Basic Garden Tips

Growing Avocado as a House plant

If you are an avocado fan you might want to grow this beautiful plant in your home. No, you will not get avocado you can eat but you will have a real conversation piece.

The avocado tree is a tropical plant that thrives only in zones 9, 10, and 11. And, unfortunately, it takes a tree up to ten years to bear fruit. Since we are going to grow indoors, it is unlikely your tree will live that long...tho possible. You would, of course need to make a hole in your roof for the tree unless you have 15-20 foot ceilings. The whole point here is your objective needs to be a beautiful indoor plant, not avocados.

Avocado plants are typically started from the seed in the center of the fruit which you can buy at the market. Simply pierce the seed with toothpicks around the middle of the seed and then suspend it (pointed end up) over a glass or jar of water. planting avocado seed image

In two to six weeks, you should have a young avocado plant, ready to pot. However, not all avocado seeds will germinate. If your seed has not sprouted in six weeks, start over with a new seed and try again.

Another method to start an avocado plant is to leave the seed in the sunlight until it begins to split and then potting it in soil partly exposed. Use a four or five-inch pot to start your plant and set it in a nutrient rich potting soil that has good drainage. After your plant is about a foot tall, pinch it back to half. Pinching it back produces a rounder and fuller plant. Once your plant has filled it's pot with roots, it is time to move it to a larger pot.

Take care not to over-water your plant. Most indoor plants die from too much water. Before watering, poke your finger into the soil about 2-3 inches (don't disturb roots). If it is dry, add water. If still moist, do not water.

With a little care and attention you can have a beautiful indoor plant that is unique and will last three to five years.

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