If you’ve ever tried to cultivate an avocado tree starting from its seed, it’s likely you’re aware that this task can be intricate and requires a significant amount of time.
It’s so complicated that some people think they can actually grow an avocado tree by putting an avocado pit in water.
That’s right – you heard me correctly.
Some people believe that if you put an avocado pit in water, it will eventually grow into a tree.
But what they don’t realize is that this isn’t true.
The pit will only grow roots and leaves, not a full-fledged tree.
So, why do people continue to perpetuate these myths?
What is the avocado pit in water myth?
The avocado pit in water myth is an urban legend.
There is no evidence that supports the idea that you can grow an avocado tree by planting an avocado pit.
This myth started as far back as 1910 when the New York Times ran an article about how people were trying to “grow trees out of pits.”
Since then, many articles have appeared online that talk about the avocado pit in water myth.
For example, the Huffington Post published an article in 2014 titled, “Growing Avocado Trees From Pits in Water,” which details the story behind the myth.
That same year, Reddit user “FrozenBreeze” posted a forum thread about the avocado pit in water myth with over 2,000 comments.
But is there any truth to the avocado pit in water myth?
Let’s take a look at what the avocado pit in water myth says and find out whether it’s really true or not.
How did the avocado pit in water myth start?
So, according to the avocado pit in water myth, you can plant an avocado pit in water and pretty soon after, you’ll see branches coming out of the water.
However, this isn’t true.
To understand why, we must first understand how avocados grow.
Avocados are members of the lily family (Liliaceae).
They belong to the genus Persea and the species persea americana.
You can also call them “avocados.”
These fruits contain a large seed that grows inside the fruit.
When the seed inside the ripe fruit begins to ripen, it sends out a shoot that grows down through the flesh of the fruit.
When the shoot reaches the bottom of the fruit, it creates a new cavity where it can grow.
Eventually, this cavity becomes big enough for a whole new avocado fruit to grow inside.
And that’s exactly what happens.
While the avocado seeds can easily sprout into shoots, sometimes they won’t.
If the seed doesn’t sprout, it will rot instead.
What are the benefits of placing an avocado pit in water?
Some people actually use avocado pits in the garden because they think they can help their plants grow.
But what do people mean when they say “planting an avocado pit in water?”
Well, the idea here is to soak the avocado pit in water until the flesh starts to rot.
Then, you remove the flesh from the pit and use it to feed your plants.
Many people claim this practice works well, but others disagree.
For instance, one user on Reddit wrote, “I have used avocado pulp from my avocadoes to fertilize my indoor houseplants.
I have had 100% success and have grown several indoor plants.
My mother has done the same thing and has had success growing herbs and vegetables indoors.”
However, other people have claimed that soaking an avocado pit in water isn’t going to help your plants grow.
One Reddit user said, “You can’t just put anything in water.
If you want a plant to grow, it needs nutrients, and you need to give it those nutrients.
Water alone is not enough.”
Others have stated that avocado pits aren’t good for your plants because they contain natural pesticides called eucalyptol and terpinene.
Since these chemicals protect the avocado fruit while it’s still attached to the tree, you shouldn’t expect your plants to get any benefit from them if you soak an avocado pit in water.
Are there any drawbacks to placing an avocado pit in water?
One drawback to using avocado pits in the garden is that it’s hard to tell whether the pit is rotten or not.
If you try to eat the flesh of a rotting avocado pit, nothing will happen.
This is similar to what would happen if you took a dead animal’s skeleton, soaked it in water, and fed it to your plants.
That’s not going to help your plants grow.
Some people might argue that you could make your own fertilizer by simply soaking the pit in water until it rots.
But since the flesh of an avocado pit contains natural pesticides, it may not be safe for your plants to ingest.
Plus, if you’re not careful, you could accidentally eat the flesh yourself and risk getting sick from it.
How long does an avocado pit need to be in water before it starts working?
It depends on the type of plant you’re trying to grow.
Different kinds of plants require different levels of nutrients to survive.
Plants such as tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant need high amounts of nitrogen to thrive.
On the other hand, plants like squash or cucumbers require smaller amounts of nitrogen.
You can’t just throw any old piece of avocado flesh in the ground and expect it to work.
You need to choose plants based on the amount of nutrition they need.
In addition to nutrients, you need sunlight to grow healthy plants.
If your soil is dark and damp, your plants won’t receive much light.
So, keep your plants away from areas that are shaded or shady.
You can add peat moss to your soil to make it lighter and more absorbent.
Peat moss helps your plants soak up the sun’s rays and gives them energy.
How often should you change the water when placing an avocado pit in it?
Once every three days is usually enough.
If you live somewhere with wet weather, you could even wait longer than that because your plant will probably be able to use all of its nutrients sooner rather than later.
Can you place more than one avocado pit in a container of water?
Yes, you can! Just make sure each avocado pit gets plenty of fresh water so that it stays moist.
What happens if you leave an avocado pit in water for too long?
If you let an avocado pit sit in water for too long, you could end up with mold instead of a tree.
This usually occurs because the avocado pit is too dry.
Soaking it in water only makes matters worse because it’ll cause the
avocado pit to rot.
To prevent mold from forming on your avocado pit, just drain any
excess liquid off of it before letting it sit in water.
Another way to avoid this problem is to soak the avocado pit in a
bowl filled with water.
That way, the avocado pit will stay moister.
Avocado Toast Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 slice of bread
- ½ avocado
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Toast your piece of bread until it is firm and brown.
- Your avocado’s pit should be removed. The flesh should be removed using a large spoon. It should be mashed with a fork in a bowl until it is as smooth as you prefer. Add a small amount of salt—about 1/8 teaspoon—and taste before adding more, if desired.
- Toast should be topped with avocado. Enjoy as is or add any other ingredients from this post
Video
Nutrition
I have a true passion for cooking and experimenting with new ingredients, and I have been creating and perfecting recipes for friends and family for years.
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