Problems with avocado
Identify what's wrong by where it appears and what you can see.
Where is the problem?
Start by selecting the part of the plant where you see the problem.
Start with the symptom
Or pick from the symptoms most often seen on avocado.
Common problems with avocado
The problems recorded on avocado, the most common first.
19 problems
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Anthracnose
Sunken, dark spots on fruit and leaves, often with pink spore masses in wet weather. -
Cold and frost damage
Blackened, glassy shoots after a cold night. Tender plants collapse; hardy ones grow out of it. -
Root rot
Wilting and yellowing in wet soil; roots brown, soft and falling apart. -
Overwatering
Yellow, limp leaves in soil that stays wet. Roots short of air rot and stop drinking. -
Poor pollination
Flowers but no fruit, or small, misshapen fruit that shrivels at the tip. -
Powdery mildew
A white, powdery coating on leaves that spreads in dry weather, weakening the plant. -
Iron deficiency (lime-induced chlorosis)
The youngest leaves turn yellow with sharp green veins. Usually a sign the soil is too alkaline. -
Mealybugs
White, cottony insects tucked into leaf joints and under leaves, with sticky honeydew. -
Poor drainage and waterlogging
Water that sits around the roots after rain. Plants yellow, stall and rot at the base. -
Scale insects
Brown or white bumps stuck to stems and leaf veins, with sticky leaves below. -
Sooty mould
A black, sooty film on leaves that wipes off. It grows on honeydew from sap-sucking insects. -
Spider mites
Fine pale speckling on leaves, then yellowing and webbing. The mites are barely visible.
