Why does my avocado plant look like this?

by Cobaltskin
(Romania)

There are too many little branches.

I’m a complete beginner when it comes to gardening. I’ve managed to grow an avocado plant (1yo now) from seed and I feel like I’ve done something wrong in the process (probably when I cut it) because 1) it looks weird.

I may not be an expert but I’m pretty sure this isn’t what it’s supposed to look like and 2) it stopped growing. It keeps making small leaves, then they dry and fall off and the process repeats itself.

I have to mention that I haven’t given it any compost because I don’t know what to actually do with it. Or what soil to pot it in. But the way it developed is what worries me the most.
If you have any suggestions, I would be very grateful.

Thank you!

Comments for Why does my avocado plant look like this?

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Jan 10, 2019

Witches Broom
by: Jacki Cammidge, Certified Horticulturist

I am not an expert in growing avocados, but the one time I did grow one from the giant seed, it made one long stem. Of course, at eleven years old, I didn't know as much about pruning to remove apical dominance then.

The point in pruning off the top is to make the plant more compact, which you've achieved. But, you're right that this looks off.

Witches broom is a bacterial or fungal infection that gets inside the plant and is impossible to treat, and causes this kind of excess growth of small twigs, and mishapen leaves. I don't think there is any fix for this, sorry. It most likely was in the seed right from the start.

More on how to grow Avocados here.

And no amount of compost will help.

My suggestions would be, now you've succeeded in growing one from seed, discard this one and try again.

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