I have to disagree with jean001 a little. New potting soil (looks like yours has some perlite as well) will not compact and/or dry out such that it pulls away from the edge of the pot, and water runs right through without wetting it. Given the size of your pot, and the amount you're watering, I'd say it's been too wet. Avocados like well-drained soil, on the slightly dry side. A new tree, with few roots to absorb and transpire water, doesn't require much. As it grows and water needs increase, it can use more, but easy does it. As jean001 suggested, growing in a pot is MUCH different than in the ground. Care must be taken to maintain the correct soil moisture. There are perhaps a few avocado varieties that will produce in a container, but it would have to be a very large container. Also, you'll get few, if any, fruits, without cross-pollination. If you maintain a drier pot, and keep an eye on moisture levels further down in the mix before watering, it's possible your tree will come back. The way it's looking at the moment, I'd give it about a 30-40% chance. Also, small avocados are prone to sunburn -- don't keep it in direct sun all day. Shade it slightly, and/or paint the trunk. -Bruce

Well, after looking at the pic, the pink one is likely toast. You may have a chance at rooting the yellow/orange one by cutting it off half way between the rot and the yellow (cheating closer to the yellow) let it callous over and then try and root it. If you try this with the pink one, do it in a separate pot. The soil you have them in looks quite heavy, what is it? tj

I bought at a steep discount and planted in the dead of summer, knowing some might die. ===>>> what can you do????? not buy bargain plants .... they were already tortured and stressed ... not plant them in the heat of summer ... increasing their torture and stress ... NOW is the time to go get some smaller ... cheap pines.. and plant them right now ... PROPERLY ... and they will have two cool root growing seasons before the heat of next summer .... just put #2 out of your misery ... its probably not worth the cost of the fertilizer.. which is never needed ... ken

Are you sure it had mealy bugs? I don't use pesticide sprays ! -- for mealies, just dab them with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. The chemicals you've used have probably contributed to the plant's demise. You say it's a huge plant, so what I'd do is take some cuttings (about 6" long). Wash them in dish-soapy water that's a comfortable temperature for your hands (not too hot or too cold). Be certain that all the bugs are off of the cuttings, rinse, then put the cuttings in a glass of water. If there's enough life left in them, they will grow fine in water for a LONG time, and if the mother plant dies you'll have the new starts.