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Who doesn’t love a firm, ripe avocado? And the pleasure is doubled when it comes from your own tree. Avocados grow well outside in very warm hardiness zones. If you live in a cooler area or you don’t have enough space for a home orchard, you may want to consider growing an avocado plant indoors.
Avocado trees most likely originated in Southern Mexico and were cultivated for centuries before North America was colonized. The pear-shaped fruits are a delicious, rich food that make an excellent condiment or eat-alone addition to your diet.
The trees are warm season plants, easily damaged by cold and frost. Avocado trees can reach 80 feet (24+ m.) in height. Most plants do poorly in regions where freezing temperatures occur. Gardeners in USDA zones 8 and lower should opt for an avocado tree that can grow indoors.
Growing avocados in containers is an excellent way to enjoy these nutritious fruits even if you don’t have space for a full-size tree. With the right techniques you can grow a productive avocado tree in a pot on your patio or balcony.
In this comprehensive guide we’ll cover everything you need to know about successfully growing avocados in containers, from choosing the right variety and pot size to proper care and harvesting.
Selecting the Best Avocado Variety for Containers
The first step is choosing a dwarf or semi-dwarf avocado variety suited to growing in pots. Full-size avocado trees can reach 60 feet tall and are too large for containers.
Instead, look for compact patio varieties that only grow 10-15 feet tall. Some good options include:
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‘Little Cado’ – Extra compact at just 5-10 feet tall and cold hardy. Perfect for containers and bears tasty green fruit.
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‘Joey’ – A compact semi-dwarf variety that produces medium-sized green fruit.
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‘Carmen’ – Dwarf variety that bears high quality medium-small purple fruits.
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‘Mexicola Grande’ – Compact tree with green skin and dense flesh.
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‘Holiday’ – Cold hardy semi-dwarf variety, green skin.
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‘Nabal’ – Compact grower with purplish-black fruit.
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‘Wurtz’ – Small variety good for containers, green skin.
I recommend ‘Little Cado’ in particular because it thrives in containers and starts bearing tasty fruit within just 2-3 years.
Choosing the Right Container
Avocado trees need large pots, at least 15-25 gallons. This gives their long taproots ample room to spread out. Small pots will restrict root growth and result in a stunted tree.
Look for a container that’s about 2 feet deep and wide. Terra cotta, wood, plastic, and metal pots all work well, just be sure there are drainage holes. You can also plant in a half wine barrel or whiskey barrel.
Elevate pots on pot feet or bricks to improve drainage and prevent waterlogging.
The Best Soil Mix for Container Avocados
Avocados require a loose, well-draining soil mix. Regular garden soil stays too wet and can cause root rot.
The best potting mix for avocados includes:
- Coarse sand or perlite for drainage
- Peat moss or coconut coir to retain moisture
- Compost, bark, or wood chips for nutrients
- A small amount of organic soil
You can make your own mix or use a commercial cactus/citrus soil blend. Mix in worm castings or organic fertilizer to enrich it.
How to Plant an Avocado Tree in a Container
Once you’ve selected a variety and prepared your container and soil mix, follow these steps for planting:
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Fill the container about halfway with lightly moistened soil mix. Form a mound.
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Remove the avocado seedling from its nursery pot, gently loosen any circling roots, and place it atop the mound.
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Fill in around the roots and base with more soil mix, leaving just a bit of the trunk exposed.
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Water thoroughly until it drains from the bottom drainage holes.
Use this same technique when repotting into a larger container. Repot every 1-2 years as the tree grows.
Caring for Container Grown Avocado Trees
Growing avocados in pots requires attentive care:
Sun: Avocados need at least 8-10 hours of full sun daily. Move containers to follow the sunlight.
Water: Check soil moisture frequently and water when the top few inches become dry. Don’t let pots dry out completely.
Fertilizer: Feed with organic citrus fertilizer or compost tea every 2-3 months during spring and summer.
Temperature: Bring pots indoors or protect with blankets if temps drop below 40°F.
Pruning: Prune in early spring to shape and thin out the canopy. Remove inward facing branches and dense growth.
Repotting: Repot in a larger container when roots fill the current pot. Do this every 2 years in early spring.
With excellent care, you can keep a container avocado tree healthy and productive for many years. Be vigilant about its needs.
Troubleshooting Common Container Avocado Problems
Growing avocados in containers presents some challenges. Here are solutions for some common issues:
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Yellow leaves – Usually caused by overwatering. Allow soil to dry out further between waterings.
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Drooping leaves – Indicates under watering. Check soil and water more frequently.
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Slow growth – Can result from too little sun, overwatering, or a rootbound plant.
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Leaf drop – Overwatering, underwatering, or cold weather may be the cause.
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White crusty deposits on leaves – Hard water or salt buildup. Leach the soil and water heavily to flush salts.
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Failed fruit set – Happens if temps are too cold during bloom. Protect it next winter.
Harvesting Avocados from Container Trees
You can begin harvesting avocados from your container tree 2-4 years after planting. Test for ripeness by gently squeezing fruits.
Harvest when they feel slightly soft, before fully softening on the tree. The skin will turn glossy black when ripe.
Carefully snip fruits off the tree, leaving their stems attached. Allow to finish ripening indoors for 1-2 weeks until ready to eat.
Enjoy your homegrown avocados! With proper care and variety selection, you can absolutely grow productive avocado trees in containers.
Container Avocado Growing FAQs
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about growing avocado trees in containers:
How big of a container does an avocado tree need?
Use a minimum 15-25 gallon pot. Bigger is better to accommodate their long taproots.
What kind of soil mix should I use?
Avoid regular garden soil. Use a loose, well-draining mix made for cacti and citrus instead.
How much sun does a potted avocado need?
At least 8-10 hours of direct sun per day. Move it to follow the sunlight.
Should I fertilize my container avocado?
Yes, feed with organic citrus fertilizer or compost tea 2-3 times during spring and summer.
How often do I need to water?
Check soil frequently, water when the top few inches become dry. Don’t let it totally dry out.
Can I grow an avocado indoors?
It’s challenging but possible if you provide excellent light, heat, humidity and care.
How long until I get fruit?
Expect your first small harvest 2-4 years after planting. Production increases as the tree matures.
What causes yellow leaves?
Usually a sign of overwatering. Allow the soil to dry out further between waterings.
Why do the leaves droop?
Drooping indicates the plant needs more frequent watering.
When should I repot?
Repot in early spring every 2 years or so when roots fill the current container.
Final Tips for Growing Avocados in Containers
Here are some final tips to ensure your container grown avocados thrive:
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Select a compact, container-suited variety
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Use the largest pot size possible
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Provide excellent drainage and porous soil
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Place in full sun
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Water thoroughly but allow soil to dry between waterings
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Fertilize regularly to support growth
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Bring indoors or protect from cold weather
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Be prepared to hand pollinate flowers
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Expect just a few fruits the first couple years
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Harvest promptly when mature
With the right variety, pots, and care you can absolutely grow delicious avocados in containers – even if you don’t have space for a full-size orchard tree.
Welcome . . .
Im Greg. My goal is to help you grow food at home, with a focus on vegetables and fruits — especially avocados — in Southern California. I write a new “Yard Post” every Friday.
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Can You Grow an Avocado Tree Indoors?
It is possible to grow an avocado plant indoors. However, since most avocado species grow to much taller than an average room height, you’ll want to select one of the dwarf varieties, which top out at around 10 feet (3 m).