iamemeraldfox:

iamemeraldfox:

iamemeraldfox:

I have a plant question can anyone help me?

This is my avocado Jarvis.

I planted him not long ago and he’s already 12cm tall. But since I have him on the windowsil I’d rather he branches out than just keep getting taller.

Is it possible to cut the top and make him spread sideways without killing or harming him? All avocado plants I googled are too tall and just grow straight up.

Thank you! 🌱

@ssree said:

What search words did you use in google, just so I can minimize the overlap?

I found a site that explains it a bit. The word I needed was pruning haha. I need to research it some more since I need to disinfect the pruning tools apparently?

I guess I need to wait until the avocado grows 20cm tall? I’m still afraid I’ll damage it somehow.

This site

After watching tons of youtube how-to guides and reading several articles I now kinda have a plan XD

First I’ll wait for the leaves to develop a bit more.Then I’ll cut off as much of the stem as possible while keeping at least some of the leaves. This will cause branching or so they say. After the first branches appear I’ll have to keep pruning the ‘leader’ branch (‘the leader’ will keep inhibiting other branch growth). I’ll just keep doing this to keep the plant bushy and small. 

Also I’ll move Jarvis to the south-facing kitchen window as soon as Spring comes for extra light. He’ll probably grow too tall for my 6500K lamp by then.

Probably the best route of action. Pruning (and even just pinching) them when they’re barely seedlings can be pretty high risk. Good on your to research and get a plan going!

iamemeraldfox:

I bought a 6500 Kelvin lightbulb for my green lovelies! Now they can do all the photosynthesis they want, despite the Northern facing window!

iamemeraldfox:

Sad news: I just threw away the avocado seed I was hoping will grow. It’s been two months and still nothing. I cracked it open and there was a teeny-tiny thing inside, but it didn’t appear to be growing.

So now I have a pot of soil and nothing to use it for.

I’m thinking of hitting the store and buying ginger. I can plant that? The leaves look pretty and it doesn’t mind shade.

Definitely try it! Just make sure the ginger you buy has active buds and that you soak it in water good so that you can try to get any of the growth inhibitors off of it which grocery store bought root veggies tend to have.