If you love avocados (and who doesn't?!), you've no doubt tried planting an avocado pit at one point or another in your life. Although that method of planting will give you a tree, it will not give you the actual avocado fruit. And is there a point in growing the tree without the delicious fruit? We think not! Learn how to propagate avocado from cuttings the RIGHT way and grow your own avocado tree once and for all!
How to Propagate Avocado From Cuttings
Avocados can be propagated by planting seeds, rooting avocado cuttings, layering and grafting. Propagating avocados from cuttings is truly the best and most certain way for your tree to actually fruit. Keep in mind though that it will take some time for your avocado tree to start bearing fruit…about 6-7 years!
Propagating:
- Take a cutting from an existing tree in early spring.
- Try to find a new shoot with leaves that are not fully opened.
- Cut 5-6 inches from the tip of the stem on the diagonal.
- Remove the leaves from the bottom one third of the stem.
- Now scrap two opposing 1/4-1/2 inch strips of skin off the base of the stem or you can also make two small cuts on either side.
- This method is called “wounding” and it will increase the chances of rooting.
- Dip the wounded cutting into IBA (indole butryic acid). This will stimulate growth.
- In a small pot, mix equal parts peat moss with perlite.
- Put the bottom one third of the cutting into the potting soil and tamp down around the base of the stem.
- Water your cutting.
- Now you can cover the pot loosely with plastic to increase humidity.
- You can also just keep the cutting moist by watering regularly.
- Keep the cutting indoors and in a sunny area.
- Transplant into a larger pot or directly outdoors if you live in USDA zone 4 or 5.
- Place your avocado tree in well draining soil and full sun.
- Fertilize indoor avocados every 3 weeks and outdoor trees every month for the first year.
- After that, fertilize four times a year and water only once soil feels dry.
So now that you know how to propagate avocado from cuttings, it's time to roll up your sleeves and get to planting!
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