Re: another propagation question

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Avocados are almost always propagated by budding or grafting a desired cultivar onto rootstock (often an older once-desired cultivar).

But cuttings are possible.  Not dependable, but possible.

Some research shows that the best way is with heel cuttings of semi-hardwood, about 1/4 to 3/8 inch in diameter and about 6 inches long.  Stick stems, ideally with two nodes below soil, about 2 inches deep in a sandy propagating mix..  Provide some shade, keep the humidity as high as possible and maintain the temperature of the sand mix at 75ºF.

Rooting may take 3 to 6 months or more and will often produce shoots, several inches long, before roots appeared.

Cuttings are, at best, erratic with the best reported success rates in the 30-50% category.  Budding and grafting have take rates of 50-80%.

Joe

From: N Sterman <TalkingPoints@plantsoup.com>
Subject: another propagation question
To: "medit plants forum" <medit-plants@ucdavis.edu>
Date: Saturday, August 1, 2009, 4:06 AM

Can you propagate avocado from cuttings? If so, how?

Nan