How Best to Plant My Little Avocado Sapling?

[swampfox440]

Here is a nice video that explains how to get started. It is quite simple:

I did a bit of research and found an entire host of videos on caring for avocado plants! I suppose one can make it as complicated as they wish to:

How to grow avocados - long video:

How to water an avocado plant:

Root rot information:

Saving a tree from root rot:

What soil to use?:

How to plant an avocado sapling in soil:

Another one:

How to make a soil mixture for avocado plants:

How to prune an avocado plant:

How to get them used to sunlight:

How to graft them:

Life cycle of an avocado tree:

x10

 

[orloffer]

I bought some avocados! I'll see how this works. Sorry for sidetracking your thread, Orloffer.

It's great that you're going to try growing one! And don't worry, you're not sidetracking the thread. This is now a general avocado plant thread, since I already ended up planting the sapling.

I started another one yesterday, so I have four in total now: the one I planted and put outside, a smaller one that is about 5 inches tall, and two pits I put in water quite recently. Avocado pits can take quite a long time to "hatch," so I will have to be patient.

 

[orloffer]

Ok! Thanks. This will be fun. How long do they take to "hatch"? I haven't watched the videos yet.

Hmm...I can't give an exact number, as it seems to vary quite a bit. The one I put in water about 5 days ago(?) is just starting to break in half on the underside, and it will probably take a month (at the very least) before it starts to sprout.
I had a very slow-growing one that took many months, though. I wasn't sure if it would ever sprout, and I kind of gave up on it and the jar grew some algae in it. Then I decided to give it another chance in a new container by the kitchen window, and to my delight it began growing again. The roots still aren't in great shape (because of the algae, I presume), but hopefully when it is time to plant it, it will recover alright.

The pit cracks along the underside first, and then sends down a few roots. As the center continues to develop, the pit splits further until it is pretty much in two halves. At that point it sends up a shoot, which soon grows a tiny leaf....and then another....and another as it gets taller.

 

[orloffer]

How does this look? I did 3.
I just got these in a bin at Wal-Mart, do they have to be organic?
I peeled the skin off, the videos said to. View attachment 2364959

How does this look? I did 3.
I just got these in a bin at Wal-Mart, do they have to be organic?
I peeled the skin off, the videos said to. View attachment 2364959

Nice, that's a great set-up! I don't think they have to be organic, though I am not 100% sure. I don't recall whether my original plants were or were not.
I would recommend removing a bit of water so that it is only covers half of the pit, as you don't want it to be too submerged. Also if you want to, you could move the toothpicks down closer to the "equator" of the pit so that when it "hatches" it will be better supported. (I apologize for all the quoted words. My avocado terminology is not very scientific.)

 

[orloffer]

I have had toothpicks break off too. It shouldn't be a problem.

 

[orloffer]

Ok. I fixed them. I sat them on the sunny windowsill ledge. I think it should be a good place for them.

That's great!

 

[MGG]

My avocado is doing great!!! Look!

My other 2 don't seem as good. But this one seems to be doing well! It's 2 weeks old.

 

[orloffer]

My avocado is doing great!!! Look! View attachment 2389311View attachment 2389314
View attachment 2389312View attachment 2389313
My other 2 don't seem as good. But this one seems to be doing well! It's 2 weeks old.

It's looking great! Hopefully the other two will start growing after a while. A few of mine don't seem very good either.

 

[orloffer]

Thanks! I'm excited about it. It's given me something fun to do. Fingers crossed for the other two.
I was nervous for the first (pictured) one for a while because my brother somehow kicked the cup, and spilled all of the water, and never said anything. I discovered it the next day. So, I'm glad it's bounced back. I feel like I should name it, lol!
Do you have any pics of yours? It would be neat to compare.
My avocado pits are all from Mexico. I forget what brand.

I will try to take a picture later today.

 

[orloffer]

Here is a picture!