Avocado plant Persea americana ‘Oro Negro’ - Ask Extension
Hi. I have an avocado plant that has been dropping leaves. A couple of tips are brown. Otherwise it seems ok - buds on the stem and flowers developing...
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Avocado plant Persea americana ‘Oro Negro’ #924500
Asked February 12, 2026, 11:41 AM EST
Hi. I have an avocado plant that has been dropping leaves. A couple of tips are brown. Otherwise it seems ok - buds on the stem and flowers developing. I fertilize weekly with a 3-5-9 fertilizer. It’s in a heated greenhouse under grow lights. Should I do anything?
Washtenaw CountyMichigan
Expert Response
Hi Karen,
Diagnosis is not always simple, so I'd like you to send me a photo of the underside of the infected leaves. Also, if possible, slide the plant out of the pot to check for root rot. Roots should be whitish and firm. A sign of root rot is blackened and/or brittle roots. Avocado plants are prone to root rot. Make sure it's planted in a well-draining soil. Also, if your greenhouse is very humid this may not allow the soil to dry out between waterings.
Below is a link to a paper on avocado diseases. You may find help as to other causes for the yellowing and brown leaves. Avocado | Texas Plant Disease Handbook
Photo of root rot in Avocado Thank you for using Ask Extension.
