If you’ve been trying to root avocado seeds by suspending them over a glass of water with toothpicks, there is an easier way. I’ll show you a no-fuss way to root avocado pits to create new houseplants.
I recommend this method because it takes little effort and shows you exactly which seeds will germinate before planting them in pots.
Grow an Avocado
Forget the toothpicks and water! And don’t bother with the plastic gizmo on Amazon that suspends the seed over water. This method (below) works better. With just a few household supplies you can make your avocado seeds sprout.
I have tested this easy method on a lot of grocery store avocados and the germination rate is quite good.
I don’t like the toothpick method because it’s fussy, requires more effort, can rot the seed, and is not as reliable.
You can also try sprouting avocado seeds directly in moist potting mix, but that too can be hit and miss.
By using the method shown below you can know ahead of time if the seed will actually grow before bothering to plant it.
Before You Start
A little reality check.
No need to rush out and buy chips for your homegrown guacamole.
Odds are your avocado plant is not going to produce fruit, or, if it does, it will take many years and may not produce good fruit.
Growing an avocado from seed is the slowest and least reliable way to get true (same as the parent) fruit.
Commercial growers use grafting methods to ensure fruit quality and quantity that are not really possible for home growers.
But, starting a plant from the seed/pit is an easy way to grow a free houseplant. If it does fruit, it could take as long as 8-20 years. Grafted avocados produce fruit in 2-3 years.
The actual pollination process in rather unusual and intriguing and worth further reading if you are interested.
So, start saving those pits and get growing.
There is an option to save the instructions at the bottom of the page.
You can also use this same method for growing mango plants from grocery store fruit.
I’ll show you how to sprout your seed, plant your seed, and care for it as a houseplant.
Easy Way to Grow an Avocado Seed
It takes 4-6 weeks for avocado seeds to be rooted and ready for planting.
Prepare The Seed
You will need one ripe avocado fruit, paper towel, and a plastic food bag.
Remove the seed (pit) from a fresh, ripe avocado. Avoid using a knife where it might damage the seed.
Gently clean the seed under warm, running water using a soft brush or cloth ensuring all flesh is removed.
Wrap the seed in a sheet of damp (not dripping wet) paper towel or a tea towel.
Place in a plastic food bag (do not zip shut) and store in a dark cupboard at room temperature (around 70°F / 21°C).
Watch For Growth
Check on your seed every 4 days or so. I put a reminder in my phone calendar so I don’t forget.
At first you just need to ensure the paper towel stays damp. After a few weeks you’ll start to notice signs of germination.
When the seed is germinating, it will gradually crack open, revealing a deep split, and, eventually a root (or roots) will grow from deep inside the seed.
Do not break the seed apart: the seed body feeds the root growth, and the roots are delicate, so handle with care and do not break them.
The next photo shows avocado seeds after a month in the damp paper towel.
Notice how they germinate at different rates.
Some are just getting started. Two are doing well. One is refusing to budge.
I will give these ones another few weeks and then plant the strongest ones.
It’s helpful to know that no two sprouted avocado seeds look exactly alike. There are many crazy variations!
If the roots are growing in all different directions, don’t worry. The plant will sort things out later.
When the root is 3-inches long (there may be several roots), your seed is ready for planting in a flower pot.
Keep reading for tips on how to plant the sprouted seed.
Related: Are Avocado Seeds Safe to Eat? No!
How to Plant a Sprouted Avocado Seed
Supplies
- Sprouted avocado seed
- 8-inch flower pot with drainage holes (for a 2-inch avocado seed)
- Indoor potting mix for houseplants
Avocados like good drainage so you can also amend the potting mix with perlite or sand if you like.
How to Tell the Top From the Bottom
Can you tell the top of your seed from the bottom? The top is (usually) tapered or pointy. The bottom is often broader and flat with a round, scaly marking. The roots will (usually) grow out the bottom but not always. We plant the sprouted seed with the bottom and roots aiming down into the pot.
Plant The Sprouted Seed
To plant, fill the pot half way with potting mix and gently place the seed in the pot.
