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Young Avocado Tree Leaves Turning Brown

14 years ago

so I started this avocado pit at the beginning of the year, and has been growing like crazy since I put it into a pot, and I even had to transplant it into a bigger pot in late spring. But the past month or so suddenly a bunch of the leaves developed dark brown edges and have started shriveling. Then it finally started growing new leaves again and I figured they'd be fine...but alas, it seems that even the newest leaves are developing this dry brown edges that work across the leaf....and I think my neighbor's grasshopper is coming up for a few visits cuz some of the leaves have been eaten too.

Any ideas what is going on w/ my avocado tree? I've been so proud of it doing so well from a seed.

Here's a couple of pics.
{{gwi:1193145}}2009-11-16 1

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Comments (2)

jean001
14 years ago
I suspect a root problem.

What I see in the pictures.
- It's pale & spindly; it needs much more light.
- I see ring-around-the-pot at the edge of the potting mix. When you water, does it drain freely out the bottom?

What sort of potting mix is it growing in?
Are you fertilizing? If so, with what, also the strength & the frequency?
darkwolfe5
Original Author
14 years ago
Take 2 on posting my response...since the original didnt post the week or so ago....

I'd love to get the tree more light, but I live in a small apt, and only have a VERY small entry balcony that I share w/ 1 neighbor and this time of year especially only gets like 6-8 hrs of direct sunlight

When I water, the water does drain, but has a tendency to sit for a few seconds on top before it all soaks in.

The potting mix is something generic my garden designer friend used when we re-potted it in the spring. I feel that it's time to re-pot it again since I've noticed the main root trying to grow out of the hole at the bottom of the pot, but I dont have any deeper pots to put it in. I have one that's wider, but not deeper.

Fertilizing? I'm just a poor student that's developed a sudden desire for growing things...this is a hobby going crazy and I dont really have money to get fertalizers. I hope to be starting a vermicompost bin soon so I might be able to get some worm tea in the future to use.
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Avocados tend to get ragged looking when the weather is cold. They also don't like wet and cold roots. It makes them vulnerable to root rot. I wouldn't water them in the cold winter unless the soil completely drys out. I wouldn't fertilize them at all unless they are putting on a lot of new growth during the growing season. They are very sensitive to salt accumulation in the soil. My guess would be that it is suffering from the cold weather and/or salt accumulation from the information you gave.
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the roots are stressed from the transplant .. and can not support the leaves ... water properly.. and pray ken ps: grass grew that lushly around the trunk since planting????
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Your tree is certainly being tortured by multiple causes. Avocados like high nitrogen food on a regular schedule. You actually have some fruit on your plant that does not have enough energy to grow leaves, remove the fruit. I would take the whole container and immerse it up to the rim in a tub of water, preferable water without a lot of Boron in it. Does your water source not make available a test report on the water they supply? After you remove the container from the soak and it drains the excess water, I would dissolve a table spoon of avocado labeled food such as that available from Lily Miller or if not available, Miracid or other citrus/avocado food per gallon of water. Good luck on your tree rescue. Al
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Likely something to do with too little water directly to the rootball and isn't rooted in as yet.
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