Hi all, Last winter we propagated a Florida Avocado (Persea americana) from seed and it's grown into a great houseplant, happy in our back 3-season room where it's in a smallish pot but has grown to over 4 feet this summer. The leaves are drying out real bad and it's not taking water. They had begun to wilt the other day and I assumed it was the cold so I brought the plant in. The soil's still moist on top from when I watered it a few days ago, and all the leaves are crisp. The stalk and branches, however, are still green -- but even they look a bit wrinkly now. Is there anything I can do? I love this plant and want to save it. Thanks in advance for all your help!
Hmm. Sounds like your avocado is showing the aftermath of cold stress. Also, I suspect that it needs to be repotted. You say that the plant is not taking in water as it should: this can happen when the plant is rootbound or when the soil is old, compacted, and like concrete. Water either pours right through the pot (which has pretty much nothing but roots in it---no soil to retain the moisture) or just sits there on top (soil is so solid that water can't penetrate). Either situation amounts to the same thing---no water is getting to the roots of the plant. ---Some folks would say that repotting would be another stress on top of the cold-wilting...without a photo it's hard to judge how bad the situation is...but I think that if you decide that immediate action is necessary, it's far better to repot than to watch the poor thing die! Good luck to you and your avocado, and I hope that you both have a happy new year!
