Repotting guide

When & how to repot Bacon Avocado (Persea americana 'Bacon')

Also called Bacon avocado.

More about bacon avocado

About Bacon Avocado

Persea americana 'Bacon' · also called Bacon avocado · tropical

'Bacon' is a Mexican-type avocado known for its cold tolerance, smooth thin green skin and mild, lighter-textured flesh. A type-B flowering cultivar, it is one of the hardier avocados and a useful pollinator for 'Hass'. It still needs full sun, sharp drainage and frost protection to thrive.

Mature size: 5-9 m in open ground; kept to 2-3 m in a large pot with pruning.

Watch for — Phytophthora root rot: Triggered by poor drainage and overwatering, this is the leading cause of avocado decline. Use very free-draining soil and disciplined watering to prevent it.

How to tell bacon avocado needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For bacon avocado, watch for these signs:

Roots growing out of the drainage holes, or the rootball lifting the plant proud of the rim.
Soil that has shrunk away from the pot sides and no longer holds water.
The pot is unstable because the plant has grown top-heavy.
Old, compacted, broken-down mix that stays wet too long — for a succulent that is a rot risk, so refresh it even if the pot size is fine.

For the underlying biology of a pot-bound root system and why it stalls a plant, see our guide to spotting and fixing a root-bound plant.

How often to repot bacon avocado

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Bacon Avocado's growth habit — evergreen tree with an upright, fairly tall and somewhat narrow canopy; type-b flowering habit, valued as a hardy, early-bearing pollinator for type-a cultivars. — sets the pace. 'Bacon' is a Mexican-type avocado known for its cold tolerance, smooth thin green skin and mild, lighter-textured flesh. A type-B flowering cultivar, it is one of the hardier avocados and a useful pollinator for 'Hass'. It still needs full sun, sharp drainage and frost protection to thrive.

What size pot to step bacon avocado up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Bacon Avocado stores water and rots in a large pot of slow-drying soil. A tight terracotta pot that dries fast is far safer than a generous plastic one. Never up-pot a succulent by several sizes.

Not sure of the exact diameter? Our pot size calculator takes the current pot and root spread and tells you the right next size — it deliberately recommends a single step up, never a big jump.

The best time of year to repot bacon avocado

Spring or summer, while bacon avocado is in active growth and warm, is best — roots recover fastest then, and the plant is not sitting in cool damp soil. Avoid repotting a succulent in winter dormancy.

Step-by-step: repotting bacon avocado

Repot dry. Do not water bacon avocado for several days first. Working with dry roots and dry mix dramatically lowers the rot risk for a succulent.
Pick a snug, fast-draining pot. Choose terracotta one size up at most, with a drainage hole. Have gritty very free-draining, slightly acidic loam (ph 6.0-6.5) ready.
Tip it out and clean the roots. Slide the plant out, crumble off the old soil, and trim any black, mushy or dead roots with clean snips.
Pot into dry mix. Set bacon avocado at its original depth in dry gritty mix, firming gently. Do not bury the stem deeper than it was.
Wait a week before watering. Leave it completely dry and out of harsh sun for about 7 days so any damaged roots callus. Only then water lightly.

Aftercare

Keep bacon avocado completely dry and out of fierce sun for about a week so any nicked roots callus before they meet moisture; watering a freshly repotted succulent is the classic way to rot it. Then resume the normal lean, dry rhythm. Do not fertilise for about 3 weeks — fresh mix already carries nutrients and feeding freshly disturbed roots scorches them.

The right soil mix for bacon avocado

Bacon Avocado wants very free-draining, slightly acidic loam (ph 6.0-6.5). Excellent drainage is essential — use a coarse, gritty, aerated mix or raised beds. Avoid heavy, waterlogged ground. Slightly acidic soil keeps foliage green and limits chlorosis. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting bacon avocado — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot bacon avocado?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for bacon avocado. Repot bacon avocado every 2–3 years into a snug pot of very free-draining, slightly acidic loam (ph 6.0-6.5), ideally in spring or summer. Let it sit in dry soil and do not water for about a week afterwards so any nicked roots can callus. Over-potting and watering straight away is what rots succulents.

What size pot does bacon avocado need?

When is the best time of year to repot bacon avocado?

Should you water bacon avocado after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot bacon avocado into dry mix and wait about a week before the first watering so any damaged roots callus over. Watering a freshly repotted succulent is the single most common way to rot one.

Should you fertilise bacon avocado after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 3 weeks after repotting bacon avocado. Fresh mix already contains nutrients, and feeding freshly cut or disturbed roots burns them. Resume your normal feeding routine once you see new growth.