Why Are the Tips of My Avocado Plant Leaves Turning Brown

Question

I have been growing my avocado plant for about two years now and it doesn’t sprout outward but only upward. The leaves are only on the top of my plant, which is now about 4 ft tall. I don’t water it very much, so I don’t understand what’s going on with my plant.

Answer 1

Brown leaf tips normally indicates a watering issue, usually too little. You should be giving the plant water when the soil feels dry to the touch.

Answer 2

I’m going to have to respectfully disagree with Nikki here; brown leaf tips generally indicate too much soil moisture in a potted plant. Check the soil in the bottom of the pot. You can use a kebob skewer as a tester. Stick it all the way down, then pull it up (like testing a cake). There should be almost no soil sticking to it, and only the barest hint of moisture that you can feel when you run your fingers along the skewer. Now you can water the plant, and water enough that the water runs through and collects in the dish at the bottom. No need to empty it. You might try trimming back that long central stalk to see if the plant will branch, but I’ve never had much luck doing that with those avocados that just send up a long stem and few leaves. Understand that modern avocados are hybridized, and not really meant to reproduce from seed, although occasionally you can find a strong one. Why don’t you keep trying until you get a good one.