Once you have successfully grown the small avocado tree, you need to take good care of it and ensure a constantly warm and bright environment. With a little luck, your avocado will bloom for the first time between the ages of four and ten.
When does an avocado plant bloom and how is it pollinated?
With care and optimal conditions, an avocado flower occurs at the age of four to ten years and requires cross-pollination as the plant is sterile. Regular pruning and the use of flowering plant fertilizer can promote flower formation.
Numerous flowers, but low chance of pollination
An avocado tree has a lot of flowers that are yellow-green in color. However, even in nature, only about every 5,000 flowers are actually fertilized. The reason for this lies in the complex pollination of the plant. Avocados are hermaphrodites, i.e. H. they have both male and female flowers. However, the tree cannot pollinate itself and is dependent on cross-pollination. Furthermore, fruit formation is made more difficult by the fact that stamens and stigmas do not open at the same time.
Tips & Tricks
To encourage your tree to produce flowers, you should cut it back regularly and encourage it with special fertilizer for flowering plants. A warm, draft-free place in the sun also ensures that the avocado feels comfortable. If the male and female flowers open at the same time, try pollinating them with a brush. Good luck!