How to Germinate Cacao Seeds
Theobroma cacao L. is the scientific name for the cacao plant, which is used to produce chocolate. In the United States the cacao tree must be grown indoors since it does not withstand temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. You should plant cacao tree seeds as soon as possible after obtaining them since they lose their viability quickly. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Bucket
- Manure
- Sand
- Potting soil
- Hand spade
- 5- to 6-inch diameter plant pots
- Cacao seeds
Instructions
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1
Fill a bucket with equal parts of manure, sand and potting soil. Mix the ingredients up with a hand spade until they are well combined.
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2
Fill individual 5- to 6-inch diameter plant pots 3/4 full of the soil mixture.
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3
Place one cacao seed onto the surface of the soil in each pot so that it lies flat on its side.
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4
Cover the seeds with just enough soil so that they are not exposed to light; 1/4 inch of soil is all that is needed in most instances.
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5
Water the soil in the pots until it drips out of the bottom drainage holes.
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6
Feel the top of the soil daily and add additional water as needed to prevent the soil from drying out until the seeds germinate. Germination occurs in approximately seven days and continues for another week after that.
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Tips & Warnings
When purchasing cacao seeds, make sure they are packed in slightly damp charcoal placed inside a plastic bag to maintain viability.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