Handle with care so the roots do not break.
If your root (or roots) are longer than 3-inches and they won’t fit in your pot, you can cut them back to 3-inches in length with sharp scissors cleaned with rubbing alcohol or bleach solution (4 teaspoons bleach per quart of water for at least one minute). It is said this can also help produce a bushy rather than a tall, leggy plant but I have not found research to confirm it.
The roots may also be growing in all different directions and/or you may not be able to distinguish a root from a shoot. If so, just be sure to place everything root-like under the soil surface. The plant will know what to do from there.
While steadying the seed, gently press down the potting mix and add more as needed, leaving the top inch of the seed above soil level. If you don’t already have a stem, one will grow.
Water (room temperature distilled water) until moist, not damp. Top up the potting mix as needed.
Place in warm, draft-free location with strong, indirect light.
As it grows, leaves will form.
Related: How to Grow a Citrus Tree From Grocery Store Fruit
Caring for Your Avocado Plant
Save The Instructions
Growing Tips
Avocado | Genus: Persea
Avocado Houseplant Growing Tips
Tropical plant
• Light: Full, indirect sun
• Humidity: Moderate to high
• Soil: do not dry out
• Fertilizer: 7-9-5
• Shape: Pinch back top leaves to encourage new side shoots
• Room Temperature: 60° to 85°F (16° to 30°C)
Propagation
• For Fruit: Start with a grafted tree
• For Fun: Grow seed into non-fruiting houseplant
For complete growing instructions see How to Grow Your Avocado Tree Indoors. This includes tips for planting, choosing potting mix, best containers, pruning and pinching, repotting, and if the plant might flower.
Dropping Leaves or Leaves Turning Brown?
This is common with seasonal changes indoors. Change of light and humidity can make the plant sulk: leaves may turn brown and drop. Don’t give up: mine rebound when winter is done and we have the central heating off once again.
Avocado Trivia
- The word ‘avocado’ originates from a word meaning ‘testicle’. Yes, that’s the first time that word has come up in my garden writing.
- The fruit of an avocado (the part we eat), is actually a large berry and the pit is a seed.
- Avocados are considered a healthy food choice, providing (primarily) monounsaturated fat, vitamins B6, C, E, and potassium, magnesium, and folate.
- Avocados are much richer in potassium than bananas (which are always heralded as potassium-rich).
- Bananas have 358 mg per 100 grams. Avocados have 485 mg per 100 grams.
- Avocados must be left to mature on the tree, but then ripen after harvesting. The hard, green fruit can take two weeks to ripen, although this is faster if exposed to ethylene gas.
- Grafted avocado plants produce fruit with a few years compared to germinated seeds (8-20 years).
- The pollination process for avocados is interesting: on day one female flowers open; on day two they are male and shed their pollen.
- There are three species of avocados and many varieties. Fruit sizes and tastes vary.
- 1. Guatemalan (Persea nubigena var. guatamalensis L. Wms.)
- 2. Mexican (P. americana var. drymifolia Blake)
- 3. West Indian (P. americana Mill. var. americana)
- If you do not live in a growing area, the avocados in your grocery store probably always come from the same few sources (depending on import/export laws).
~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛
How to Grow Avocado From Seed
Equipment
Supplies & Materials
- 1 Avocado ripe
- 1 Tea towel or paper towels
- 1 Food container or plastic food bag
- 1 8-inch Flower pot with saucer
- 1 bag Potting Mix
Instructions
Prepare Avocado
- Remove seed (pit) from a ripe avocado. Do not let knife touch seed to prevent damage.
- Gently wash seed under warm running water removing any avocado flesh.
- Take a before photo.
Start Rooting Process
- Wrap seed in damp (but not soaking wet) tea towel or paper towel.
- Place wrapped seed in food storage container or plastic food bag in dark kitchen cupboard. Do not seal bag/cover container or seed may get moldy.
Check Seed
- Check seed every 4 days or so by carefully unwrapping cover.
- Look for any visible changes and take more photos.
- Ensure towel is still moist and return to container.
