Grow an Avocado Houseplant from Seed

With winter just around the corner, not a lot of gardening is happening outside as far as the little ones are concerned. So, why not bring the outside indoors by growing a very special plant inside during the cold winter months? I’m talking about growing an avocado plant in your house! This very simple project is easy and will encourage your children to use their green thumb year round! Let’s get started...

Materials Needed:
- One Ripe Avocado Pit
- Mason Jar
- Toothpicks
- Water
- Flower Pot
- Potting Soil

Instructions
Take your ripe avocado pit and remove the brown skin and green flesh from around the seed. Once your seed is cleaned, prop your seed inside the Mason Jar, using toothpicks (be sure to piece the flesh of the seed with the toothpicks), with the wide side facing downward. Next, pour water into the jar, covering one-third of the seed with water. It is important to keep the water on your seed fresh, so refill and change your water frequently. Place your jar in a sunny location. In a few weeks, you will notice that roots will begin to develop. When there are several roots and a shoot is growing from the top of the seed, transfer your seed into a flower pot that contains potting soil (make sure to leave an inch or so of head space to prevent water overflow when watering). When planting your seed, be sure to leave the top shoot above the potting soil. A lovely houseplant will continue to grow!

Have Fun!
Heather W.
Fairview Greenhouses & Garden Center