I Tried Regrowing an Avocado

"Can't you regrow an avocado?"

It was night, and as I was idly scrolling on my phone, that thought just popped into my head.

That seed left over after you finish eating it.
I always throw it away without a second thought, but it looks way too "perfectly formed" to just discard.

It's round, heavy, and smooth.
It feels like a waste to just let it end there.

Curious, I searched for it right then and there.

"How to grow an avocado"

It came up.

Apparently, you float it in water, it grows roots, then sprouts,
and eventually it becomes a houseplant.

There were photos, too.

Just some greenery sitting normally in a room.

Wait, so you actually can do it?

In that moment, I decided.

"Let's do it."

Early January

First, I lightly wash the seed.

I just rinse off the slimy fruit residue.
I leave the skin on.

How should I grow it?

I know the method I saw online.

But just doing it exactly like that feels a bit boring.

I look around the room.

Is there any good container?

At that moment, it catches my eye.

A wine glass I haven't used lately.

It reflects a little light, sitting at the back of the shelf.

"Alright, I'll use this."

This moment makes me feel a little excited.

I pour in some water.

Since it's transparent, I can see inside clearly.

I set the seed here.

It would sink if I left it as is, so

I insert four toothpicks.

Imagining it growing legs.

This is surprisingly difficult.

If one is off, the balance is ruined.

I reinsert them, reinsert them, and finally it's stable.
A mere 6.5cm toothpick leg.

This will end up supporting a 25cm giant that will grow over the next two and a half months.

The balance adjustment is down to the millimeter.

It's steady work, but if I miss this, the foundation for growth will collapse.

Complete.

A four-legged avocado.

Honestly, it's a bit tacky.

But that's what makes it good.

Submerge only the bottom half in water.

Keep the top exposed to the air.

Place it by the window.

From here on, just leave it alone.

February 11th

About a month later.

Honestly, I thought many times along the way,

"Isn't this just going to end with nothing happening?"

I wasn't looking at it every day, either.

I'd just remember to check on it once in a while.

On this day, too, I just happened to look at it.

The bottom of the pit is split.

At first, I thought it was a crack.

But it wasn't.

Something white is coming out from inside.

A root.

It's not even 1cm long.

It's quite plain.

But at this point, my perception completely changes.

"Oh, this is something that will actually grow."

February 22nd

The roots are growing.

They are about 4 to 5 cm long.

It still looks plain as ever.

But it is definitely changing.

From around this time, I start to care about it just a little bit.

March 1st

The roots reach the bottom.

And the top.

Finally, a small sprout has emerged from the crack!!

I didn't notice at first, but when I looked closely, a sprout had appeared 👏

I can really feel it growing!

March 7th

The sprout has grown even more, to about 10 cm.

At this point, the direction of growth becomes clear.

Roots at the bottom, sprouts at the top.

I knew it would grow the moment the first root appeared, but
now I can finally see how it will develop.

March 15th

The sprout grew rapidly,

reaching about 18cm!!

And, leaves at the tip🌱

One thing is clear now.

The time to transplant it into soil is near.

It can grow in water, but it's not meant to stay there forever.

I'll check on it and transplant it sometime next week.

I've reached the stage where I'm starting to think about that.

March 21st

25cm.

The leaves are finally opening too!!

Now that I've come this far, I have no doubts.

Alright, I've decided to transplant it into soil as planned.

Same day: Daiso

・Pot bottom stones: 100 yen
・Soil: 100 yen x 4 (*3 bags were enough)
・Pot saucer: 100 yen
・10-inch pot: 200 yen

A few hundred yen in total.

It was surprisingly easy to gather everything.

*Prices are as of the time of purchase. They may fluctuate.

Pot bottom stones

First, spread the pot bottom stones at the bottom of the pot.

This isn't just for looks; it serves a purpose.

It's to improve drainage.

With just soil, water tends to pool,
which can cause the roots to rot.

By adding bottom stones, excess water can drain out more easily.

I'll make sure to do this properly.

Toothpicks

Remove the four toothpicks that were inserted.

They supported it in this state for two and a half months.

Now that it's come this far, their job is finally done.

Gratitude.

Planting in soil

Put soil on top of the pot bottom stones and plant the seed as is.

From water to soil.

The environment changes.

Only now

"Oh, it's going to be a houseplant."

does it really sink in.

Complete.

I try placing it in the room.

And take a step back to look at it.

It's huge!!

It's much bigger than I thought lol

It's a completely different scale from when I was growing it in a wine glass.

It has a strong presence.

I chuckle a little.

"No, seriously, it's way too big lol"

But at the same time, I think.

This is just right.

If it's going to grow anyway, I want it to get this big.

What was once inside a wine glass,

has become something that occupies a corner of the room.

This change is quite interesting.

Noon

I wash my hands.

After that, I notice something a little later.

My stomach is growling.

"Ah, it's noon."

Perfect timing.

I stand in the kitchen just like that.

I suddenly think.

"Should I eat an avocado?"

I make avocado cream pasta.

When I cut it with a knife, that seed comes out.

It's the same shape as the one I planted earlier.

The same weight.

It feels a little strange.

I eat it.

It's good, as usual.

Perhaps because of the timing of when I planted the avocado, I feel strangely satisfied.

After I finish eating, I wash the dishes.

I move my hands aimlessly while the water runs.

At that moment, my gaze suddenly shifts.

A seed, on the edge of the sink.

The one I took out earlier.

I pick it up.

The same shape.

The same texture.

"Should I do this one too?"

I think for a second.

I look at the one I planted earlier.

It's standing properly in the room.

I'll probably do it again.

Fill a wine glass with water,

stick in some toothpicks,

and leave it alone for a while again.

It takes two and a half months.

But

that time wasn't so bad.

I have a feeling it will sprout again.