Cacao (Theobroma cacao)

How often to water a Cacao

Soil moisture should be available to this tree nearly year round. Regular watering benefits it during dry periods. The listed range runs from medium at the dry end to medium wet at the wet end. Cacao also requires regular rainfall, along with hot, humid conditions.

• Water: Medium to wet¹

Best soil for a Cacao

Well drained soil is a requirement for cocoa plants. They grow best in soils that are slightly acid to neutral in pH. The drainage record for this tree lists well drained and nothing else. Access to soil moisture nearly year round is needed as well. Pair that drainage with regular watering in dry periods.

• Soil drainage: Well drained²

Temperature and humidity

Cold sets the limit for this tree: temperatures below 50 °F (10 °C) may damage or kill it. Its hardiness range runs from zone 8a to zone 10b. Humidity is rated high. Cocoa evolved as an understory shade tree in hot, humid, tropical rainforest areas. It requires hot, humid conditions, regular rainfall and some shade for best production. Outdoors, it grows best with about 25% shade.

• Minimum temperature: 50 °F (10 °C)²
• Humidity: High^2,3

Pruning a Cacao

Light shaping is the pruning this tree gets. Selected branches are removed from time to time. Removing them lets more light and air move inside the canopy. A mature tree stands about 25 to 30 ft (7.6–9.1 m) tall, with few branches under tropical conditions. Adjacent plants should be 10 to 15 ft (3.1–4.6 m) apart.

• Pruning: Light shaping¹

How to propagate a Cacao

Seed, stem cuttings, grafting and layering are the listed ways to propagate cacao. Cocoa can also be propagated by air-layering, known as marcottage, and by budding and grafting. The record lists four methods in all. Seed comes first in that list. The same passage names budding together with grafting.

• Propagation: Seed, stem cuttings, grafting and layering²

Common problems

Witches broom, frosty pod rot, vascular streak dieback, cacao swollen shoot virus and phytophthora pod rot are the recorded diseases. Several Phytophthora species common to Florida are reported to attack cocoa shoots, leaves, roots and pods. Phytophthora pod rot is on the list as its own entry. Pests are not documented for this page.

• Common diseases: witches broom, frosty pod rot, vascular streak dieback, cacao swollen shoot virus and phytophthora pod rot¹

Questions and answers

Is cacao toxic to cats and dogs?

Cacao is listed as toxic to both cats and dogs. Pet Poison Helpline names theobromine and caffeine, the two stimulants in cocoa, as able to cause adverse effects in cats. The ASPCA lists vomiting, diarrhea, tremors and seizures among the effects of methylxanthines.

How cold can cacao get?

Temperatures below 50 °F (10 °C) may damage or kill the plant. The hardiness range runs from zone 8a to zone 10b. Cacao also requires hot, humid conditions, regular rainfall and some shade.

How big does a cacao tree get, and how do I propagate it?

A mature tree reaches about 25 to 30 ft (7.6–9.1 m) tall. Adjacent plants should be 10 to 15 ft (3.1–4.6 m) apart. You can propagate it by seed, stem cuttings, grafting and layering.