How to Grow an Avocado Plant from a Pit

Being a plant parent can get expensive. (Looking at you, monsteras.) But did you know you can grow an adorable new plant from your avocado pits? We’ll give you a moment to run to your waste bins and fish out your old pits now.

Brad Canning, the plant aficionado behind Leafy Lane, shared his method for giving avocado pits new a life on YouTube. Something he's the first to admit he's obsessed with considering his house is filled with avocado plants.

"You're going to want to do it all the time," he says. "I have about 15 [avocado plants] because I can't get an avocado and then throw the pit away. It just feels wrong. I need to grow it."

Luckily, he's sharing his tips on how you can do just that. Here's exactly how to grow an avocado plant from pit.

How to Grow an Avocado Plant from Pit

Canning says to start by cutting open your avocado, being careful not to damage the pit. Remove the pit from the flesh and gently rinse it in the sink. Next, peel the skin off the pit with your fingers (not a peeler!). He stresses patience here, as this is a critical—but difficult—step. If the skin is left on, it could become moldy. Remember, the effort will be worth it for a free plant!

Once the skin is off, grab a damp paper towel to place the pit in, then transfer the paper towel-covered pit to a reusable silicone bag, like a Stasher bag. After about 10 days, you should find a root growing.

Once the root is prevalent, place the pit in a glass of water. The pit sit should sit just above the water, while the root should be submerged. To accomplish this, you can stretch two pieces of tape across the top of the glass and balance the pit on top. Now sit back and wait: Soon enough, your avocado plant will sprout out of the top.

In order to keep your avocado plant thriving, give it a home in a warm, sunny location. Canning also says to switch out the water every 10 to 14 days to prevent algae build-up. Clean the container with hot, soapy water, fill it with new water, and put the avocado plant back in.

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How to Transfer Your Avocado Plant to Soil

First of all, there's no need to transfer your avocado plant to soil. "These guys can stay in water forever, so don't feel pressured if you don't want to," says Canning. "The only thing is they'll be stunted a little bit in water. They obviously won't grow to their full potential." But if you want to give the plant some extra nutrients and growing power, grab a pot and some soil.

To get started, Canning says to fill the pot 3/4 of the way with soil. Then, dig a hole for the avocado roots to sit in. The roots will be under the soil, and the pit will sit on top of the soil. Gently pat down the soil, then water the plant. To keep your plant happy, the key is to avoid overwatering: "A good rule of thumb is to stick your finger in the soil. If it's still damp, it's not ready," he says.

Generally, you'll only have to water your avocado plant every two weeks. Cute and easy? That's our kind of houseplant.