The Encyclopedia of House Plants

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Persea

Family: Lauraceae.

Persea americana Common name(s): Avocado Tree
Persea Genus of about 150 species of brittle-branched, evergreen trees and shrubs from well-drained soils to swamps of S.E. Asia, Micronesia, and tropical and subtropical North and South America. An Avocado Tree (Persea americana) can be grown quite easily from the large stone within the fruit - after a few years you will have a large-leaved plant about 3 ft tall - grown from scratch with your own hands. Push the blunt end of the stone into a pot containing a multy-purpose compost - leave the pointed end exposed. Keep warm (65 F) until the leaves appear - keep cool in winter. Repot annually - pinch out tips to encourage bushiness.
Growing conditions Watering and misting Propagation
Average warmth in summer - minimum 50 F in winter.Brightly lit spot. Keep well away from direct sunlight. Keep compost moist at all times but never waterlogged. Reduce watering in winter. Use soft, tepid water. Misting is necessary. Sow seed at 55-60 F (13-16 C) as soon as ripe. Germination may take 4-6 months. Take greenwood cuttings in early summer.

User-submitted additions and corrections:

Stickman
United States of America
31st Mar 2007 		Avacados take a while to even put out roots, much less small stems. You can grow a very good avacado tree if you stick three toothpicks into it, fill a cup with water, and put the seedinto it, point end up.
Stickman
United States of America
31st Mar 2007 		Oops! Let me rephrase that as it was a little messed up. Avacado seeds take a while to put out roots and stems. You can grow a good avacado tree if you stick three toothpicks into the seed, fill a cup with water, and stick the seed in, poited side up. It will take a long time for them to sprout.
AMiley
USA
19th Dec 2008 		I've started the seeds like this in a 6.0ph level and in 6 to 8 weeks I have roots and a shoot. Keeping the water in the cup is the trick. Never let it run dry. Good luck and have fun growing.
lolo
usa
16th Jun 2009 		I tried the toothpick thru the seed method several times based on spouses suggestion, however as I had no knowledge let alone green thumbs I thought it sounded a little crazy. That being said, I never saw any sprouting, so decided to pop the advocado seeds into soil, and hey presto I have 2 happy plants, yay for me!
Nancy
USA
15th Oct 2009 		I planted 3 in a pot and let them go. Waited about 3 weeks, nothing, so I planted some english ivy in the middle and let it go. I soon noticed a 4" shoot coming up and a few days later 2 more shots from another seed. Now I have 1 about 18" and the other 11". All is well so far, even with the ivy in there.
maz
south wales Gwen England
5th Oct 2010 		I have grown to avocado plants one inside on a table away from sunlight and direct light it has grow well it has long dark green leaves , the one i have grown out doors has a bunch of light green leaves and has grown like a bush tallish stem and under the stem a small bush , they both came from the avocardo fruit and planted the same day with the same kind of soil ,
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