How to Grow An Avocado Tree From Seed
The next time you make guacamole or avocado toast, save your avocado pit and grow your own avocado tree! I love finding ways to reduce food waste, and this a fun way to witness each phase of a new tree’s growth. And you get a free houseplant out of it! Avocado trees have beautiful foliage and are easy to care for.
There are several methods you can use to grow an avo tree from the seed. I’ve experimented with a few different methods but have found this way is most simple and effective. All you need to start is a fresh avocado pit, paper towels, and a glass jar with a lid.
How to Grow Your Own Avocado Tree From A Saved Pit
Germinating Your Seed Pit
Remove the pit from the avocado and rinse it well to remove any green flesh.
Optional: Soak in warm water for a few minutes until it’s easy to peel of the outer brown layer of the pit. Once this layer is peeled off, you will have a white or tan colored pit.
The pit does not need to be peeled in order to successfully root, so you can skip Step #2 if you prefer. Many times if left on, the pit will naturally peel off a bit as the seed germinates and splits. If you have two pits, try both ways and take note of any differences in growth to decide which way you prefer!
Prepare a glass jar with a lid. Always reuse a jar you have before buying a new one. Save a jar from your jam, salsa, or pasta for this! If you don’t have a lid, you could easily make one out of aluminum foil.
Scrunch up a damp paper towel and place it in the bottom of the jar. The paper towel should be moist but not saturated.
Less is more! Cut one square of regular size paper towel in half and use half for this step and the other half for step #6.
Place the avocado pit into the jar. Make sure the bottom of the pit is at the bottom of the jar. The bottom of the pit is the flatter end, while the top has a slightly pointy shape.
Take another paper towel and lay it gently around the pit, so that the pit is completely surrounded. Make sure the paper towels are not placed too tightly around the pit so that the roots have room to grow.
Put the lid on the jar and place it in a sunny windowsill or brightly lit area. The damp towels and sunshine create a warm environment for your avo tree’s roots to grow.
Observe and Support Tree Growth
As the avocado pit germinates, it will sprout roots from the bottom and a stem from the top. You’ll notice a crack in the seed develop from the bottom to the top as it sprouts. Be gentle with the seed and never try to pry it open or let the roots dry out, as this will cause the tree to die.
In about a month, check the jar to see if the pit has any root development. If you don’t notice any changes, make sure the paper towels in the jar are still moist, and give it a little more time!
When you notice developed roots, it is time to transfer the developing tree to a larger jar of water so the roots have more room to grow and lengthen. Sometimes at this stage you may even notice roots plus leaves coming from the top. That’s a great sign!
Find a glass jar with a narrow mouth so the avocado pit can rest above the mouth of the jar without falling into the water. Fill your jar with water then gently put the roots into the jar. The pit should rest on the top of the jar and not be totally submerged.
Glass beverage jars work well for this. If you can’t find an old jar to reuse, try asking neighbors for one in your local Buy Nothing group or look at your local thrift store. I have found several narrow mouth vessels at the thrift store for 50 cents or less, and I always recommend buying secondhand before buying new. Or treat yourself to your favorite kombucha and save the jar!
Planting Your Tree in Soil
When the avocado tree sprout is about 6-12 inches tall with an established root system, it’s time to plant in soil.
Avocados require well-draining soil and a pot with drainage holes. Try using a cactus/succulent potting mix or create your own sandy soil mixture with potting mix and sand or limestone. Leave half of the avocado pit above the soil line when planting.
Water immediatly after planting into the soil and keep a close eye on your newly transplanted tree over the next few weeks. Newly planted trees may require watering more frequently as they adjust to their new environment.
Can You Keep Avocado Trees in Water Indefinitely?
Yes! If you like to watch your avocado grow in water, you can keep it indefinitely in water. There’s no need to plant it in soil, unless you want to. However, there are a few maintenance tips to keep your hydroponic avocado plant healthy.
Change the water regularly, at least once a week, to prevent algae growth and oxygenate the plant.
Because there are no nutrients in tap water to help your plant grow, you should occasionally add a liquid fertilizer to provide necessary nutrients. Use an organic, plant based ferilizer, as chemical fertilizers can burn the roots and kill the plant.
Glory's windowsill garden with two hydroponic avo trees
Best Growing Conditions for Indoor Avocado Trees
Light
Avocado trees love sun! They are native to subtropical and tropical regions of Central and South America where they receive strong sunlight. In the US, 90% of avocados are grown in sunny California. Keep your tree in a spot that gets at least 6 hours of direct sun daily to keep it happy and healthy.
Water
Avocados do not like soggy soil. Water once a week or as soon as the leaves show signs of wilting and allow the soil to dry between waterings. Make sure the tree is planted in a pot with drainage holes with well draining soil.
Fertilizer
Avocado trees only need a general all-purpose fertilizer every couple of months. Do not fertilize too frequently or heavily, and don’t fertilize in winter months when the tree is more dormant.
Pruning
The tree should be trimmed when the plant is about 12 inches tall. Cut the stem of the tree right above a node, removing about 6 inches. This encourages lateral growth and allows the tree to develop a bushier appearance. As the tree continues to grow taller, pinch off new growth throughout the summer to force new branches and leaves to form while controlling its size.
After pruning this tree for the first time, it sprouted new branches and many new leaves!
Will the Avocado Tree Produce Fruit?
Avocado trees grown from seed typically take between 5-13 years before they are mature enough to produce fruit. Sometimes they will never produce fruit.
Commercial avocados like you find in the store are grown from carefully grafted trees, not trees grown from seeds, so if your tree does one day bear fruit, it probably won’t look like the avocados you are used to.
By Glory Forrest