Growing your own avocado plant from a pit is a total rite of passage for plant parents. But here’s the thing: if you just let it do its own thing, you’ll end up with one long, lanky stem reaching for the ceiling. Since these guys are tropical trees at heart, they want to grow tall! If you’d rather have a lush, bushy houseplant, you’ve got to get comfortable with pruning—especially in the spring. Here’s the lowdown on how to keep your avocado plant looking its best.
The Plant
If you’ve successfully sprouted an avocado pit, you’ve probably noticed it tends to grow straight up on a single stalk. In the wild, these grow into massive trees, but indoors, that “Charlie Brown tree” look isn’t exactly what we’re going for. To encourage your avocado to branch out and get that full, bushy look, you have to “pinch back” or prune the main stem. This tells the plant to stop putting all its energy into height and start developing those beautiful side branches.
How to Prune Like a Pro
- The best time to give your plant a haircut is early spring.
- Once your plant is about three months old and has at least 4 leaves, it’s time to snip the main stem.
- Using a sharp, clean knife or garden shears, cut the stem about half an inch above the topmost leaf.
- If your plant already has side branches, you can trim those back to your desired length too.
- Don’t worry! Your plant will soon start pushing out new growth from the leaf axils (the spots where the leaves meet the stem).
- The more often you trim back those side shoots, the bushier and fuller your plant will become.
Pro-Tips for a Happy Avocado
Avocados are sun-worshippers. They thrive with plenty of light and warmth. During the summer, they love a “vacation” outdoors—just make sure they’re in a sunny spot that’s protected from harsh winds.
From May through September, give your little tree a boost with some fertilizer every two to three weeks. A standard liquid fertilizer works wonders.
During the growing season, keep the soil consistently moist. If you can, use lukewarm rainwater—your avocado will thank you!
For the first five years, you’ll want to repot your plant every year. Once it’s more established, you can switch to every two or three years.
When winter rolls around, try to keep the plant in a bright spot between 45°F and 60°F (7-15°C).
Dial back the watering in the winter; only give it a drink when the soil feels truly dry. And definitely skip the fertilizer until spring returns.
Dealing with Pests
Winter can be tough on indoor plants. Between the dry heater air and lower light levels, your avocado might get a bit stressed, which is when pests like to move in. Spider mites are the most common culprits—they thrive in dry air and love a weakened plant.
The good news? Most aphids stay away because of the thick, evergreen leaves. However, scale insects can sometimes be a problem. A simple trick to keep them at bay is to regularly mist the leaves with lukewarm water.
If you do spot a pest infestation, move the plant away from your other green friends so it doesn’t spread. If things get really bad, don’t be afraid to give the plant a “hard prune” in the spring. Avocados are surprisingly resilient and handle heavy cutting very well.
Quick Tip: If you actually have the ceiling height and want a full-sized tree, just let it grow! In that case, you can skip the pruning altogether.
