Many hobby gardeners are unsure, especially when it comes to the correct fertilization. Which fertilizer do I use? How much of it do I need and how often do I have to fertilize? Such questions are usually not easy to answer. In this article we will explain to you how to properly fertilize your home-grown avocado tree.
How should you properly fertilize an avocado?
Fertilize avocado properly: Start with low-s alt liquid fertilizer in a quarter of the recommended amount every 2-3 weeks for young plants. Increase the amount of fertilizer for older plants and fertilize every 4-6 weeks. Use special green plant, citrus, balcony or universal fertilizers and pause fertilizing in the winter months.
Young plants do not need fertilizer
Young avocados do not need fertilizer until they are four to six months old, as they get their nutrients from the seed. This source only dries up after a few months, so you can slowly get your plant used to fertilizer. To do this, always use a liquid fertilizer (€13.00 on Amazon) that you add to the irrigation water. But be careful: young plants in particular don't need too much of it; a third or even a quarter of the amount stated on the package is sufficient as fertilizer. You should fertilize about every two to three weeks.
Fertilize correctly during the growth phase
Later you can increase the amount of fertilizer, but lengthen the interval. Older avocados are content with one dose every four to six weeks. It also makes sense to repot the avocado regularly and replace the soil. On the one hand, your avocado will grow better in a larger pot and on the other hand, small pots can encourage root rot.
Optimal liquid fertilizers for avocados:
- Green plant fertilizer
- Citrus fertilizer
- Balcony and pot plant fertilizer
- Universal fertilizer
Do not fertilize during winter rest
If you want your avocado to continue growing in the winter, you should continue to fertilize it - but much less often than in the summer months. The situation is different when there is a planned winter rest: then fertilizer applications are rather counterproductive. In principle, it is enough to fertilize between April and September and suspend it in the winter months.
Tips & Tricks
The avocado does not tolerate s alty soils particularly well. For this reason, make sure to use fertilizers that are as low in s alt as possible and, above all, not to fertilize too often. If in doubt, repot the plant in a pot with fresh soil.
