Mango and avocado become especially popular in the winter period — their season is in full swing. If you want to add a new green element to your home, try germinating the pits of your favorite fruits. The process is simple and brings a lot of joy. We will tell you how to do it.
It is important to note that growing a fruit-bearing tree in an apartment is unlikely to succeed. In our latitudes, they do not reach significant sizes. However, even with proper care, fruits can be expected no earlier than in 3–5 years. Germinating pits is more of an engaging activity and a visual lesson in botany for children.
How to Germinate Avocado
To increase the chances of successful germination, choose a ripe Hass avocado with dark skin. It should not be overripe and black. Fruits with smooth light skin are often supplied unripe, which reduces the likelihood of germination. Ideally, the pit should be large — this indicates good growth potential.
The process of germinating the pit using the open method:
Carefully extract the pit from the avocado using your hands or a knife. Rinse it under water to remove any remaining pulp.
Using a knife, cut open the brown shell of the seed and remove it. Then cut off 0.5–1 cm from the flat bottom of the pit. This will speed up the germination process.
Find the "equator" of the pit and insert 2–4 toothpicks just above it to secure it on a glass.
Pour room-temperature or filtered water into the clear glass so that it covers 1/3 of the pit, avoiding the areas where the toothpicks are inserted.
Place the pit in the glass. Change the water once a week and rinse the glass. In about 2–3 weeks, depending on the light and temperature, the pit will begin to germinate.
When the roots reach 3 cm, you can plant the pit in the soil, leaving about half exposed to the air. Choose a small pot (10 cm in diameter) and well-draining potting soil for palms, adding perlite or vermiculite.
The process of germinating the avocado pit using the closed method:
Repeat steps 1–2 from the previous list. Prepare a pot and well-draining potting soil for palms.
Plant the pit so that only 1/3 of its volume is in the soil.
Spray it with a mist and cover it with a bottle with the bottom cut off. Once or twice a week, mist the pit and open the bottle cap for ventilation. Expect new shoots to appear in 2 weeks to a month.
The avocado tree grows beautifully, with broad, sprawling leaves. Fertilize it 4–6 months after germination with fertilizers for ornamental foliage plants. In summer, do this every 2 weeks, in autumn and winter — once a month.
The ideal conditions for avocado are a temperature of 22–28 °C in summer and 20–22 °C in winter, as well as humidity from 40 to 70%. Regularly mist the leaves of the plant with a spray bottle or use a humidifier.
How to Germinate Mango
For germination, a pit from a ripe mango is suitable — you can also use an overripe fruit, although its taste will be less pleasant.
Extract the pit from the mango and thoroughly rinse it from the pulp. Carefully cut open the side of the pit with a knife, trying not to damage the inner part.
Inside, you will find a seed that resembles a bean. Soak it for 10 minutes in a manganese solution or use hydrogen peroxide (1 tsp per glass of water). The seed should be planted immediately after extraction from the fruit — a dried pit will not germinate.
After extracting the seed, rinse it, wrap it in a damp gauze or paper towel, and place it in a bag, which you then put in a closed container.
Be sure to place the pit in a dark and warm place. Unlike avocado, which requires bright light, mango prefers darkness and warmth. A spot near a heating radiator is ideal.
About once a week, take the pit out of the bag and moisten the gauze or towel with a spray bottle.
In a couple of weeks, sprouts should appear from the seed. Plant it in a spacious pot so that 1/4 of the pit remains outside.
Maintain humidity and optimal watering for the plant — it is a tropical resident, so water is extremely important for it. However, avoid overwatering.
As you can see, growing a houseplant from available materials is not that difficult.
Germinating pits is an eco-friendly practice that promotes a zero waste lifestyle and helps reduce air pollution levels in your home.
