Avocado Seed – How to Move From Water to Soil

Q: I have an avocado seed in water with several roots on it. I’d like to plant it in a pot. Should I bury the seed completely?

A: Lift the plant from the water and get a helper to hold it in place in the center of a ten-inch pot. Carefully sift small handfuls of high quality (peat based) potting soil below and between the roots, spreading them outward in the soil as you work. The height of the seed should be such that it protrudes half-way from the top of the soil when you finish. Fertilize with half-strength houseplant fertilizer. When night temperatures are above 60 degrees you can put the potted plant outdoors in a spot that gets light shade throughout the day.