Cloning Your Guacamole: Quirky Ways to Multiply Avocado Trees

So, you love avocados. You’ve got one (or a few) avocado trees in your backyard, and now you’re thinking: Wouldn’t it be great if I had more? But here’s the catch! You don’t want to wait 10+ years for a seed-grown tree to finally produce fruit (Ain’t nobody got time for that!). 

Good news! You can clone your avocado tree and get an exact genetic copy that produces fruit way faster. It’s called propagation by cuttings, and it’s like giving your tree a baby twin...Minus the diapers and midnight crying. 💁 

This guide is backed by expert sources, so you can be sure it works. Let’s break it down into super easy steps (because, honestly, who has time for complicated gardening experiments?). 🙄

Step 1: Grab a Healthy Cutting

🔎 What You Need (Source: Gardening Know How)
✅ A semi-hardwood branch (6-8 inches long) from an avocado tree that’s already producing fruit.
✅ Sharp, clean pruning shears (not your kitchen scissors, please).
✅ A little bit of patience (not too much, don’t worry).

🌿 How to Choose the Best Cutting (Source: The Avolution)

• Look for a branch that’s not too young or too old. You want it slightly firm but still bendy.
• Make sure it has at least 3-4 leaves on it.
• Avoid cuttings that look weak, diseased, or like they’ve been in an avocado street fight. 😬

✂️ Snip It Like a Pro (Source: Gardening Know How)
Cut the branch at a 45-degree angle, about ¼ inch below a leaf node (that’s the bumpy part where leaves grow out).

Step 2: Prepare for Rooting (A.K.A. Convincing Your Cutting to Grow Feet)

Now that you’ve got your future avocado tree in hand, it’s time to help it grow some roots.

🧪 Boost Root Growth with This Trick (Source: YouTube – Grow Avocado with Aloe Vera)
Dipping your cutting in rooting hormone is like giving it a pep talk, it dramatically increases your success rate. If you don’t have rooting hormone, here’s a DIY option:
👉 Honey or Aloe Vera – They have natural rooting properties and work almost as well. Just dip the end, and you’re good to go.

🌱 Set It Up for Success (Source: Gardening Know How)

1. Take a small pot with drainage holes and fill it with a light, well-draining mix (peat moss + perlite works best).
2. Poke a hole in the soil and stick your cutting in about 2 inches deep.
3. Firmly press the soil around it so it stands upright.
4. Water it lightly, moist, not swampy. 😖

Step 3: The Mini Greenhouse Hack (Humidity is Everything!)

Avocado cuttings LOVE humidity, so let’s create a tiny jungle for them.

🛠️ How to DIY a Mini Greenhouse (Source: The Avolution)

• Grab a clear plastic bag or cut the top off a plastic bottle.
• Cover the cutting loosely to trap humidity, but don’t let it touch the leaves.
• Place your baby tree in bright, indirect sunlight, not direct sun (we don’t want roasted avocado leaves). 🫠

⏳ Now, We Wait (But Not Forever) (Source: YouTube – 100% Rooting Success)

In 4-6 weeks, you should see roots starting to form. Exciting! Give the cutting a gentle tug, if it resists, congrats, it’s rooted!

Step 4: Transitioning to a Bigger Pot (The Teenager Phase)

Once your cutting has strong roots (about 2 inches long), it’s time to upgrade.

🌿 Transplant Like a Pro (Source: Gardening Know How)

• Choose a larger pot with nutrient-rich, well-draining soil.
• Carefully remove the cutting and plant it at the same depth.
• Keep it in a warm, sunny spot and water it when the soil feels dry.

🌞 Outdoor Planting (Source: The Avolution)
After 6+ months, if the weather is warm (above 50°F), you can move your baby avocado tree outside. Just harden it off first, gradually expose it to outdoor conditions over a week.

Step 5: Be Patient & Care for Your New Clone

At this point, your cutting is officially an avocado sapling. Here’s how to keep it happy:

✔️ Water regularly, but don’t drown it, avocados hate soggy roots.
✔️ Give it some fertilizer every few months for steady growth.
✔️ Keep an eye out for pests (spider mites and aphids love new growth).

💡 When Will It Fruit? (Source: Gardening Know How)
Your cloned tree will start producing avocados in about 3-5 years, compared to 10+ years for seed-grown trees. That’s like skipping the toddler phase and jumping straight into productivity!

Avocado Cloning is Easier Than You Think! 

If you’ve been putting off growing more avocado trees because you thought it was too complicated, now you know the truth: It’s literally just cut, plant, wait.

And guess what? You don’t need just one. Make a bunch and become the neighborhood avocado supplier. Your future guacamole empire awaits!

👇 Want a step-by-step video tutorial? Let us know in the comments on this blog or on our social media pages! If enough people ask, we’ll make one just for you. 🎥🌱😉 

Ready to start? Check out Everglades Farm for avocado trees and supplies to get growing.