Seed-Grown Avocado

This is a seed-grown Persea americana. A seed from a Hass fruit produces a genetically individual tree; it does not reproduce the named Hass cultivar. Enjoy its foliage and growth without planning on a particular harvest. [1]

Place the tree near a bright window where the whole canopy receives light. A healthy established plant can spend warm weather outside in a sheltered, dappled position; introduce the change gradually. [3]

Keep the root ball moist without saturating it continuously. Check the mix below the surface and water when it is beginning to dry, rather than allowing the whole pot to become hard and dry. [2]

Wet the root ball evenly and discard runoff. A large leaf canopy and a small pot may need more frequent checks, but cold or reduced light slows water use. [5]

Use a free-draining, soil-based container compost with an open structure. Give roots drainage holes and increase container size gradually rather than surrounding a small seedling with a large volume of wet mix. [3]

Keep this tender indoor tree above 55°F (13°C) in a bright room. Protect it from cold glass and chilly outdoor nights; a seedling’s cold tolerance cannot be inferred from its parent fruit. [2]

Humid air helps the foliage. In a very dry room, use a maintained humidifier while allowing air circulation around the canopy. [6]

During active spring and summer growth, use a dilute complete houseplant fertilizer according to its label. Follow the plant’s growth and reduce feeding during a dim, slow-growing winter. [7]

Pinch the growing tip of a vigorous young seedling to encourage branching. Thereafter, shorten selected long shoots during active growth while retaining enough leaves to support recovery. [3]

Wilt: check the root ball before watering. Dry mix needs careful rewetting; wet mix with persistent wilt needs drainage and root assessment. Adding fertilizer is not a remedy for injured roots. [1]

Brown tips or edges: review drying episodes, recent cold and fertilizer concentration. Inspect for fine webbing or other pests before treating; isolate an infested plant and identify the cause. [10][5]

Keep the best available indoor light through the darker season and reduce watering frequency as the pot dries more slowly. Move outdoor summer plants under protection before nights cool; outdoor winter hardiness is not assumed. [2]

A grafted named avocado combines a known fruiting scion with rootstock. This seed-grown tree has its own traits. Houseplant conditions seldom produce flowers or fruit, even when leafy growth is attractive. [1][3]