Growing an avocado tree is really difficult!

[FaceLikeAPairOfTits]

I have an avocado tree that is about 80cm tall, and it’s the most temperamental flouncy organism known to humanity. Lower leaves seem to fall off if it’s too wet, and all leaves get crispy edges if it’s too dry. The problem is, the difference between too wet and too dry seems to be an infinitesimally small amount invisible to the naked eye.

What am I doing wrong? Are they just shit plants? It’s leggy and wonky and I think I hate it.

Well, not so much a shit plant, as a bloody great tree that belongs in the ground in Florida!
If it's leggy they respond pretty well to bring cut down by half, it's worth a try if you hate it anyway.

If you are in the UK, give up now. Avocados are meant to grow in warmer climates than we have here and they don't appreciate living indoors.

If you have grown it from a stone, then you won't know what the species is - if you are hoping to get fruit from it then you need a nurserry grown sapling.

If neither of the above apply, sorry!

Yes messy and Bobby are right, they also grow like Apple trees in -guess where? - Africa!! The stray dogs grow fat and healthy on the ones they eat off the ground there!! So it might be happy for a while in the English summer on your windowsill it'll hate the long winter nights here.

I have a four foot so-called self-fertilising avocado in a pot (Australia) and it has never fruited, basically because the self fertilising bit is a lie and I need another one to do the trick. I'm bit reluctant to start yet another pot because of the watering.

Wouldn't it be happier in the earth echt don't you have enough rain to plant it out ? Maybe they need to be taller to mature properly !

This is fascinating! Has anyone successfully grown a plant from an avocado stone before? ....if so, how did you do it?!

Well yes Myfamily This is how I have done it, it didn't get very tall about 1 and a half feet before it's leaves went brownish though. You have to cut the stone 1\2cm (choose a small organic avocado) following the middle of its base, using a sharp knife, leave it soaking up to half way in filtered water (in an eggcup on a hot sunny windowsill in late spring) you can balance it with matchsticks! It should root quite fast if it's a very ripe one and you don't forget to keep the water half way up.

It can be left for a little while before putting it in a pot with earth. Then good luck!!

Very easy to grow from a stone.
I just stick mine in wet compost. Leave it outside, maybe greenhouse in winter so the leaves don't drop off.

Do you live in a hot country Mike do yours bear fruit ? The leaves on mine have always dropped off in the autumn but I don't have a greenhouse

Thank you @ppeatfruit - I have tried previously with no result. I'll give it another go!

We have 2 growing in our conservatory ( uk) young plants which were started last summer.
Easy enough to grow bit dull if you ask me.

It's funny, It depends on the avocado type I suppose, I've not succeeded every time at all.

I live in the south east, the trees are in pots and not big, and they are unlikely to fruit in this country.
If you want fruit, why not try figs - you'll need to contain the roots. Or quince for the blossom and unusual fruit.

Oh, if you're planting for blossom, please don't get an ornamental tree - it seems such a waste.

My avocado is a dwarf variety and happy enough in a pot - it's a big half barrel. I need to get a B type avocado to grow near it.

We started a stone at school mid Dec it's now on my windowsill having split but no sign of roots, debating if it's worth continuing...

If you carry on, give it warmth and light, filtered or rain water half way up and or maybe wet compost. I'm confused now !

Yes, of course it is. It's not a terribly exciting plant but it's nice knowing you grew it. I have grown acorn and chestnuts too.They are small because they are in pots.