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
Evy says
Ms Mellisa,
I want to thank you for all of the excellent and concise information that you share, as well as the ideas expressed on your site. I utilize your site often, and LOVE visiting there! Your “magical world” draws me in as though I were in a fairy tale. I feel like I am visiting a family member or a dear old friend.
My mouth dropped open when I first met your site, “Empress of Dirt”, so clever! I love to garden an be creative. Thank you!
Melissa J. Will says
So kind. Thank you, Evy!
Miriam says
I have tried the suspending over water and moist soil method and neither worked, but this method of using a wet paper towel worked great! Thanks.
Lisa says
This was so helpful. Thank you for the complete breakdown.
Ana says
Hi!, thank you for the tips! My avocado plant is growing very nicely, 4 seeds in a pot. It’s a very elegant plant, I have it in my bathroom. But 10 days ago it got little flies, or mites and they reproduce incredibly quick! I spray it but they keep on coming! They don’t live long, but they are affecting the plant! They seam to come from the soil and they don’t affect my other plants nearby. Should I change the soil?, is the plant going to survive?
Melissa J. Will says
Check this article to see if you think they are fungus gnats (tiny, jumpy fly-like insects). If so, there are tips there for dealing with them.
https://empressofdirt.net/fungus-gnats/
Rod sr says
My seed sprout now about 3 inches in 3 and a half weeks. I water a lot in the morning before start of work and before sun down about 6 p.m. every day! Thank you for the super tips!
Bee says
Thanks for the guidance
Chrissie Stevens says
Your instructions gave me 3 successful avocado sprouts that I started about 8 months ago. Patience is key with these plants. I refer to them as my sloth plants. 2/3 grew tall and stately and currently have 6 leaves, one plant suddenly turned crazy and enlarged it’s leaves! The third sprout was always the runt, took forever to sprout leaves. I finally put it under the grow lights with my spring starters. It’s become very happy, sprouted more leaves quickly and even grew an astounding 2” in 2 months! Excellent instructions, thank you. I look forward to eventually pinching the tip and hopefully get some side branches.
Myra says
Have 4 growing, the bag method works best for me.
Kimberly says
It worked! Recommended!
Belinda says
This is fantastic! I tried the tooth pick method which gave no positive results, I have tried this method and have roots growing from 2 seeds,others have cracked and I am awaiting the roots🤗 so excited! Thank you 😊, now I only hope they survive when I pot the up
Ally says
Always wanted to try this but instructions were too complicated. This method is so easy so giving it a try today!
Sofia Goodart says
I live in the midwest so maybe the browning leaves is due to our ongoing cold winter and central heat, as you mentioned. But if some leaves are turning brown around the edges should I clip them or leave them?
Melissa J. Will says
Yes, it could be the dry heat. I carefully trim off the brown parts since they won’t recover.
Avocado plants can be fussy and it’s not easy to know why sometimes.
Hopefully your plant will do well.
Rebecca says
I have had success in sprouting.In the Pacific NW, it is very cold now. Probably until April or May. I have lost 2. Alk leaves turned brown and fell off. Trimmed stalk back, but still looks pretty bleak! The two I have now are ok. Should I cut back stalk or what?
Thank you,
R. Kester
Melissa J. Will says
Hi Rebecca,
I’m only familiar with growing them indoors as houseplants. This has tips on best growing conditions: https://empressofdirt.net/grow-avocado-tree/
Linda says
This is a great method! My question is, if I have two little avocado trees growing from one pit should I let it grow double or should I cut one down to let the other grow strong?
Melissa J. Will says
Hi Linda,
I’ve had that happen too. It’s up to you: do you prefer the novelty of two smaller plants growing from one seed or would prefer one larger plant? Either way, they don’t always survive beyond a couple years. So, your choice!
Caroline Marie Cabrera says
I started and it’s working great for 2 plants. My question is how do I “pinch back” to promote more leaves?
Melissa J. Will says
Hi Caroline, I’ve described pinching here: https://empressofdirt.net/grow-avocado-tree/#pruning
Sue says
Thanks for this great information!
Mary Kairys says
Finally instructions that anyone can follow!
Chris says
Excited about trying to root my avocado pit without toothpicks. Clear instructions. Very simple. Hoping it works for me! Thank you❤️!!
Tenni says
thanks for the instructions!!!
Caren Fitzpatrick says
Please help
I’ve tried 15 avocado seeds
Baggie is working. Getting nice white roots
When I put the in water to grow the taproot. They all turn brown
NO growth. And No Sprouts
What am I doing wrong
Been trying since December
Thank you so much. You are my last chance
I’ve seen everything available online. No answers !
Thank you so much
Caren
Melissa J. Will says
Hi Caren,
The instructions here show planting the sprouted seed in potting mix, not water. Follow along and see how it goes. Best wishes,