How to Care for a Holiday Avocado Tree

Avocado trees are popular among home gardeners for many reasons. They have large, glossy leaves, are easy to grow, and provide a wonderful gourmet fruit. You may remember grade-school science projects involving toothpicks and avocado pits; you probably also remember that, although those turned into beautiful trees, they rarely provided fruit. Only certain varieties of avocados will self-fruit, and the Holiday Avocado is one of those varieties. They can be grown both indoors and out, and are known for their large, delicious fruit. They are one of the few avocados that bear fruit near winter, hence their name.

Large planter with wheels

Spade

Cactus potting mix

Fertilizer

Plant the avocado tree in as large of a container as can easily be moved from outdoors to indoors. Holiday Avocados, like most avocados, are cold-tender and susceptible to frost. If the temperature is moderate, the avocado tree can be left outdoors if it has a wind bank or is sheltered; otherwise, it will need to be moved indoors before a cold snap.

Plant the avocado tree in well-draining soil such as planting soil made for cacti. Avocado trees do not do well in clay soil or any soil that will encourage root rot. Plant the tree in the container so that there is at least 6 inches of potting soil under and on all sides of the existing root-ball. Plant in a container that has holes in the bottom for drainage and a pan or plate underneath to catch any drainage. Do not allow water to build up at the root base.

Position the avocado tree in an area that will get as much moderate hours of sun a day as possible. Avoid areas with full blistering sun and those with weak, filtered sunlight. Position the tree outside in an area that gets sun but also gets some shelter from other trees.

Bring the avocado tree indoors when there is threat of frost or excessive wind. Fertilize indoor trees once every three months with a diluted half-solution of liquid fertilizer suitable for fruits or vegetables.

Holiday Avocados will fruit indoors, unlike many other avocado varieties. Keeping consistent lighting and temperature will help set the fruit.

Holiday Avocados are considered dwarf trees in that they can be kept smaller indoors through pinching and pruning. Outdoors they may grow from 10 to 20 feet tall.

Avocados do not ripen on their trees. When they appear to be ripe, they must be picked and then allowed to soften off of the tree.

Do not over-water avocado trees. Do not allow their roots to sit in water, or they will rot. They can tolerate a small amount of drying out.