I’ve propagated sooo many avocados from seeds, and they always start off great, I leave them in water until they have a decent looking root system and a few leaves, then transfer them to soil:
• Soil mix is about 50% potting mix and 50% succulent mix.
• Pots always have drainage holes.
• They’re indoors, near bright light.
But every time, the same thing happens: they look healthy for a while, put out some nice growth, and then the leaves start browning and dropping faster than new ones come in. Eventually I’m left with a bare stalk that’s not quite dead but definitely not thriving either (imagine the one on the right in pic 2, but with zero leaves, just a tall green stalk).
Would appreciate any advice 🙂
by nolanc_
9 Comments
That happens pretty often when plant is propagated in water and then moved into soil. Stress from transplanting is too much for them to handle. In my opinion best way is to start them in soil in first place, skipping unnecessary water part completely.
Based on the pic of potted ones: they need light.
Try starting them directly in soil. It’s slower and maybe a bit more work in the beginning, but usually gives much healthier plants long term.
Bury it so 1/3 of the seed is in the soil and put a bag/ plastic cup/ glass or whatever over it to keep the moisture level up until it sprouts.
An avocado plant is a tree. Trees need an abundance of sunlight to thrive.
OP refuses to give proper lighting 🙁
(get some grow lights)
What you’re showing us here is not bright light. If you want to grow avocados indoors, you’re going to need supplemental lighting.
Can’t seem to edit my post but wanted to add that after the first few fails, I started putting them in different places, windows facing different directions, including outside but not in totally unshaded areas because trust that the Australian summer will burn the leaves to a crisp—you make that mistake only once lol
I’ve only done one but I buried the seed almost to the top and then chopped it all the way back and now it’s outside thriving. Not sure why that person got down voted for mentioning pruning?
Thanks guys, I think the general consensus is: start in soil straight away + more light