- At first the seed will start to crack open (this is good) and one or more roots will grow from inside.
Plant Rooted Seed
- After approximately 4-6 weeks, the root should be around 3-inches long and ready to plant.
- Plant in 8-inch flower pot with roots facing down (or sideways if they grew that way).
- Cover in potting mix with top half-inch of seed above soil level.
- If roots are too big for pot, trim away excess, then plant and water.
Avocado Plant Care
- Grow your plant in a draft-free location with strong, indirect light.
- Avocado plants enjoy moderate to high humidity: never allow your plant to dry out.
- Use 7:9:5 fertilizer as directed.
- Keep taking photos to monitor growth.
Notes
- For more tips on avocado plant care see How to Grow an Avocado Tree.
- To grow a mango plants see How to Grow Mango From Seed.
- For ginger, pineapple, and more see The Kitchen Propagation Handbook.
Kitchen Propagation Handbook
7 Fruits & Vegetables To Regrow As Houseplants
by Melissa J. Will
Learn how to grow houseplants from avocado, oranges, lemons, ginger, and more using leftover pits, seeds, and roots.
This ebook is a digital file you save to your device (not a physical product).
$4.99 US | PayPal, Credit Card, Apple Pay
PDF Format | About Ebook
sharon says
Thank you
Is it possible to put several pieces of seeds in one paper towel and in an open box in a dark closet? Or do you need each seed individually inside the paper?
Thank you for the beautiful explanation
Melissa J. Will says
Hi Sharon,
I suggest wrapping each one separately to prevent the roots from tangling or breaking once things start sprouting. This is less likely if they are kept apart.
Also, you’re more likely to have all parts of each seed in contact with the moist towel if done separately. That’s what triggers germination.
That said, if you can wrap them together in a group and still keep all parts exposed to moisture, go for it.
Location: it doesn’t matter where you place the box so long as the paper towel stays moist (but not too wet) and the temperature remains between 60 to 80F. Around 70F is ideal.
Happy growing,
damaris arroyo says
best detailed instructions. thank you!
Dawn Lindsay says
I have been growing a avacado from about 2 month now each day it gets taller its about 4 _feet tall and the stem is really skinny why is that, do I need to report it..
Melissa J. Will says
Hi Dawn,
No need to repot for this. They tend to grow one tall, lanky stem.
After there are several sets of leaves you can pinch off the top (removing the top part of the stem to just above the next leaves) to encourage side shoots.
I’ve had some avocado plants bush out and others get very tall with few side shoots. They are quirky and unpredictable.
Ekta says
Hi! I germinated my seed in water until the shoot was about a foot tall, but it has around 5-6 leaves that are quite small Compared to your pictures. I just potted it yesterday in a mix of coco peat and red soil (3:1) for drainage and support. Is it too early to have potted it? It was doing well in water.
Melissa J. Will says
Hi Ekta,
There are many factors involved making it very hard to determine any issues.
For example, growing in water long-term can be a problem (soil roots tend to be stronger).
Your leaves may still grow larger if they look healthy (no brown edges). These things take time.
If it’s not thriving over a year, it could just be the genetics of that seed.
Read over this article for growing tips: https://empressofdirt.net/grow-avocado-tree/ and provide the best conditions you can.
I would use a commercial potting mix not a homemade mix. But most importantly, just provide what it needs for light and moisture and don’t fuss with it. They don’t like big changes. Good luck.
Lou says
Brought my plant in a few weeks ago from outside. I have it in a bay window to get some light, but it is now sulking and leaves browning. It may be too cool near the window. Any recommendations for helping it through the winter? I live in Maryland so it will be months of cold weather. I babied my seed and plant for so long…I don’t want to lose her now!!
Thanks for any input!!
Melissa J. Will says
Hi Lou,
These plants really sulk if changes come too suddenly. And sometimes they just dry up and drop leaves even when (seemingly) nothing has changed. See if you can stick to the growing tips listed here (without any sudden changes) and it might come around. https://empressofdirt.net/grow-avocado-tree/
Nadiyah says
Hi,
My seed has cracked and the root began to appear however it broke off at the tip. Is there anyway to save it?
