Let them Fight.

If you choose to have it shipped, fasten your seat belts and do not give up.

I received this Cacao Plant (Chocolate Tree) and planted it on August 13 (see update below). All it’s leaves were gone within a span of two weeks. Cacao Tree, like most tropical plants, prefers acidic soil. The best thing you can do for any tropical plant shipped to you is remove all the soil it was shipped in and plant it in sterile acidic mix.

I recommend Gary’s Best Acidic Mix. NO COMPOST. If you add any composted soil it will rot and die, guaranteed.

So I did that and then…



YOU LET IT FIGHT.

Proceed with Caution

When it comes to trimming stressed plants.

Most growers advise trimming all the leaves off a stressed plant. However, it may not apply in all circumstances.

The stems of a plant in the picture were drying at the crown and the leaves were paper-like to the touch, but still had some green color to them. I cut the stems down to where I could see the green portion of the stems.

More often than not plants derive their energy and strength from the leaves. I chose to keep most leaves on this sensitive plant, because it might have been relying on them to survive. Only in rare circumstances roots alone will save a tree. You want to keep at least one or two healthier looking leaves on a stressed plant.

Keep it in Shade or Semi-shade.

This Cacao lost all it’s leaves a week or so after it was planted.

A MONTH LATER

AND A WEEK LATER (September 19)

Keep it moist, keep it in semi shade and give it a chance.

Cheers!