I have decided to add avocado to my daily diet, to try to lower my cholesterol. This means I will have lots of avocado pits. So I had this crazy idea today. What if I plant several pits together, so I end up with a "grove" of plants, and try to make them bonsai?
Um.....I hear you laughing. LOL!
Weird Idea, will it work?
Why not? I have heard that some avocados are fattening, so if you bonsai them will that mean they will produce less calories? LOL Post a pic once you get a few going. Have you ever tried this method before?
I love to grow Avacados from pits. I put them directly into wet soil and it doesnt take long. They do have a long tap root tho. I would imagine you could have a great time with a grove of them. Now I want to go rescue the pits I threw out this weekend !
Yes, I had forgotten about the long tap root. So I gues they will gradually grow into a large pot. But I bet I can still grow a grove! LOL! They are started, 5 pits in a pot. But the pots is full so all the other seeds that are piling up in my kitchen don't have a pot to pit in.
Sorry. Couldn't resist.
How did this experiment progress? Are you still trying to bonsai them? Success? failure?
"a pot to pit in", now that is priceless! LOL
I've seen/read somewhere in the past. That Avocado pit germinates easily being suspended on top a glas jar with toothpicks with the water just barely touch the pit. I tried one a while back. But guess because the pit wasn't ripe. The project failed. :((
I have been unable to get any to sprout. :-( Will they only sprout in the spring? Or perhaps there is a refrigeration process that inhibits them...
Good question pjadams. Let's do some research.....
Hummm, this is what's readily available from DG's pf.....
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/115939/
And here.....
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/2092/
So if the seed isn't a hybrid, one can hope to germinate it successfully as in this case. Further more, it's said to be hardy in subtropical zones and warmer climate. So cold stratification isn't required? Please let's hear others' input?
Germinator, if you see this post. Please give us some advice.
Thanks.
Cold stratification is not needed. A mature tree can survive light frost and near freezes but not heavy freezing. Young trees cannot tolerate even light freeze or frost and they will burn under summer sun if they are not shaded as they begin life and given a chance to develop so hardening them off gradually from shade to full sun is recommended.
The seeds sprout easily any time of the year indoors and can be rooted by planting them with the pointed half of the seed above the soil or water line.
In order for a tree to fruit it must be pollinated by another tree so unless there are other trees in your area you would need to plant at least two.
Thanks, Zanymuse, your info. is much appreciated.
Thanks, Zanymuse, you certainly helped me. I.......uhhhhhhhh......... (see me blush) had it planted upside down.
LOL I know for a fact that you are not the first person to plant them upside down... But I learned ;~)
PJ;
Don't want to rain on your parade but, a mature avocado has leaves as big as a magnolia. Leaf reduction will be a problem and I believe, an insurmountable one.
Unless you just want a bunch of short avocado trees, it would be alot easier and more 'Bonsai' to use a species that lends itself to the goals of Bonsai.
Wally
I decided against the bonsai for that very reason. I am now just trying to grow one.