Melissa J. Will says
Just keep growing it. Should be fine.
Annette says
Excellent instructions. I grew a tree from a pip. Its a huge tree now and bears a good crop every two years. It took about 6 years before the first crop. What helped was giving the tree a good supply of Epsom salts.
Melissa J. Will says
Great you got a crop but Epsom salts would not be the cause. Your excellent growing conditions and care suited to the plant would though!
Jeff says
This is great. Worked on my first try. Can I grow my plant over a bottle with the roots submerged in water and the seed and stem growing above (similar to the toothpick method)? I just like the look of it.
Melissa J. Will says
You can grow them over water but for how long is hard to predict. Sometimes the roots will rot but I’ve seen others keep them going for months or longer that way. Ultimately growing in potting mix is best for this plant.
Marcy Myers says
Very easy to understand simple method for rooting avocado seed & growing the plant! Thank you!
Kim says
Thank you for your wonderful tutorial on avacado plant growing. The pictures are a great plus and I think I adore your website!!
Melissa J. Will says
If you sprout your avocado seed and cannot tell the top from the bottom (or distinguish roots from shoots), just plant it anyway aiming both sideways if you can.
Even if you don’t know which is which, the plant does. The roots will grow down into the soil and the shoots will grow above it.
Johanna Dumas says
I have a sprouted seed from the toothpick method (I didn’t know about the paper towel method) and the sprout is an inch long. I read somewhere to cut root to three inches for a more bushy appearance when planting. And, then cut the six inch plant stem in half for a more sturdy stem. What do you think about these methods? The second one is scary.
Melissa J. Will says
Hi Johanna,
Everything depends on the type of avocado (its genetics). I have not found any research to support the root pruning advice.
Personally, I would leave everything as it is, plant it, and provide the recommended care as a houseplant.
Kati says
If the seed starts to mildew, is it still good?
Melissa J. Will says
Yes, it may still do fine. Mildew tends to form when the conditions are too damp and/or humid. Carefully wash it off, start with fresh supplies, and choose another location (less humid or warm) making sure the paper towel is not too damp. You can also keep the plastic bag open for better air flow.
Janet says
Is there a point at which you would put more soil to cover the seed from which the tree sprouts? My tree is about 4 inches tall right now.
Melissa J. Will says
Hi Janet, No need to add more soil, it can remain fine with some seed above soil level. Congrats on your little tree!
Veronica says
I’m currently trialing this after only dismal success rate and a 50/50 success rate of straight seed to soil. I have one Young avocado tree standing 2 feet tall, I currently have 4 seeds in a bag of which 2 are almost ready for planting! In my experience the toothpick method works for a short time then they die off!
Linda says
This really works well.
I have a question though. One of the seeds has about eight cream colored fleshy growths around the base. I kept waiting for them to turn into leaves, but they aren’t – flowers?
Melissa J. Will says
Sounds like roots from what you described.
Jana says
This is the best method, by far! I’ve tried 3 toothpicks method and none of the seeds sprouted. I’ve used this method and 5 out of 6 sprouted! Thanks!
Tucker says
When trying to grow and avocado does the pit need to be fresh right from the avecado.
Can u use one that isnt fresh???
Melissa J. Will says
Good question. Try it. If it hasn’t dried out, it could still be viable.
Connie Cooke says
I have tried several times and each time my plant gets tall and leggy. I have tried pinching off the top but it just keeps getting taller, not “bushy”. What am I doing wrong?
Melissa J. Will says
Hi Connie,
You are not doing anything wrong. Some get lateral shoots and others do not.
Over the years I’ve had just a few get bushy but most do not. I suspect it depends on the genes but I’m just guessing since it’s not something we can trace with grocery store avocados.
If you want a guarantee of a bushy tree (or fruit), I think you would have to start with a grafted tree from a seller.
Rasna Hussain says
Thank you. The best instructions ever & I cannot wait to start producing plants from it.
Wish I had come across this web page earlier.
Many thanks.
(From a reader who wants to give up.on toothpick method)