If you are one of those who consume avocados, surely you have tried to grow an avocado tree from the bone of one. Although the process is slow and not everyone succeeds, when you do, you are happy. But if you are also a bonsai lover, you may have doubts about the possibility of creating an avocado bonsai.
Therefore, on this occasion, we will focus on this problem and We’ll help you find out if you can create one and, if so, how to do it. Dark?
Avocado bonsai, is it possible?
It must be assumed that it is very rare to see an avocado bonsai. It is true that practically all trees, even shrubs, are capable of turning into bonsai, but what about the avocado tree?
Taking the internet as a reference, where we searched for information, we have to tell you that yes, it is possible to create a bonsai of this type. It’s not normal, but it is doable.
Now this is not a job for beginners, since the tree will need very specific care and tasks and it can cause problems (you might even say goodbye to your lawyer in no time. But if you want to try, we will help you as much as possible.
What should you consider to make an avocado bonsai
Before giving you the steps or what you need to do to get an avocado bonsai, we want to leave you with a list of some considerations you need to take into account about this type of bonsai. And that’s it, the avocado tree, to turn it into a miniature, it has to go through a few “tasks”.
The first will be a leaf reduction. In case you didn’t know, the tree itself has quite large leaves, some even gigantic, and that’s just not what you’re looking for in a bonsai, but for them to be small. That is why it will be necessary to prune them so that more and more are born small to a “usual” size in a bonsai.
On the other hand, it must be taken into account that once the lawyer is born, in general, he is very fast growing, in addition to growing a lot. It is therefore normal that you should cut it every 7-15 days to maintain its size. Obviously in the beginning you have to let it grow so that the trunk grows bigger, but later it will need good control to prevent it from getting “out of control”.
Finally, you should keep in mind that we are talking about a fruit tree, which means that: 1) you will have to provide you with lots of nutrients on land so that it is well cared for; 2) it is necessary that you meet the conditions the tree needs (especially in case of light and water).
Steps to turn an avocado tree into a bonsai
Now yes. If you have finally decided to turn that sprouted avocado into a bonsai, we are going to give you the keys to achieve it, or at least, so that you have more possibilities.
First of all, a mistake often made is to put in a bonsai pot a plant that has just germinated. This is a big mistake, because the only thing that will be achieved is that the trunk will be very thin, and the plant will not be able to develop the necessary roots.
When sprouting avocado from the bone, it is important to let it grow. It must develop roots. The more, the better. This means that it will surely have to be left for a few months “of its own accord” for it to grow well. Now what you can do is, when it’s about 15 centimeters, start cutting to give more strength to the trunk part and, in this way, fatten it up.
The first thing will be place the plant in a “training” pot. They are similar to those you use in other plants, i.e. wide and tall. The objective is none other than the good development of the tree, both at the level of the roots and the trunk. And here it will spend several months or even years, because it needs to grow before it can be turned into a bonsai. But that, as you’ve seen before, doesn’t mean you can’t shape it. Indeed, you can use wire to orient the chest according to the direction you want; or start reducing the leaves, so that they do not grow much (in height, but in density), etc.
Normally in this pot, if you want it to be good, It should take between 1 and 2 years. After the time is up (and if you’ve worked with it, you’ll have done a lot already), it’s handy to transfer it to a smaller jar. Not really a short bonsai, but a more intermediate one. And for that, you will have to undertake one of the most stressful times that can kill your avocado: root pruning.
You should know that avocado roots are very sensitive. And that means if you touch them a lot or, as in this case, go overboard with their pruning, it can lead to the death of the tree.
This is why it is necessary to be very careful and if possible to do it very subtly. It is better to cut little by little, every x months, than to do it drastically because avocado bonsai may not resist it.
If you get it, in a few years you would have done it already, and you’ll be proud, especially if it came from a bone.
What needs do you have?
Finally, we want to leave you here in summary, the conditions and care you should give to your avocado bonsai project for it to develop properly.
- Location: place it in a warm place, ideal if the temperature does not drop below 12 degrees. He loves the sun, so if you place him in an area where it gets direct, he will be happy.
- Irrigation: This is what can affect your avocado the most, as he is very sensitive (and it can also cause him to suffer from fungus or make him sick if you go too far). For this reason, on this occasion, it is better to leave it a little thirsty than to overdo it by watering. Always wait until the soil is completely dry before watering it.
- Cut: It is convenient to prune it, especially if you want an avocado bonsai tree, but do not go too far if it is young. As we told you previously, it is better for it to branch out well when young and then cut branches rather than interrupt its growth.
Do you dare to make an avocado bonsai?