Yes they grow one root without branches until they reach a limit "the end of the container. I've noticed that too. Had them in a water glass and it started to sprout a new branch really tiny, I then switched to a bigger glass because I wanted it to have more space and instead of continuing with the new branch it continued growing the main root while it didn't for weeks in the old glass. So it stops only growing this one big root the moment it has to limit it's growth.
I messaged you on here or IG about this... I actually did it on a lot of my seedlings before transferring them to their 6 inch pots (from a water bath). I did it in January. It's now April. And they're all still alive.
I have recently pruned the main tap root of a seedling, just started to emerge top growth from the seed. Root has since put out more feeder roots. I think this will be beneficial in the long run for the health of the plant versus relying on a single, long tap root. Especially for a container grown plant. My focus is bonsai, but have had success with avocado - have one over 5 years now and looks very gnarly! I hope my root chop experiment at a very early stage pays off!
I just did it this afternoon with a 6 foot tall 1 year 2 month old avocado grown from seed. Root circling was bad as I suspected. It was requiring more and more water all the time or leaves and branch tips would droop. And apart from more time spent and water waste, the roots could eventually drown anyway or get root rot. So out it went. I cut 50% of the root ball. Sides and bottom. Taproot too. Then back in it went, same soil (still looked good). Shortly later the branches and leaves drooped so sadly and I wondered if it would survive the root pruning and repotting. But just 4-5 hours later the branches and leaves stood up again so it looks to have taken well. Now the roots have room to grow again for another year.
This is super interesting. In my bonsai learning theres been a lot on pruning the roots, I havent ever cut that main or tap roots, but some suggest cutting up to 1/3 of the root mass just like pruning 1/3 above. Also, I wonder if air pruning would be a technique that works for avacados. Its a way to get a smaller, more full root ball. I always love experiments! Thank you for this video!
As I understand it, cutting the tap root can stunt the growth of a tree. It is a method often used with Bonsai trees to "minimize" them. If the tree survives, I would expect the feeder roots to expand into the soil at an increased rate for a short period. I've done this to Pin Oak many years ago. It is still only three feet tall and happy in a rather small ten-gallon container. The tree will likely grow slower and the leaves could become smaller overall but could also end up denser. It is a risk but could prove to be worth it. My Pin Oak's leave became smaller over time but not a lot and is healthy and strong at 25 years old. Also, note that cutting a root in a water-bound plant may react very differently from one in soil. The point at which the tree is cut is an open wound that may be subject to any number of ailments. Soils tend to carry a larger number of possible bad agents than water. Good luck to everyone growing Avodacos. ---Just my two cents.
Hmm , I think the best thing to do in the very beginning is to grow it in the size of pot you want it to stay in forever, or similar types of pots thru-out its life because the main root will form to its shape and to prune it later you could then prune the smaller roots that come off the main root.
Not from what I’ve read, too big a pot at the start makes it difficult to maintain proper soil moisture and in many cases ends in a root rot problem due to slower drying out of the soil.
Hi! I trimmed the top of my avocado tree as I’ve done before when it got to about 10 inches. I decided to put the top in water but now that’s alive and thriving while the bottom half and the roots have died off in the soil!! Is there a way to keep the top healthy even without the seed and roots? It hasn’t grown any roots in the water but has stayed alive for the past couple months.
Hello Scott. So I have figured out that my avocado tree that I have kept in its container from Home depot is suffering from too much Chloride in the water. I've read that if I plant this in the ground that soil around it will be able to absorb the chloride better and not saturate the roots so much. Is that a correct assumption? And my next question is, how should I treat the roots before I plant it in the ground. I think the roots are so saturated with chloride that its about to die.
I have 8 avocados and they all have tons of roots, of course including the main root. I’ve sprouted them using the paper towel method and then grew them in water. My roots are to long and there all white and healthy and I just want to know how many inches of root should I keep?
I was growing a seed but for some reason the container fell and the seed was split in two. It had a root already but the tip of it broke. I tried to keep growing it but it’s been a week and I don’t see the main root growing. Just tiny roots at the top starting to come out. Should I try again or keep growing this one?
HELP! I have a beautiful 1 1/2 year old avocado tree grown in water about 2 1/2 feet tall. She looks amazing and was doing great and sprouting tiny new leaf growth all up her stalk that I was looking forward to. I decided to move her to a larger jar as her roots were big, coiling and looking cramped. I washed the roots and put her in a new jar. Its been about 5 months now and she stopped growing from the time I moved her. Even the tiny new leaflets stopped growing too as is they are frozen in time. They did not fall off they just stopped mid grow. All the leaves still look healthy and the plant itself looks ok but she just stopped growing. Any tips? I am scared to transplant her in soil as I seem to lose them in that process. I have never fertilized, just used arrowhead water and she gets lots of indirect light.
