Transplanting avocado is a delicate operation that has a greater chance of success if carried out at the right time.
If you want to move your plant to a larger pot or start growing it directly in the ground, there are a number of precautions you should take into account to minimise the stress on the tree and ensure that it adapts well to the change.
Why is it important to transplant avocado?
The avocado is a tree with great growth potential, and this makes it necessary to change the planting location as time goes by.
The transplant serves to:
- That the roots have more room to expand and search for nutrients. This way the tree will continue to gain length and will also be more productive.
- Transplanting, if done from a pot to the ground, allows the tree to access a substrate with greater drainage capacity, which keeps it safe from excess moisture that is not good for its roots.
- By changing the substrate, the avocado finds itself with a more nutrients at your disposal, ensuring more vigorous and healthy growth.
- In the specific case of this tree, a timely transplant carried out can stimulate the production of flowers and fruits.
- Another reason for transplanting is that during this operation we can inspect the condition of the roots and remove any that are sick or damaged. With this simple maintenance task, the tree is safe from certain diseases.
Is it time to transplant your avocado tree?
The first thing we are going to pay attention to is the age of the tree. In the case of young seedlings born from a avocado seed, the change to a larger pot should be done when the plant has true leaves and the roots have filled the initial pot.
The young avocados They grow quickly, so changing the pot is advisable. every two years, on average. However, if for whatever reason it takes more or less time to completely fill the container with its roots, the operation will have to be brought forward or postponed.
When it comes to avocados planted in the ground, it is not common to transplant them. This is only highly recommended if the substrate is very poor in nutrients or has poor drainage and we cannot find another way to solve this problem.
In addition to the passage of time, to evaluate whether it is time to transplant the avocado, we will pay attention to these indicators:
- If the roots coming out of the drainage holes, this tells us that the container has become too small.
- If the plant looks good, but has stopped growing, means that you don't have space to do it and you need more space.
- If the leaves turn yellow and there is no reason to explain this phenomenon, it may be because the roots are restricted.
What is the best time to transplant an avocado?
The best time is the spring, because during this season the temperatures are mild and this contributes to reducing the stress that the plant suffers with the change.
Furthermore, it is precisely in spring that fruit trees such as avocados begin their new growth cycle. This makes it easier for them to adapt to their new container in less time.
On the other hand, in spring the rains tend to be more frequent, which helps keep the soil moist and facilitates rooting.
The rest of the year we should not transplant the avocado, because we would be putting its health at risk:
- Winter. During this period, the tree is dormant and changing its pot can cause shock, increasing the risk of it becoming ill and even dying.
- Summer. High temperatures and drought increase the stress that the tree suffers as a result of the change. If you transplant an avocado in summer, it is most likely that lose its leaves and become dehydrated.
- Autumn. At this time, the tree begins to prepare for the cold, and it is not a good time for change, because we interrupt this preparation and can hinder its adaptation to low temperatures.
The ideal is therefore to transplant only during spring. It is not necessary that it be right at the beginning of the season, it is better if wait until the risk of frost has completely passedThe second half of April is the perfect time to move from one container to another or from a pot to the ground.
Tips for successfully transplanting avocados
To ensure that this operation has the best possible result, please take these considerations into account.
Transplant preparation
The day before making the change, water the avocado abundantly so that it root ball is moist and it will be easier for you to remove it from the pot.
Choose a quality substrate that is rich in nutrients and well drained and fill the new container with some of that soil, creating a small mound in the center.
Transplant process
Carefully remove the plant from the pot and remove any old soil adhering to the roots, taking extreme care not to break them. If you see any damaged roots, take the opportunity to cut them off.
Next, place the root ball on top of the mound of substrate you have prepared in the new pot and cover the rest of the roots with soil. Press gently to secure the plant in place.
Water abundantly to help the soil settle and facilitate the adaptation of the plant.
Aftercare
Place the pot in a bright place, but protected from direct sunlight, for several weeks. During this time, make sure that the substrate remains slightly moist, but not waterlogged.
Every two weeks you can add a liquid fertilizer for indoor plants and, if necessary, cut back the longer branches a little to encourage more compact and branched growth.
After transplanting, the tree is at a particularly delicate moment, so try to ensure that it has as little stress as possible.
Successfully transplanting avocados is in your hands. If you do it carefully and at the right time, you will get your tree to adapt perfectly to the new container.