the murky "science experiment" finally pays off

we had this one toothpick-suspended in water upside down for a few weeks or a month, or maybe more, before we started the other one and figured out the error. for a long time even after the other one grew into a tall and lovely plan, this one was just a collection of disgusting pulpy nubs like these. as you can see, a stalk finally grew out of this, but the nasty parts are still there. is that from being upside down? how in the hell do avocados manage to grow in the wild, anyway, if they are that picky?