Real Chocolate Tree (theobroma cacao in 2x2x7″ pot)

Real Chocolate Tree Real Chocolate Tree (theobroma cacao) – Grow your own Chocolate at home! A small, tropical evergreen, up to 25 feet, with thick, oblong-oval, leaves. In a 24” container, kept trimmed to 6′ this tree often produces 5 to 10 pods annually. The cacao “beans” are produced in large, angular orange-ish capsules, up to a foot long and 4 inches diameter. The capsule rind is thick, hard and leathery. The capsules grow along the trunk and main branches. The beans, or seeds, about an inch across, range from 20 to 40 per capsule, and are embedded in an acid, fleshy pulp. After removal from the capsule, the beans are washed or fermented to remove the mucilaginous pulp. Chocolate is the sweetened or unsweetened product of the roasted and ground beans, with most of the fat retained. The growth rate of Real Chocolate will vary greatly depending on soil type, sunlight, temperature and other factors. A few leaves are often trimmed prior to shipping to reduce transpiration and travel stress. About This Tree Genus: Theobroma Pot Size: 7″ Deep Includes: 1 Plant With Pot Ships By: UPS Ships From: Florida USA Shipping Rate: Click Tab Above Info. & Recommendations Growth Rate: Medium Light: 60-85% Soil: Rich Organic Mix Fertilizer: Slow Time Released Water: When Dry to Touch Dislikes: Soggy Soil Likes: 65-90°F Outdoor Zone: 9b-10 Pot Size: 12″-24″ w/Drain Holes Indoors: Locate Near Natural Light Faux Light: Grow Light Full Spectrum Difficulty: Easy About Our Plants Our plants are grown in conditions akin to a natural, humid rainforest, using minimal pesticides. Occasional leaf drop, spotting, or browning, especially in varieties with significant white, are normal. In our nursery, plants thrive under 40-80% shade cloth. If grown outdoors, direct exposure to full sun may cause leaf burn. We suggest gradually introducing the plants to sunny areas over a week or so to reduce stress for optimal results. Despite our high standards in plant propagation, we can't assure future variegation patterns, coloration, survival or growth rate. Individual plants may vary, even though our mother plants have thrived for over 20 years. We guarantee all variegation is natural without any Chemically Induced Variegation (NO C.I.V.)