Image – Flickr/Mauricio Mercadante
How is the avocado irrigation? It is a fruit tree that cannot be thirsty for long, especially in summer with high temperatures. Thus, in regions where there is drought, or where there is little rain during the hottest months of the year, it is important to water from time to time so that the roots can fulfill one of their most important functions. most important: absorb water and send it to the rest of the plant.
But as you well know, there are several ways to rehydrate it: with a hose, with a drip irrigation system… Which is the best method for avocados? Good a lot will depend on where it is grownfor the same will not be used to water a potted tree than one which is planted in the orchard or garden.
How much water does an avocado need?
Image – Flickr/giveawayboy
The avocado tree, whose scientific name is persian american, is a natural plant of the tropical region of America; that is, it is found from Mexico to Central America. In these places, the rains are very abundant, to the point that it may well rain every few days. So our protagonist It is a plant that requires a lot of water, at least 1000 millimeters of annual precipitation distributed throughout the year.
For this reason, in areas where it rains less, such as the Mediterranean region, irrigation becomes a task that every gardener or hobbyist must do for the plant to survive; Otherwise, it will dry out quickly.
Which irrigation system to use?
Like almost everything in life, it depends. And from what? Well, concerning the avocado tree, whether it is planted in the ground or not. Forks that if it is in the garden or in the orchard we can choose to install a drip irrigation system, which will allow us to make better use of water. But if we are going to have it in a pot, it may be more practical to use a watering can, especially if the tree is still young.
Is it possible to use the pipe? Well, if he’s been in the field for at least two years, yes.. During the first months, the soil just above is very light, not very compact, so if you water it with a hose, you risk leaving the most superficial roots exposed. But yes: as far as possible, it is preferable to regulate the flow of water by connecting an irrigation gun that allows it.
No matter what you are going to use, keep this in mind so your avocado can better enjoy the water:
- If it is in a pot, it is important that the base of the trunk is about 2-3 centimeters below the edge of the pot.
- If he is on the ground, it does not hurt to make a hole around the trunk and about 30 centimeters from it.
In this way, the fruit tree will have more time to absorb the precious liquid and hydrate itself.
How often should you water an avocado?
Image – Wikimedia/Vitaium
Since it needs a lot of water and there is no climate like this, soil moisture should be checked before watering. And it is that in the Mediterranean, for example, since it usually does not rain at all in summer, it will be necessary to hydrate the tree several times a week, as in any other region where drought is a problem. But on the contrary, if it rains regularly, throughout the year, then it will be necessary to water little because the ground will remain humid longer.
In addition, you should know that a potted plant will need to be watered more often than one that is in the ground, especially if it is made of plastic, since it is a material that absorbs a lot of heat, which causes the roots to overheat. In the same way that humans sweat, that is, we lose water, which increases our feeling of thirst, the root system does something similar: the higher the temperature, the greater the demand hydration is important.
If we add to this the short time it takes for the soil to dry out, we can get an idea of the importance of irrigation in summer. For it, it is necessary to water 3 to 5 times a week in the middle of summer. But the rest of the year we will space out the risks.
What kind of water do avocados need?
The water that all living things need is clean rainwater (i.e. it is not accompanied by mud or toxic substances). It is the purest, the one that our body appreciates the most. For this reason, when we want to know what is the best irrigation water for avocados, we must know that it is undoubtedly rainwater. But, What do we do if it doesn’t rain a lot in our area?
When this situation occurs, then we will have to look for alternatives. Fortunately, the lawyer is not very picky. It can be irrigated with water with a pH of 4 to 7 without any problem. This means that it will go well with an acid, slightly acid or even alkaline. But be careful: you should not use one that has a high concentration of lime, otherwise said lime will end up clogging the pores of the roots and leaves, preventing them from breathing.
Related article:
What is the pH of water?
Watering avocados isn’t complicated, but hopefully these tips can help make your fruit tree healthier.