Learn how to create a beautiful avocado bonsai tree for under $10 in a few simple steps! Plus, I’ll be sharing my top tips for growing avocado trees from seed. Affiliate links in post.
As this website is relatively new, I have not yet had a chance to share my love of thrift flips with you all. Well. The day has come!
Last week, I was at the thrift store when I found this simply beautiful ceramic dish for $4 – and instantly the idea to create somewhat of a faux DIY avocado bonsai tree sprung up! My partner and I love to propagate avocados in water (it’s 2022; who doesn’t?) but I was getting a little bored of the whole “toothpicks in a jar” look.
The faux bonsai look, though? Big fan. So without further ado, I will share how to make this beauty – and you can try along at home!
Table Of Contents
- 1 What You Will Need:
- 2 VIDEO TUTORIAL For Making An Avocado Bonsai Tree
- 3 1. Use toothpicks to suspend a clean and peeled avocado seed over water
- 4 2. Once the seed has sprouted roots and a stalk, purchase a shallow ceramic dish
- 5 3. Use pebbles to fill the dish and secure the root in place. This Should Now Look Like An Avocado Bonsai Tree!
- 6 4. Add water to the dish to ensure the roots have sustenance. Optionally, add in hydroponic fertiliser every few weeks.
What You Will Need:
- A hydroponically rooted avocado seed or an avocado seed, toothpicks and a jar
- A shallow ceramic bonsai dish (you can often thrift something suitable for under $5!)
- Small pebbles
VIDEO TUTORIAL For Making An Avocado Bonsai Tree
If you prefer video tutorials, feel free to check out the avocado bonsai TikTok I made to go alongside this craft. It’s under a minute! (While you’re there, might as well check out some of my other fun craft ideas . . .)
Prefer written instruction? No problem – let’s get into it!
1. Use toothpicks to suspend a clean and peeled avocado seed over water
Firstly, let’s get into how to root an avocado seed in water. This part is real simple! All you need to do is take the pit from an eaten avocado (supermarket avocados work fine) and suspend the base in water. The easiest way to do this is to use toothpicks to suspend it over a jar.
Something to note: if you’re looking for a fruit-bearing avocado tree, you’re best not to grow it from seed and rather purchase a tree from a nursery.
I won’t lie, this isn’t the fastest process and it can sometimes take 1-2 months for a sprout to pop out. But the final product is utterly gorgeous!
Here’s a photo of one avo seed I’m in the middle of rooting:
2. Once the seed has sprouted roots and a stalk, purchase a shallow ceramic dish
The choice of dish isn’t critical, as long as there’s enough depth for the roots to sit in water and grow. The main thing is that it can’t have a drainage hole.
Your local garden store will likely have a good range of bonsai dishes – but don’t forget to try your local thrift store first! It’s better for the planet, after all.
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3. Use pebbles to fill the dish and secure the root in place. This Should Now Look Like An Avocado Bonsai Tree!
Place a small layer of pebbles on the base of the dish, then position your seed (and any roots) in the center. Gently pile pebbles on top, working from every side to ensure you’re layering them evenly.
Once you’ve finished this step, your display should look like a bonsai tree!
4. Add water to the dish to ensure the roots have sustenance. Optionally, add in hydroponic fertiliser every few weeks.
And our last step is to ensure our avocado bonsai tree can survive! Pour water into the dish, right up to the edge. Make sure to refill this often as, unlike a semi-hydroponic medium like LECA, pebbles won’t retain moisturize to provide to the roots.
To make sure your plant is getting the nutrients it needs to thrive (as well as what it would be provided in soil) you can use a hydroponic fertilizer every few weeks during spring/summer.
While, I hadn’t considered using an avocado tree as an indoor bonsai before, but I will most definitely be trying this trick out in the future. I think it could be so cool with larger plants too – maybe even having the roots exposed over a rock? I’ve been playing around with more fun ways to display crystals and this gives me major inspiration . . .
Anyways, we shall end at the end! I hope you enjoyed this avocado tree bonsai hybrid – let me know if you would try it yourself in the comments down below. Plus, don’t forget to share this post via Pinterest so you can check it out later!
This is such a cute decorative plant!
Thank you so much! 🙂
A new take on a Bonsai Tree, looks super cute, as does the thrifted ceramic dish. I remember planting an avocado seed as a child and being disappointed it didn’t turn into an avocado tree, over night lol. I’ll bet the more leaves it gets the more stunning it will look! I hope you have a great weekend Mia : ) xo
http://www.juanitalikes.com
Thank you for reading, Juanita 🙂 Avocados are DEFINITELY slow growers so I do not blame child you! Hope you’re having a good week so far xx
Ohh I love this idea! It turned out so well! How long can it stay like this until you need to move to the next stage?
Corinne x
Thank you, Corinne! 🙂 I have no idea – the tree has grown water roots so I think it would likely die if it were potted into soil . . . I guess I’ll have to keep getting bigger containers as the roots outgrow them! (Although – pre bonsai potting – that avo had been growing for about 6 months, so they’re not the speediest) x
This is super cute and turned out so well! I need to try it out with my kids!
Thank you, Laura! 🙂
That’s such an amazing idea! Thanks for sharing, Mia x
Thanks for reading 🙂 x
Wow this is so cool, such a lovely idea! xx
Danielle’s Beauty BlogÂ
Thank you, Danielle! xx
I love this look so much! My husband is always shoving avocado stones into our pot plants and I only find out when they start growing, haha. This is a much better way of doing it, I will let him know – also, this would make a great gift, thank you! x
Hahaha my partner is the same – except with random seeds? And he doesn’t keep track of them either so we’re forever being surprised by what pops up! Thanks for reading, Lisa 🙂 x
I’ve never thought of doing something like this, what a great idea! I love how cute it is too.
Thank you, Anika! 🙂
What a great idea and it looks like it is going well. I didn’t know you could have this take on a bonsai tree. Thank you for sharing.
Lauren – bournemouthgirl
Thank you, Lauren 🙂
What a brilliant idea and it turned out beautiful!
xoxo
Lovely
http://www.mynameislovely.com
Thank you, Lovely! xx
Wow, this is such a lovely idea, and so simple to create! I must admit, I currently have no plants in my apartment but I’d love something small like this and, since I’m obsessed with avocados, this seems like a great choice! Thanks for sharing this great idea 🙂
Thank you for reading, Vourneen! This is definitely a great (and low maintenance!) starter plant 🙂
This looks like such a neat idea, and super easy – which is always a plus for me, haha!
Hope you have an amazing weekend! 🙂
Make Life Marvelous
This is so cool & I never thought about making an avocado bonsai tree!
Thank you for so sharing!
Thank you for reading 🙂
I always want to have bonsai tree but I’m scared that it need so much care. I have only orchids and they also look very beautiful.