Q&A for How to Plant an Avocado Tree

Avocado trees cannot self-pollinate. If you want to grow fruit, you will need two different types of trees planted together. A rule of thumb for spacing avocado tree is 20 feet between each tree.

It will help the tree if you cut the stem below the top two leaves. This will help your tree branch out.

It depends on the variety, but it can be anywhere from 4.5 meters (about 15 feet) to 12 meters (about 40 feet). There are also dwarf avocado trees that generally range from 1-1.5 meters (4-5 feet) tall.

If the leaves turn brown at the tips, the tree needs more water. If the leaves turn yellow, the tree is getting too much water and needs to be permitted to dry out for a day or two.

It is best to not use any bone meal or fertilizer when you first plant your tree. It's better to wait a year and then add some well rotted manure and organic matter such as compost. Some fertilizers are too strong for young roots on newly established trees and can actually burn them and do more harm than good.

Full sun, however if you live in an area where temperatures go above 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius), it can get sunburnt. Try to offset this by planting somewhere that has afternoon shade.

Yes. That should be perfect. Avocados like hot, humid climates, so it should thrive in a greenhouse.

The flat side of the seed, or the side that has a small, discolored circle. This circle indicates where the roots will come from.

Yes, but if you're in a climate where an avocado tree will grow well just on its own, then it's not worth the effort, just stick it in the ground. It won't have as high a germination rate, but just plant a bunch, and cull the ones you don't like later.

Provided your ceiling is probably high enough and you have enough space for such a tall plant, you can keep it as long as you like.

You technically can, but the trees will be moderately damaged between 28 and 32 degrees Fahrenheit, and Michigan winters can be much colder than that.

The actual planting process is quick (less than a week), but an avocado tree can take up to 3-4 years to produce fruit.

Transplant when the root system has filled up all the available space in its pot. It's pretty easy to tell, just stick a pencil in the soil, and if you feel/hear a lot of roots snapping, it's probably time. The height of the plant is also an indication - when it's more than the container, it's well and truly time to transplant.

Avocado trees thrive in hot, humid, sunny conditions. Winter may cause damage at or below 30 degrees F. Plan ahead to avoid damage due to frost.

While it is likely too late, you can try to save the seed. Soak the seed in water overnight and try planting it as you normally would. If you see nothing after 3 months, it is time to try again.

Yes, but eventually you will have to move the tree into the ground or it will outgrow the pot.

Sometimes the stem will grow 6 to 8 inches before you see any leaves.

The best start would be to grow it inside in water. This way, it is easy to start with three or four plants because there is a relatively big chance that one or more plants will die in the earlier stages. After a few months, when your successful plant is high enough (2 or 3 feet), you could put it outside. Make sure that it stays hydrated.

Light is needed. The green is how the plant produces food for itself. It could also be the plant has some problem. If light doesn't turn it green, it probably won't survive.

You should not be inserting the toothpicks through the avocado seed but into it about ⅜". It probably would not be viable if you rammed toothpicks all the way through it.

Do not blend them. Do rocks on the bottom, then coir on top of the rocks, finishing with top soil on top of the coir.

It can take up to 5-7 years before you see any kind of produce, although some varieties may vary.

It can, you just need to keep it indoors by a window with sun.

Once the avocado plant grows over six inches, you should trim it or move it outdoors. There is no limit to how tall the tree can get in a planter, but the planter may soon become too small.

No, if you place it in water it will germinate anyway and roots will grow downwards.

You should not keep it indoors all year round, especially if it is already in a pot. Avocado trees need lots of sunlight, so it's best if you grow them outdoors.

Plant them 20 feet apart in full sunlight.

Your tree has a infection, causing it to mold and decay. Add more fertilizer and water to help it grow better. The white spots won't disappear, but they shouldn't keep growing.

Avocado trees usually take about 5 years to begin bearing fruit, so just continue to care for it and be patient.

About 1-2 tablespoons a week, depending on the humidity of your home and the size of the seedling.