Gardening with Gary

Gardening Advice from an Expert

Avocados

Q. Lori writes~ I have grown an avocado plant and it's now 6 feet high. The stem is very thin and is connected to of course a stick. I do not want to kill the plant, but I need to have the base thicken out. Am I too late for this when it is this high? Really would appreciate help. I love my plant.

A. This is very unusual for an avocado to grow that tall and have such a weak trunk. I suggest that you improve your fertilizing and watering programs. Start applying a weekly food high in Nitrogen, the first number in the formula. Find an ornamental product from a nursery. Do not use regular house plant food. The formula should also include trace or minor elements. They are listed on the package. It could be your soil or potting mix is deficient in a certain one, so after a couple months of increased fertilizing and watering more often, you should see a strengthening of the trunk. Keep the plant protected and secured to a strong stake to avoid snapping off.