Avocado

Avocado is an exotic evergreen. Many lovers of floriculture I know that is not easy to grow an avocado at home, and especially to wait for the harvest. Its unique taste the fruits could please not one grower. But, unfortunately, the avocado fruit at home is the exception rather the rule. Although not always it put a bone orange or persimmon, hoping for a quick result. Can not wait for one year, to hope and to enjoy its fruit Bush or tree.

With a strong desire to put the pit in the avocado and to patiently perform all the necessary rules for the cultivation and care. And suddenly, your dream will come true and you will wait at home harvest?

1
How to grow avocados from seeds.

2
Avocados – grow and care at home

2.1
Location and lighting

2.2
Temperature

2.3
Rules of watering

2.4
Humidity

2.5
Feeding and fertilizer

2.6
Transplanting avocado

2.7
Pruning

3
Disease, pests and other problems

How to grow avocados from seeds.

For growing unusual plants overseas will definitely need ripe avocados. Only the bones of this fetus have a greater chance of germination. This process can be done in two ways:

• The first method (closed) plain and simple. The pit in the avocado to stick to the wide bottom side ground at a shallow depth (approximately 2 centimeters). While creating favorable conditions to germinate it needs about 30 days.
• The second method (open) is interesting and one might even say, exotic.

Bone before planting, the soil need to germinate in water in a suspended position. First, it needs a good wash and clean. Then about the middle of the bone along the line of the circle should be carefully drill three or four holes then you need to insert thin wooden sticks (e.g. matchsticks or toothpicks). They will act as supports, when the broad lower part of the bone will drop into a container of water. These sticks, as the clamps will hold the bone at the desired height. The main thing – to constantly monitor the amount of water in the tank. The lower part of the bone should always be in the water.

Instead of water for germination of seeds of avocado can be used a special polymer granules (hydrogel). This polymer material can a long time to hold a large quantity of water. In this way it is very convenient, with the level not to follow.

It will take only 20-30 days, and will be the first young roots and then sprout. The bone will be ready for planting in the ground when the length of the roots reach 4 inches.

To begin you will need a small flower pot with large holes. The land should not be tight. It should be well loosened to provide the needed air and moisture. Bone is planted in the soil so that two-thirds of its units were on the surface of the soil. The shell on the bone to remove there is no need.

Avocados – grow and care at home

Location and lighting

Avocado – photophilous plant, but partial shade will do. Here from direct sunlight it should be protected. If your house or apartment have a room with West-facing Windows, the sill will be ideal for this fruit.

Temperature

As the birthplace of avocado are tropical, he naturally likes the heat. In the case of a drop in temperature or the slightest draught the plant begins to show their displeasure – just a tree loses all its leaves. So even in warm summer weather to take it outside undesirable.

And the room also needs to be maintained at a constant temperature. In the warm season high temperature is favorable for the avocado, but in the cold winter, it is enough to be 20 degrees.

Have plants and a dormant period in the winter. If the winter indoor temperature will drop to 12 degrees, the avocado immediately respond – the leaves will drop and switch to "hibernation". But with proper care and constant temperature balance, this can not happen. This tropical plant is considered evergreen.

Rules of watering

Pour avocado in the conditions of home detention should be regularly and abundantly, but given the temperature and time of year. Excessive watering can hurt. In summer, water it more often than in the winter. After drying of the upper soil layer should take a few days before you start to water the plant. Dries only from the top, and inside of the pot approximately two days are required for avocado moisture.

Humidity

Of great importance is the humidity. The room is almost always air dry, and it is very harmful for this plant. Daily spraying will help to solve the problem. It is very important that during such water treatment was watered only air next to avocado, but not the plant itself. Even small droplets should not fall on its leaves.

There is another humidification method is a special pan pot with moistened expanded clay.

Feeding and fertilizer

From September until March plant fertilization is not needed. But the rest of the time, once a month, avocados should be fertilized fertilizer recommended for citrus, or any other integrated application.

Transplanting avocado

In nature, the avocado grows up to 20 meters in height. Although home to such heights he can't reach, but it grows quite active and require frequent replanting. Very soon, the first small pot for it will be small. As soon as the tree grows up to 15 centimeters, it's time to transplant it into a large bowl. At a young age avocados are transplanted each year, and subsequently once in three years.

Of great importance for the development and growth of plants is the ground in which it grows. Specifically for avocados need any loose and light earth, but not sour. In such soil would be good to add wood ash or dolomite.

Transplanting a plant into a new pot, use the method of handling. Carefully move the tree along with a clod of earth.

You can cook healthy for avocado soil mix yourself. You will need: peat (or humus), garden soil and coarse river sand. All components should be mixed in equal parts.

Pruning

This tropical plant at home may become a decoration of the room. Though it will need a little experience in horticulture. For example, can be grown from seed avocado a few plants and put them all together in one flower pot. And while plants are young and flexible, their stems twisting between a pigtail.

So the plant is not stretched in height, and acquired the splendor in the form of side shoots, it is necessary to pinch back. This procedure can only be carried out when the tree will have enough leaves (at least eight). First, pinch the tip of the plant, it contributes to the development of the lateral branches. And once they are sufficiently formed and will acquire their leaves, you can pinch them.

Pruning is carried out in early spring. It is necessary to improve the growth and development of plants, as well as for the formation of the desired crown. It can be completely different. It all depends on the imagination of the grower.

Disease, pests and other problems

Avocados, like all plants, is afraid of the same pest – a scale insects and spider mites. Voracious spider mite is able not only to destroy all the leaves on the plant, but also can carry various diseases to other flowers. Scale insects feed on plant SAP. After her appearance remain only dry leaves. To deal with such pests in various folk methods or insecticidal agents.

Among the diseases a major threat to the avocado is powdery mildew.

In the process of growing, there could be other problems:

Dry leaf tips. Reasons — rules are not observed irrigation (lack of moisture), lack of humidity. There should be regular watering (but after drying the upper layer of soil) and moisten the air in the room with sprinkles.

The leaves are falling. Causes drafts and lowering the temperature of the air in the apartment. It is necessary to maintain the optimal temperature in the room and prevent drafts.

The paleness of the leaves. Reasons – the lack of lighting. You need to find the plant a suitable place or to organize it with additional (artificial) light, especially in winter.