How To Stop Avocado Trees Being So Tall And Skinny

Do you have a young avocado tree that is tall, skinny, lanky, or flimsy? In this video, I discuss why it has grown that way, and what you can do to get it to thicken up, grow branches and more leaves.

00:00 - How do I stop my avocado trees being so tall and skinny?
00:40 - How do avocado trees grow?
04:44 - So what should we do about it?
06:35 - Summary

Videos mentioned in this video:

[SkyelementK]

I finally grew a tree. 3 stories tall. Solo tree first floor in a So Florida condo. Started indoors, of course it's outdoors. North side of bldg. Some avocados are almost 3 lbs. Huge. This year yielded 24 or so. Wow. What a thrill. I've tried my entire life. Since 18yrs old. I'm 70 now. Yummy avocado. Incredible.

[AutumnSpicer]

Okay, but can we talk about those curls? So flawless!

[jenniferwhorley]

Man, I love this site. After watching the episode on terracotta pots I finally got an avocado to make the transition from water to soil. My avocado, which I refer to as Mr. Avac-Ahdoo so it feels special is doing wonderfully. He's nearly a year old now and is 54cm tall and one of his 36 leaves is 31cm x 12cm. I haven't pruned him yet but he is branching on his own with 2 branches: 13cm and 4cm. I have tried to get so many of these things to grow only to have them die horrible deaths. This one seems quite pleased in his terracotta pot with his oh so cheery pink-flowered Christmas cactus friend next to him. Thanks Scott!!

[beachpotato]

Thank you for the tips, I am growing my first avocado baby ! It just started giving me tiny leaves, so I moved it in a sunnier spot. I hope it goes well 😊

[afzalbhuiyan]

You can encourage bringing branches any abocado small tree by wiring and bend and hold for few weeks. Once the stem is stressed it will produce branches. I am doing this method for orange, lemon, magnolia, cherry, apple, maple tree also. You can try this, it will help you design the multiple branches.

[BrianGreen-jlhz]

I was so pleased to grow an avocado tree from a stone. However over 1 year later & with a 22inch tall thin stem & leaves going brown & dying on me even though new grow continues to grow from the top I googled "pruning an avocado tree". I took me courage in both hands & have cut it in half just above a leaf mode. I also realise that I am overwatering. Thanks for your help.

[bjornjohansen]

Loving the creative hand drawn animations. Makes the content so very handmade.

[ummebumme]

Fire vid man!
Always nice with a friendly and chill deep-dive guide😁

[mchen]

I can't stop looking at his pretty curled hair!!! Good information as well

[freddieleech]

I dropped an avacado seed in an old flower pot, 6 monts later I find it has grown into a beautifull plant,
however I am a bit scared to prune it, but I don't want it to turn into that super long and thin tree
so I decided I would cut it thanks to this video! And It has turnd out sucsess full =)

[margaretcave]

I had bought an avocado to have for dinner ..when I cut it open, the pit was cracked and it had a root growing already!... I never grown anything in my life..but I decided to put the avocado seed in a cup of water after piercing three toothpicks.
It's been a month and the roots are growing so fast and the leaves are starting to grow. I Saw your videos and you still have the growing stems in water. When should I plant the avocado seed? My stems are only 1/4 th growth than yours. I don't want my first baby tree to die!... I now " talk " to it ( When my mom was alive, she used to talk to her plants. She told me it helps them grow strong and happy) when do I transfer it to a pot? GOD BLESS, PEACE OUT.🙏🤟🥰
[ Edit ] 2 months later..my avocado plant has grown 39 inches. Yayyy👏🤣.... The roots are very long....amd the stem is 39 inches....I need to pot it..
for I still have it in water...ITS GROWING BEAUTIFUL 😍
My very FIRST TIME HAVING A
GREEN THUMB. 👍 😃 😄
who knows?... I may start a little garden. 🥰
🙏🙏✌🙌

..

[arizpops]

Good stuff Scott. I have 5 avocado trees growing in a single large pot. My plan was to have all kinds of branches and foliage, similar in appearance in a word "Bushy" to my oleander plants. I'm now going to bet busy and do some trimming. Thanks

[dannyw]

Thanks Scott! I can't believe I grow them in North Europe (indoors). Still only 100cm with lots of leaves. But I need to learn what to do with sick leaves with tiny holes and the ones with drying tips.

[Kuro_Reaper]

Thank you for this video. :)
I was worrying my avocado tree was not growing well because it is really short. It looked healthy and had lots of leaves though (until I pruned it). Now I won't be so worried anymore. :)

[marissa]

Really really helpful. I hate the idea of pruning my avo bc I’m scared that it might not grow back😂 but one of my Avos stopped growing and I pruned it and it grew a branch. So pruning is needed 😂

[markb]

Great tips n tricks Scott. Thanks. I have two avocado trees growing started accidentally in my compost bin. Then rescued & planted in pots here in Maryland. They thrive year ‘round in our “sun” room. Not spindly at all at about 40cm. Nice & leafy, one main stem but nodes nice & close. I’m guessing lots of light maintains nodal growth closer. Anyhow, i trimmed the very apical tip off. Hoping for nice branches. How about fertilizer? How much, how often?

[shelleyadipietro]

Thank you that was very helpful, I have two trees in the same pot and my new trees about 16 inches tall, leaving and 5 inches no leaves. Planted both at the same time, but growing differently.

[fatfish]

I have been growing mu avocado tree for about 4 years. Its about 40cm tall with only a single stem. Can I cut the top of it as you mentioned in your video or is it too old for pruning now? Thank you for the advice. Great video with lots of information.

[marieldenboer]

Quick question, I live in a northern climate. I'd like to move my new tree outside but wonder what temperature lows it can handle. We are entering early autumn.

[tynamadrigal]

Just found you few days ago as I've been gifted an avacado tree. I "pruned" it but I'm so worried it's going to die😬. It is a tree that's been around s few years. I changed its pot to a 10 gallon, and want to keep it potted as long as I can. So hopefully with your videos I'll learn how to take care of it to be a healthy beautiful tree. 😊