulbs work well in any fixture โ recessed can lights, hanging lights, or a pendant. If you use a pendant, place it about five to six inches above the top of the plant so the top foliage receives light. The more light the better for indoor avocado trees.
Starting from a pit. Hereโs an avocado pit โ thatโs where Sam began. You can sprout an avocado pit and plant it to grow a tree.
Fertilizing. Use a balanced fertilizer suitable for houseplants and fruiting plants. Granulated fertilizers often sit on top of the soil; I prefer to place them a bit deeper. Organic fertilizers with mycorrhizal fungi are excellent โ the fungi help roots access more nutrients and water, and improve disease resistance. To apply granules, use a wooden dowel (or similar) to make holes 2โ3 inches deep around the container; drop fertilizer in according to package directions and water it in so nutrients reach the roots.
Watering. Avocado trees like a good drink but should not be kept soggy. Water when the top 1โ2 inches of soil begin to dry. Test with your finger, a wooden dowel, or a chopstick โ if the dowel comes out clean (soil falls off), the soil is dry; if soil sticks to it, itโs still wet. Overwatering can cause fungal problems and root rot.
Pot size. Aim for a pot dimension where two-thirds of the visible mass is plant and one-third pot. Too large a pot retains excess moisture and can lead to root rot because a small plant cannot use all the soil water. Itโs better to err slightly small than too large. If you must plant a large avocado into a bigger pot, plant companion plants around the base to help use moisture.
Pruning. Remove a few non-performing leaves or branches occasionally. Donโt prune more than one-third of growth at once, or you risk shocking the tree. Prune in late winter or early spring; fertilizing can be done now, especially with organic foods. Foliar spray fertilizers provide faster nutrient uptake for a needy plant.
Repotting & top dressing. Avoid repotting in winter. Best times are early spring to early fall. If the plant needs fresh nutrients but itโs not repotting season, top-dress with moist organic soil and a little fertilizer, patting it in around the top.
Pollination & fruiting. If your indoor avocado flowers, they are small and mostly white. Most homes lack bees, so hand-pollinate by moving pollen between flowers to mix male and female flowers โ this increases chance of fruit set.
Thanks for stopping by. Have fun gardening in the great indoors โ please leave comments with tutorial requests, and remember to like, comment, subscribe, and share.
Indoor Avocado Tree Care FAQ
How much light does an indoor avocado tree need?
Avocado trees need bright light. Place them in a room with strong natural light (western or southern exposure) and supplement with full-spectrum grow lights if needed. Position a pendant grow light about 5โ6 inches above the top foliage for best results.
What is the best way to fertilize an indoor avocado tree?
Use a balanced houseplant or fruiting fertilizer. Granulated formulas work well if applied below the surface โ make 2โ3 inch holes with a dowel, add fertilizer according to the package, and water in. Organic fertilizers with mycorrhizal fungi boost root nutrient uptake and disease resistance.
How often should I water my avocado tree indoors?
Water when the top 1โ2 inches of soil start to dry. Test with your finger or a wooden dowel โ if the dowel comes out dry, water; if soil sticks to it, wait. Avoid soggy soil to prevent fungal disease and root rot.
What pot size is right for a young avocado tree?
Follow a two-thirds plant to one-third pot rule โ donโt put a small tree in a very large pot. Oversized pots hold excess moisture that small root systems canโt use, increasing risk of root rot. Slightly smaller pots are safer than pots that are too large.
Can I grow other plants at the base of my avocado tree?
Yes. Planting low companions like coleus or small edibles helps use excess moisture and can be beneficial. You can always remove them later if needed.
When should I repot or top-dress my avocado tree?
Repot in early spring to early fall. Avoid repotting in winter. If itโs not repotting season but the plant needs nutrients, top-dress with moist organic soil and a bit of fertilizer.
How should I prune an indoor avocado tree?
Prune sparingly. Never remove more than one-third of growth at once to avoid shocking the tree. Late winter or early spring is the best time to prune.
How do I hand-pollinate avocado flowers indoors?
If your indoor avocado flowers, hand-pollinate by transferring pollen between flowers (for example, with a small brush) to mimic bees and increase the chance of fruit set.
What are signs of overwatering and root rot?
Yellowing or dropping leaves, soggy soil, and a foul smell at the root zone are signs. Prevent by checking soil moisture before watering and using appropriately sized pots with good drainage.
One-time donation: https://ko-fi.com/healthyhouseplants
๐ข๐ป๐ฒ-๐ผ๐ป-๐ข๐ป๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ฝ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฝ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐๐: https://mailchi.mp/healthyhouseplants…
๐ฆ๐ถ๐ด๐ป ๐๐ฝ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐บ๐ ๐บ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ต๐น๐ ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐๐น๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ: http://eepurl.com/g1PCSH
๐ฉ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ ๐บ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฏ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ: https://www.healthyhouseplants.com
๐๐๐ ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ฎ ๐ฐ๐๐ฝ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ: https://ko-fi.com/healthyhouseplants
My Organic Green Gourmet Houseplant Fertilizer: Healthy Houseplants Store
My Perfect Pumice: Healthy Houseplants Store
My Healthy Houseplants Store: All Products
_______________________________________________
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I may earn commissions for purchases made through the links below.
Moisture meter: https://amzn.to/3TEUu5N
Moisture meter (extra long): https://amzn.to/3NZZnEh
