How to Grow Theobroma Cacao

Source: Scharffen Berger

Yay! We're at the part where I give you tips and junk to help you grow the holy fruit. Your first challenge: getting your hands on viable seeds or a pod. That's a tricky one since cacao seeds are recalcitrant (ahh the first botany term--at least on my site). This means they gotta be fresh (more info on cacao seed viability available here). Seeds can be bought online at Montoso Gardens or from Carribean Cuts. Occasionally pods are also available on eBay. There are other sellers that offer just seeds or entire plants. Thus far I've only bought pods so I can offer no advice about any other forms of plant delivery nor do I know about the delivery services of the two afore mentioned stores as I have bought mine on eBay to date. Word of mouth seems to be in favor of them as far as I've read.
 

Cleaned cacao beans

After you get ahold of some seeds, the next few steps aren't too difficult. First, if you have a pod, you'll need to open it, extract the seeds, and clean them. For a good visual on how to do that click the following link and watch the video: Grow Chocolate Indoors. He's a little goofy but he does a good job of showing you how to open, extract & clean. When I cutting the pod I use a serrated knife since they can be a little tough and you'll likely need to saw a bit. You can cut the pod around it's circumfrence either lengthwise or width wise. Either way will work. I cut mine lengthwise because it allows better access to the seeds. Either way you cut it be careful not to cut into the flesh/seeds. Typically I find that cutting it almost all the way through then breaking it open with your hands works well in terms of keeping the seeds safe. For seed cleaning the basic technique I like to use myself is filling a bowl with lukewarm water and gently rubbing off the flesh with a fingernail or sometimes even just a stroke of the finger itself. Don't be too rough as you don't want to damage the seed coat.

Now that you've got all that off it's time to plant. Cacao should be planted in a well-draining soil such as the cactus soil I mentioned in the tool shed. For added drainage I put orchid bark (or mulch) in the mix or at the bottom with rocks/shards. Make sure to wet the soil thoroughly, although it shouldn't be a puddle. Make a shallow hole, just large enough for the seed, place the seed in it and cover it up. Cover pots either with sran, plastic bags (not airtight) or a container. Clear plastic storage bins can be of service. You can lay them over the heated mat to help sprout your seeds.

Source: Lokelani Ranch

That's it. All you need to do for 8-10 days is water every so often and watch them. Plain water will be fine. Soon the seed will emerge and you'll notice the cotyledons, which are wrinkly-looking reddish/brown or green things. After a couple days you'll see the beginnings of the "true" leaves, which will be green. You can now start spritzing them with fertilizer occasionally if you like, although since cacao is used to nutrient poor soils and many soils have fertilizer in them you won't necessarily need to. Just remember they need consistent (not constant!) moisture and must never EVER be dry. Don't over water or over fertilize, just keep them moist.

Eventually you may be able to move them out of the greenhouse environment and into your living area. Just remember to spritz the leaves to mimic humidity. Cacao can adjust well to a living-room environment but you have to take good care of it and watch for pests. You'll still have to keep a watchful eye on your cacao plant but take care of it and you may very well be rewarded with some pods in 2-3 years!

For a WONDERFUL pamphlet on cacao care check out this download composed by Mark Guiltinan of Penn State University:
Cacao Care Download

See more about Dr. Guiltinan's amazing lab and projects here.