How to Plant, Grow, and Care For Avocado Trees in Pots and Containers

Container growing can be a great solution for gardeners in cool climates who want to grow their own avocado trees. Join Florida gardener Melissa Strauss for some tips on growing one of these tropical trees in a pot or container.

There is no doubt about it, avocados are popular. With some amazing nutritional benefits and that famously creamy texture, there just is no substitute for this tasty fruit. The trees, however, are tropical and grow in a relatively limited range.

If you don’t live in a warm climate, you’ve probably been stuck paying top dollar for your avocados at the supermarket. If this is your plight, I have some excellent news for you! There are varieties of avocado that you can grow in a pot or container, even in cool climates.

Growing an avocado tree in a pot or container allows you to bring it indoors for the winter. Since these trees are not especially cold-tolerant, they won’t survive the winter in many parts of the country. Planting yours in a container will make all the difference if you live north of zone 9. Here’s how to do it!
What Are Avocado Trees?

Avocado trees are multi-branched evergreens that love warm, humid weather and lots of sunshine. As a result, they can be a challenge to grow in cool climates and indoors. However, some excellent dwarf varieties will thrive in a large container. Let’s talk about these trees and how to keep them healthy in a pot.

Characteristics
When discussing growing an avocado tree in a pot or container, we will primarily focus on dwarf varieties. A standard-sized tree can reach anywhere from 20 to 80 feet tall at maturity, so naturally, these are tough to bring in for the winter. Dwarf varieties often stay between eight and 12 feet tall, and you can keep them even shorter by pruning properly.

Dwarf avocado trees are slower growing and have a dense, bushy form compared to most standard trees. A grafted cultivar can produce fruit in about two to four years, and the fruits are comparable in size and quality to a standard. They are slower growing and ideal for urban gardeners or anyone with limited space.

Native Area
Avocado trees are native to the southern part of Central America. Their range spans from the eastern highlands of central Mexico, down through Guatemala, and into some parts of South America. They appear in tropical and subtropical mountainous regions at elevations up to 6,600 feet.

Planting
Since we are discussing growing avocado trees in containers or pots, we won’t delve into the specific time of year. You can purchase and repot your tree at any time of year, as long as you provide it with proper care, including limiting exposure to cold temperatures. Choose a large container, as large as possible, to contain the extensive root system.

A wide pot is going to be more effective than a deep one. These trees have shallow, fibrous, and extensive root systems that don’t extend deeply into the earth. Most of the root system will be in the top several inches of soil.

For a young tree, choose a pot that is at least 12″-15″ in diameter. A mature tree will thrive best in a container that holds 20-25 gallons, so plan for that when you decide where it will live during the colder months.

How to Grow
They aren’t difficult to grow in general, but in a pot or container, avocado trees will do best with consistent care. They don’t need much, but their needs are relatively specific, making the difference between a healthy tree and one that fails to thrive.
Maintenance

Pruning your avocado tree is essential for maintaining its compactness, health, and productivity, resulting in a tree that bears a plentiful harvest of fruit. The ideal time to prune is in late winter or early spring, just before new growth begins. Aim for an open, rounded canopy, as this allows air and light to reach all parts of the foliage.

Remove waterspouts and vertical shoots, as they promote vertical growth. You want your tree to stay on the shorter side, so encourage horizontal branching. Tip all the new shoots, just removing an inch or two from the ends. Aim to keep your potted tree between six and eight feet tall.

Propagation
The most common method for propagating an avocado tree is through grafted cuttings. You can grow one from seed, and we will talk about how. However, this won’t always breed true to the parent plant. In other words, a hybrid tree might revert to the parent characteristics if you grow it from seed. Grafting produces a clone of the parent tree.