I have an avocado tree that I planted about a year and a half ago in my yard in Mexico. I water it every three days and it's in an area with plenty of sun, but the growth is really slow. Is there anything I can give it to speed things up? I've seen they sell some special fertilizers at the agricultural supply store, but I'm not sure if they actually work.
Avocado trees grow slowly by nature, so what you're describing is pretty normal for that timeframe. What helps the most is a balanced fertilizer (like 10-10-10) applied every two or three months during the growing season, mainly to give it nutrients that the soil probably lacks. Watering every third day is fine, but make sure the soil drains well because if it gets waterlogged the roots will rot and then it won't grow at all. If you fertilize it and keep up those conditions with sun and water, you'll see changes within a few months, but don't expect miracles: these trees move at their own pace.
I've had one planted at my house for years and believe me, patience is key, but it's not like it grows super slow if you give it what it needs. The fertilizer they mentioned is fine, but the most important thing is that you check the soil drainage - if it gets waterlogged or holds too much water, you're going to slow down growth no matter what you throw at it. Is the soil sandy or more clayey? Also, with just a year and a half since planting, it's probably still focusing energy on the roots underground rather than growing upward, so it's possible we can speed that up with a phosphorus-rich fertilizer (the middle number) instead of a balanced one, but careful: apply it only every two months and don't overdo it.
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