Question
Hello,
I am in need of help for my avocado plant.
My baby has caught a bug. :(

Long, bright white in the shape of a miniature millipede.

The seed, half way sticking out of the dirt has light orange bumps growing on the surface and some sort of mushroom that look like a tiny hair with a a little ball at the end.
The seed seems to be rotting. but the stem and leaves are fine.
Please help me so my plant may one day be a tree.
Thank you,

Answer
Melanie,

Once the avocado tree is growing the seed is supposed to shrivel up as the plant uses up the food stored in the seed and begins taking it's food up from the soil through the roots. The seed should be covered with soil and you would not notice the shriveling. I am more concerned about the millipede and the mushroom. That indicates a bit of overwatering and that could quickly cause root rot.  The plant needs to dry out between waterings. It should be in a pot with a drain hole and a drain tray under it. An hour after you water it you should empty excess water out of the drain tray so it is not sitting in a swamp with a drain tray full of excess water. Then you should not water it again until the top 3 inches of soil is dry and the plant feels light weight when picked up. One way to help it use up water faster so it is not excessively wet is to make sure it is in the sunniest location possible in your home. Avocados thrive on sunshine they will be healthier if they are in a sunny location and like going outside for the summer in a location where they get sun all morning and a bit of shade in the afternoon when the sun is hot. You can water it with rubbing alcohol, that will ill the millipedes and not hurt the roots of your avocado. Do not repot this plant more than once a year and only do it between April 1st and June 30th when the trees roots are actively growing. Any other time will shock the plant worse. Any time you repot it move it to a pot with a diameter 2 inches larger than the diameter of the pot you are moving it out of. If you have any other questions feel free to write again. Good luck.

Darlene