How to Grow and Care for an Avocado Plant Indoors
| Common Name | Avocado |
|---|---|
| Mature Size | 30 to 60 ft. in the landscape; potted plants can be pruned to remain small |
| Sun Exposure | Full sun |
| Soil Type | General-purpose potting soil |
| Soil pH | 6.0 to 6.5, tolerates acidic or alkaline soil |
How long does it take for an indoor avocado tree to bear fruit?
ten years
Do not expect fruit when growing avocados in containers. Indoor plants need cool nights to force blooming and fruiting. They can also take up to ten years to get to fruiting stage. If you do get fruit, the flavor is not as good as those commercially produce from rootstocks.
Is it possible to grow an avocado tree indoors?
Avocado trees (Persea americana) are grown indoors in all USDA growing zones, making great houseplants, whether or not they bear fruit. They can be started from seed, or juvenile trees can be purchased from a retailer.
How tall will my avocado tree grow?
Typically, avocado trees can grow from anywhere between 50-70ft (15-21m) provided they are getting appropriate care. They have been known to grow upwards of 80ft in rare circumstances. However, their height can be smaller when grown in containers.
How often should I water an indoor avocado plant?
Water your tree once per week or when the soil feels dry. The humidity level should stay low. Food is only necessary during the growing season, but feeding your tree once per week will not hurt it.
Can you keep an avocado tree small?
With a small number of cuts done every year, and possibly some pinches, you can keep an avocado tree down to 15 feet (my Hass), 12 feet (my Reed), even 10 feet.
Will a single avocado tree produce fruit?
It is possible for an avocado tree to produce 200 to 300 fruit per tree once it is about 5-7 years of age. The avocado tree, however, alternates bearing. This means that the tree may produce a large crop one year, and then produce a small crop the following year.
How do you care for an indoor avocado tree?
Avocado Houseplant Care
Keep the plant soil consistently moist but not over watered. Overwatering will cause the leaves to curl and the stem to soften– not a desirable trait. Don’t under water the avocado either or the foliage will wilt, dry and drop. Your avocado, as with most houseplants, will need to be fed.
Can you cut the top off an avocado tree?
Snip the top of the avocado tree off when it reaches approximately 12 inches in height, cutting the tree back to 6 inches. Allow the tree to regain its original height then repeat the trimming. This pruning will encourage lateral branches to develop.
How do you prune an avocado tree to keep it small?
General avocado pruning principles are:
- Prune horizontal branches developing low to the ground, as these interfere with tree access.
- Push light into the tree interior, by cutting “windows” in the canopy.
- Trees grown on slopes should be pruned to a lower height than trees on flat land.
Can avocado trees grow in pots?
Preparing the Pot
Avocado trees have a relatively shallow root system. If fully saturated for more than two days, the roots will rot and the plant will die. Loose, sandy, fertile soil that provides excellent drainage is essential. Choose a light potting soil, like a mix for cactuses, from your garden center.
How old is a 2 foot avocado tree?
2-3 Year Old
The 2-3 Year Old Hass Avocado Tree will arrive at about 2 feet tall. This tree is self-fertile (type A), so you only need one tree to produce Avocados! The tree produces fruit with a pebbly, dark green skin.
Do you need 2 avocado trees to produce fruit?
Pollination
Avocado Trees are self-fertile, so you don’t have to have another tree for fruit.
When should you repot an avocado tree?
More roots than soil means it’s time to repot. The best time of the year to start repotting an avocado is the springtime. Do the root check in spring, then be prepared to move the plant to a new home, if necessary. Humans might like moving from a small studio to a big mansion in one fell swoop.
How long do avocado trees live?
Avocado trees will also bear fruit for their whole lives. That said, their crops will begin to diminish as the tree gets older. Avocado trees can live for 200–400 years, but they may not bear much fruit worth harvesting by the end of their lifespan.
Should I cut my avocado plant in half?
But, Frank writes, after cutting it down to half-size “if you very gently split the stem, making a cut about 2 to 4 inches, your avocado will adopt a totally new character. At first the stem browns and withers, but eventually two branches will sprout, either at the base of the split or at the top of the two ends.
Do dwarf avocado trees bear fruit?
The Wurtz avocado tree, sometimes referred to as Little Cado, is the only true dwarf variety of avocado and will consistently produce good fruit from May to September. Compared to other avocado trees, which can grow up to 80 feet, a Wurtz avocado tree grows to about 10 feet.
How tall do dwarf avocado trees grow?
The average height of a dwarf avocado tree can be between 2 to 3 meters or between 4 to 8 feet when grown in a pot and still produce normal sized fruits. The tree can also grow larger than this in some cases when planted in the ground.
How do I know if my avocado tree is type A or B?
Type A avocados bloom with their female reproductive parts available first, and do so in the morning. Type B avocado flowers also open in the morning, but in their male phase. Then, each of them pull a switcheroo – and the flowers open as the opposite sex the following day in the afternoon.
Do I need a male and female avocado tree?
In general, on a single tree all the open flowers will be synchronised. That means they will be all functionally male or all functionally female. The avocado pollen of one tree is compatible with itself and quite capable of pollinating its own flowers — known as self-pollination.
Should I cut the dead leaves off my avocado tree?
A. A plant cannot restore leaves that have gotten withered and dry, so it is best to cut them off; they do not contribute to the appearence or the growth of the plant.
Lorraine Wade is all about natural food. She loves to cook and bake, and she’s always experimenting with new recipes. Her friends and family are the lucky beneficiaries of her culinary skills! Lorraine also enjoys hiking and exploring nature. She’s a friendly person who loves to chat with others, and she’s always looking for ways to help out in her community.