Avocados are one of the wholesome and most delicious fruits we can enjoy. They grow in the shape of a heart and are so adorable. Most people purchase avocados in grocery stores. Little did they know that they could be grown indoors too!
Yes, you read that right. And if you want to learn how to grow avocado indoors, save this post because it will teach you the step-by-step process of how to do it.
Before you learn how to grow avocado indoors, learn more about this fruit!
Avocado, with a botanical name of Persea americana, is a broadleaf evergreen fruit-bearing tree. It belongs to the family of Lauraceae together with bay laurels.
This greenish-yellow plant is native to Mexico, and it’s considered a seasonal bloomer. Another great thing about this fruit is it’s packed with nutrients your body needs.
If you want the following nutrients, avocado is a great choice.
- Fiber
- Vitamin B
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin K
- Potassium
- Folate
- Carotenoids
- Magnesium
- Monounsaturated fats
Eating avocados can also benefit your health in different ways.
- Avocados are good for your heart because it’s cholesterol-free.
- It’s low in carbohydrates but a rich source of fiber, perfect for preventing Type 2 diabetes.
- Avocados, as mentioned above, have carotenoids. Carotenoids are fat soluble and present in your eyes, protecting them from ultraviolet damage. Eating avocados can help you prevent cataracts and macular degeneration.
- Lastly, avocados have prebiotics. These are the food of the good bacteria living in your intestines and essential in chronic disease prevention.
How to grow avocado indoors?
There are two ways how to grow avocados indoors, and we’ll explore both of them.
1. How to grow avocado indoors in soil?
Growing avocado in the soil is easy, but the only drawback is that you cannot witness its roots emerge. But if you prefer this method, here’s how to do it.
- You need an extracted seed from the avocado fruit.
- You can purchase one on the market, eat its flesh, and remove the seed carefully.
- Ensure that you don’t hurt or damage the seed because it’s sensitive.
- Wash the avocado seed.
- Prepare your potting soil with a pH of 6 to 6.5 and ensure that your pot has draining holes.
- You can use a succulent or cactus indoor potting mix, which is fertile, loose, and quick draining. This is what avocados are like.
- Moisten the soil but not too drenched.
- Determine the top and bottom of your seed.
- The top is the pointed end, while the bottom is the flatter one.
- When planting it in the soil, bury the bottom part (the flatter one). This is where the roots will develop.
- Slightly press the seed in the soil so only half of it can be seen.
- Place the pot in a spot with a temperature of 65 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Avocados love bright and indirect light, and make sure they’re exposed to it for at least 6 hours.
- Keep the soil moist and continue watering until the seed sprouts.
- Typically, you must wait 6 to 8 weeks before it sprouts.
- Once it’s sprouted, the next thing you need to do is to care for it, which we’ll talk more about later.
2. How to grow avocado indoors in water?
Here’s the second method on how to grow avocados indoors. Many growers prefer this method because they can easily see the roots. We also recommend this because it’s more fun and beginner-friendly.
Here’s what you need to do.
- Wash your avocado seed and remove any flesh on its skin.
- Again, do not hurt or damage the pit.
- Determine the upper and lower part. The top is the pointed one, while the bottom is the flat one. The flatter end is the one you need to put in the water.
- Get four toothpicks and insert them into the circumference of the seed.
- Ensure that they’re inserted evenly because it will hold your avocado pit so only half of it will be submerged in the water.
- Choose a clear glass to monitor your avocado’s root end.
- Put the seed on top of the clear glass.
- Put the clear glass with your seed in a warm spot that gets indirect sunlight for at least 6 hours.
- Change the water when it becomes murky or every after five days. It’s a must to prevent bacteria and mold growth.
- You’ll see that the seed will crack once the roots have sprouted.
- Once the roots have developed, it’s time to transplant them into the soil.
- Get a pot with drainage holes and fill it with an indoor potting mix.
- Spread the root of our avocado in the soil and carefully pack the pit with soil around it.
- You can leave the top half of your seed above the soil line.
How to care for your avocado indoors?
You need to know some growing conditions when growing avocados indoors in terms of light, temperature, humidity, watering, fertilizing, and pruning.
Light
Placing your avocado tree in a west or south-facing window with 6 hours of indirect sunlight is the best.
Temperature and Humidity
Avocados thrive with temperatures between 60 to 85 degrees and love environments with high humidity. If indoor air is dry, use a humidifier or place your avocado on a tray with water and pebbles.
Water
You should not let the soil of your avocado be soggy. They like high humidity, but they only prefer moist soil. If the soil and leaves look dry, it’s time to water it.
Fertilizer
You can feed your avocado with a general-purpose fertilizer. However, do this every couple of months and avoid feeding your plant heavily and frequently.
Pruning
Pruning is an important process if you want to keep your plant strong. You can trim the top of your avocado, including the leaves found above the node. Make sure to prune it once it reaches 12 feet tall.
Have fun with your avocado indoors!
Learning how to grow avocado indoors doesn’t have to be hard for beginners. If you follow the abovementioned steps, you’ll surely make your way to a healthy avocado. If you’re a beginner, we recommend trying the second method, which is the one with water. You’ll enjoy the process and see improvement in your plant.
So, whenever you’re ready to grow your avocado indoors, don’t hesitate and save this post!