The avocado is becoming increasingly popular in this country if it weren't for its ecological footprint. The fruit is undoubtedly healthy, but does that justify long transport routes? Why not just grow the plant yourself? We have helpful tips for caring for your avocado.

In a nutshell

  • Cultivation in the home garden is not easy, but possible with restrictions
  • under certain circumstances also fruiting
  • Due to the lack of winter hardiness, it can only be cultivated in tubs
  • Optimal site conditions, water and nutrient supply are essential
  • Fruit formation in plants grown from seeds rather rare in contrast to grafted ones

Growing an avocado plant

Before the care comes the cultivation of the avocado plant from the core. It is removed from the fruit, cleaned and then placed directly in the ground, germinated in a glass of water or on kitchen paper. It can take several weeks to months until germination or until the core breaks open. The germination temperature should be at least 25°C. It is important to keep the soil evenly moist and to change the water in the water glass regularly. Seeds that will germinate in the jar or kitchen paper can be planted once they have established roots.

Tip: It is advisable to sterilize the substrate used before planting, for example in the oven.

location & soil

Due to the climatic conditions, the avocado in our latitudes usually only grows as a bush. It needs a permanently bright and warm place without drafts all year round. They should not be exposed to the blazing midday sun, especially young plants. They should generally be kept in a light-flooded room indoors all year round. Older specimens should be outdoors in spring and summer, if possible. At night it should not be colder than five degrees and sufficiently warm again during the day. In addition to heat and brightness, humidity also plays an important role. It must be high according to their tropical origin.

Tip: If the location is too dark, so-called horny growth often occurs. The plant shoots up and forms long, weak shoots.

The avocado loves loose, well-drained, nutritious and humus-rich substrates that are not too salty. A mixture of high-quality potting soil and sand in equal parts and a low pH value are well suited. For best results, this should be between five and seven. If it is higher, it makes it more difficult to absorb nutrients such as zinc and iron. This in turn would inhibit plant growth. The pH value can be lowered by mixing in organic materials such as special compost made from acid-forming plant materials, coniferous soil or mulch made from coniferous wood and oak leaves.

Tip: Above all, the bucket for the avocado should be deep, because the plant forms deep taproots.

Optimal care

There are several factors involved in optimally caring for your avocado.

pour

This plant needs plenty of water, but you shouldn't overwater it. It tolerates permanently moist soil just as little as drought. Water regularly from April to September. The warmer the plant is, the more water it needs. It is usually sufficient to water once a week, at best with low-lime water. Otherwise there is a risk of chlorosis due to iron deficiency.

Notice: In order to create optimal conditions, the plant is regularly sprayed with low-lime water. It can also make sense to set up additional air humidifiers in the room in question.

Fertilize

The supply of nutrients is an important part of care, because this requires a sure instinct. Fertilizer should be used very sparingly and not too early.

  • do not fertilize very young plants at all
  • excessive fertilizers could burn them
  • fertilize for the first time after a year at the earliest
  • for example with fertilizers for citrus and Mediterranean plants
  • water immediately after fertilization
  • Fertilizer should penetrate deep into the soil
  • Avocado plants are very sensitive to salt deposits

Wilted leaves with brown tips can be an indication that the soil is too saline. If this is the case, the pouring behavior must be adjusted. The soil is soaked with water once a week, which flushes the salt deposits under the roots and sometimes out of the tub.

wintering

These plants do not like cold wind and abrupt temperature drops, nor snow and frost, they are not winter-hardy. It becomes critical even at temperatures of around five degrees.

  • Bring plants into the house on time
  • as long as it's outside in the summer
  • If possible, avoid excessive temperature differences when changing
  • therefore get in at slightly milder temperatures
  • Overwinter in a bright, constantly warm room
  • ensure that the air humidity is sufficiently high during the winter
  • pouring is only moderate, depending on the room temperature
  • also significantly reduce fertilizer application
  • no additional fertilizer necessary in cooler locations

Cut at the end of winter

requirements

  • Avocado must be at least three months old
  • and have developed sufficient roots
  • The main shoot must have clearly exceeded the growth height of 30 cm
  • each shoot to be cut has at least four leaves
  • Before cutting, observe the law of growth for peak promotion
  • no more height growth after cutting off the skin shoot
  • The result is a massive accumulation of juice below the interface
  • hitherto passive eyes are dying out

stimulate branching

The avocado grows as the only unbranched shoot, as long as you do not interfere with the growth by cutting. As a rule, however, a branched, shrubby growth is desired, also for optical reasons. If there is already a branch, a corresponding cut can reinforce it.

  • Cut off the main shoot above the fourth leaf
  • calculated from the root neck
  • Shorten existing side shoots up to the fourth leaf
  • Cut new shoots repeatedly for strong branching
  • Plant remains bushy and manageable in size
  • the more tips are shortened, the more side shoots will follow
  • apply liquid fertilizer after cutting
  • regularly cut out wild shoots on grafted plants
  • they sprout below the grafting point
  • remove valuable nutrients from the precious part

Tip: If there are leafless shoots on the plant, you can cut them off just above a dormant eye and try to get these eyes to sprout again.

repot

After the hibernation, it is also the right time to repot the vigorous avocado. Once these plants are thriving and past the difficult initial phase, annual repotting is recommended. At the latest when the pot is completely rooted, the right time has come.

  • to do this, carefully remove the plant from the old pot
  • to do this, grab the bottom of the trunk
  • loosen old remains of earth from the bale
  • equip a new, slightly larger pot with drainage
  • some fresh earth on top
  • Plant in the middle
  • just as deep as in the old pot
  • fill up with soil
  • Close cavities in the root area by shaking several times
  • Press and water the substrate
Once the avocado has fully rooted its pot, it's time to repot it.

Diseases & Pests

With optimal conditions and good care, diseases on the avocado are hardly to be feared. However, overwatering can lead to root rot. The first signs are yellow, wilting leaves. In this case, the plant should be repotted in dry substrate as soon as possible and not watered for the time being. Rotten and damaged root parts are removed. If you do nothing, the plant will probably die.

snails

As long as the plant is outdoors, snails may infest it. As a rule, however, this is only to be feared in cool and damp weather. They tend to tamper with plants early in the morning and after dark. Then is the best time to collect the animals. Otherwise, there are various home remedies to combat or expel them.

scale insects and spider mites

Scale insects or spider mites can mainly appear during the winter when it is too warm and the air is too dry. The lice can be recognized by small brown labels and spider mites by fine white webs. Spraying with preparations containing rapeseed oil can be used to combat both types. The use of beneficial insects can also be helpful. In addition, the conditions and care should be optimized, because repeated infestations can severely weaken the avocado.

frequently asked Questions

Can self-grown plants produce fruit?

Plants grown from seeds rarely bear fruit, which is mainly due to the complicated pollination. If you only want to buy a plant because of the fruit, you should get a grafted one from a specialist dealer and get advice there.

Why does the avocado get brown leaves?

Brown leaves can be the result of too little or too much water, too much or too little fertilizer, the wrong fertilizer or substrate, or a container that is too small. It is all the more important to pay attention to needs-based care.

Are avocados toxic to pets?

The plant and fruit are highly toxic to pets such as cats and dogs. If there are animals in the household, it is better to avoid such plants.

Category:

Garden plants