Why Is My Avocado Seed Not Growing?

The photo of avocado seeds on toothpicks over a jar of water seems very fascinating but it is not that easy to grow avocado from seeds. Can’t you grow avocados even after putting heart and soul? Through this article, we are going to answer your queries on “Why is my avocado seed not growing”.

While growing avocados, I have found some golden tips that work like magic. So along with finding the root cause of your problem, we are going to assist you with providing the best possible solution. If you want to grow the alligator pear, this article will be an all-in-one solution for you.

Now, let’s find the primary causes that prevent Avocado seeds from growing.

Why is Avocado seed not Growing? 7 Common reasons

1. Putting In A Cold Environment

2. Following The Typical Toothpick & Glass Method

3. Using Dry Pit

4. Don’t remove the brown skin of the pit

5. Using Dry Seed

6. Putting in A Dark Area

7. Not Changing The Water

1. Putting In A Cold Environment

A warm and bright environment is suitable for growing Avocados. Therefore, you have to make sure that you are growing Avocados at a warm temperature. What is the ideal temperature to grow avocado from seeds? Well, temperatures between 60° F to 85° F are perfectly suitable for avocados.

If you want to measure the temperature in Celsius, you should choose a place having a temperature between 15 degrees Celsius to 32 degrees Celsius. According to the U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA), you should avoid a place having a temperature lower than 15 degrees Celsius. Hopefully, it will put a stop to why my avocado seed is not growing.15

2. Following The Typical Toothpick & Glass Method

As I have said earlier, the toothpick and glass method is the most popular method for growing Avocados. Because of its popularity, most people consider this as the most effective method. But actually, that’s a myth. This is effective but it depends on some relevant factors.

Once I tried to grow avocado from seeds with a toothpick and glass method. Despite taking proper care the pit doesn’t sprout. Then, I found the reason was the climate. You should not follow this method in a cold environment. For example, people in the UK will not be able to grow Avocados using this method for most of the time during the year.

3. Using Dry Pit

When you cover the environmental factor, you need to focus on the pit. Using a dry pit to grow avocado could be a common reason why your avocado seed is not growing. You should soak the pit in dry water for several days. It will boost the seed to germinate.

A wet pit increases the chance of sprouting. When you soak the pit, it creates an overall better positive environment to grow the seed. At the same time, you have to put the pit in a warm environment. Along with providing moisture, it will provide the required heat to the seed.

4. Don’t remove the brown skin of the pit

The brown skin on the pit can slow down the seed to sprout. Once I tried to grow avocados from seeds. I was doing everything right as far as I was concerned. But still, I was unable to do it. After doing a lot of experiments, I detected the actual issue. The key reason was not removing the brown skin of the pit.

A few people think that getting rid of the outer skin of the seed reduces the chances of germination. That’s wrong. To be honest, it works oppositely. If you are trying lots of things and still can’t grow avocado from seeds, this might be the solution for you.

5. Using Dry Seed

Many people are aware of the fact that hot environments are suitable for growing avocados. From that perspective, they put the seed in a warm place. On that note, the concept is right but the execution is wrong. Are you wondering why I am saying this? Well, let me explain briefly. Hot weather is suitable for the avocado to grow, not for the seed.

When you put the seed in a too-dry environment, it can cause moisture from the pit. Reducing moisture from the seed is a key reason why your avocado seed is not growing. So, what’s the solution here? You can keep the pit in a sealed Ziploc bag. You can also wrap the seed using a paper towel. It will hold the moisture for a longer time.

6. Putting in A Dark Area

Have you followed all the above tips but still the seed is not germinating? You might be putting it in the wrong place. According to research performed by Skidmore College, it’s proven that proper sunlight is mandatory to grow avocados from seeds. So, putting the pit in a dark area will restrict the pit from growing.

So, which type of environment should you choose to place the glass in? You need to consider choosing a glass that provides enough sunlight. You can place it beside a window. It should create a suitable environment for the avocado seed to start sprouting.  

7. Not Changing The Water

Are you trying to grow avocados with a toothpick and glass method? Many people who are growing avocados for the first time make this mistake. They think that their only job is to put the seed with a toothpick in a glass of water. But that’s just the beginning.

You have to make sure that you change water at least once every 7 days. Keeping the old water for several weeks in a glass can cause bacteria to grow. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, germs like to grow in stagnant water. That can have a big impact on the avocado seed.

So, that was the 7 most common reasons behind the avocado seed not growing. Basically, there are two steps to get a solution to an issue. The first step is to detect the root cause. The second step is to take proper action based on the cause. Now, we are going to jump to the second step.

How to grow avocado from seeds in water?

Step 1: Get An Avocado seed

Step 2: Get Rid of The Brown Skin Of The Seed

Step 3: Insert Toothpick On the Seed

Step 4: Take A Glass Of Water

Step 5: Keep Observation

Step 6: Plant In A Tub

Step 1: Get An Avocado seed

At first, you have to start by picking an avocado and slicing it from the middle to get the seed. While doing that, make sure that you don’t damage the seed with the knife.

Step 2: Get Rid of The Brown Skin Of The Seed

Wash the seed in clean water to make it wet. After that, you should remove the brown skin of the seed. You can do that using your hands. If you use a knife for this process, it can damage the seed.

After doing that the seed will reveal its yellow skin. There should not be any brown skin left on the seed.

Step 3: Insert Toothpick On the Seed

You should pick 3 toothpicks to insert them on the seed. On this note, you have to hold the avocado seed in your hand keeping the top end pointed up.

Then, you have to insert 3 toothpicks into the avocado like the blade of a fan. You need to insert it on the upper side. There should be around a 1-inch area left on the top of the seed.

Step 4: Take A Glass Of Water

You have to take clean glass and fill it with clean water. Don’t fill the entire glass. You should keep around 2 inches of space. After that, you have to put the seed on the glass using a toothpick. The upper portion of the seed should be floating in space.

Step 5: Keep Observation

If you have done everything correctly, the seed should start sprouting within 12 days to 14 days. You need to change the water constantly within 7 days. When everything goes right, the new avocado plant should grow within 35-40 days.

Step 6: Plant In A Tub

When the Avocado plant grows some leaves, you should transfer it from the glass to a tub. You have to take a tub and fill it with suitable soil. Then, place the plant within the soil and fill it with the remaining space. Don’t forget to remove the toothpick while doing that process.

After that, you have to put the tub in a warm place that has access to enough sunlight.

Where Avocado Seeds Grow Faster In Water or Soil?

If you want to grow Avocado seed quickly, you should choose water instead of soil. In water, it takes almost 4 weeks to six weeks to produce roots. On the other hand, it takes almost 6 weeks to 8 weeks to start sprouting. Environmental factors play a key role here.

When you are going to approach with the water method, you should choose a warm place having proper access to sunlight. Otherwise, it will slow down the average periods to grow the seeds. It can even prevent the seed from growing.

Final Thoughts

At this stage, you should be aware of the fact that your avocado seed is not growing. At the same time, we have shared the proper technique to grow avocados from seeds in Water. Now, you just need to implement those techniques to get the avocado seed sprouting. If you face any difficulties, don’t hesitate to mention it in the comment box.

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