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Tropical Fruits

Anyone have a cacao tree that is producing?

15 years ago

I am trying to decide whether or not to break down and buy one from Pine Island, but I am not sure if I will need two for them to produce. I have heard some are self fertile and some are not. I really don't have room for two trees so I was hoping to hear from someone that is getting decent production with a single plant. I am not really worried about getting a massive crop from the tree. A few pods a year would work for me. Thanks for any info.

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Comments (9)

stanofh 10a Hayward,Ca S.F. bay area
15 years ago
Steinhart Aquarium in San Franciso ordered large trees-with pods- from a Florida grower for its rainforest display. So,fruiting trees are out there and for sale.
jsvand5
Original Author
15 years ago
I am not worried about finding a tree. I am hoping to hear peoples experiences on the type of production they are getting with a single tree that does not have another for a pollinator.
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Chris and tropical I'm in Ft Lauderdale too, I have 2 different types of trees. 1 is a yellow pod and 1 is an orange pod. I got mine from Pine Island nursery. you can mail order or you can drive there, not far at all if you go through the everglades, Rt 29. They are in Homestead off of Chrome Ave and nicely priced. bought my 1st over a year ago, it was only a few inches tall, grew 4 feet in the first year. the second was already that tall when I bought it a few months ago. they also have LOTS of other really neat fruit and spice trees,as does excalibur I am starting to grow some from cuttings. my trees I don't bring inside for the winter though
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Goodness, you are zone 10b - I thought that is where they grew. I am zone 9b and was hoping to grow this in a pot. I didn't know they needed a pollinator. I am going to have to study this more. It would seem that if the cacao tree was placed next to a fence or in a protected area, that this would stop the leaves from being blown away. I read several articles on this tree last evening, but I didn't see the pollinator issue. You can buy them on Ebay or a better place would be Pine Island Nursery. The only issue with buying their trees is the shipping cost. They are a very reputable nursery, but you will have to consider the shipping. That is why I was looking on Ebay. Logee's has a good video on growing this tree in pots and keeping it in greenhouses for the north. Thanks for the responses. Carol
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gcmastiffs
15 years ago
My original, lone Cacao flowered last year and produced one fruit. It is a young tree. I now have two Cacaos, one potted, one in the ground.

Fairchild Botanical Gardens has a mature one that was covered in small pods in July. I only saw the one tree, but they may have more.

Why not ask Pine Island?

I bought my original Red-Podded one from them. The second tree came from Excalibur.

They are not hard to grow. I find them much easier than Avocados(G).

Lisa
jsvand5
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks for the info. I have two seedlings now but they don't seem to be growing very well. I have them in Al's coarse mix and I am not sure it is working out well for them. They have only put on an inch or two of growth in about 6 months and the leaves look pretty pale. What do you use as your mix for your potted one? I think I am too impatient to wait for these guys anyway so I am going to end up going with one from PI.
orchidguyftl
15 years ago
I bought both of mine from Pine Island, the guys there are really nice. One is a yellow pod and one is an orange pod, still want a red pod.
Both are still growing in pots and are about 3 - 4 years old now, so I am expecting that they will probably start blooming in the spring. I use a general potting mix with a little bit of sand mixed in.
They LOVE water and humidity and grow a few feet per year, thats in a pot, I would imagine even more if in the ground. Keep out of full sun while young, though they can take some morning direct. Mine get watered daily and are sitting by the pond for extra humidity.
Good luck
John
jsvand5
Original Author
15 years ago
Got any pics of your trees orchidguy?
stanofh 10a Hayward,Ca S.F. bay area
15 years ago
Well,when i grew about a 12' tree in a greenhouse and that tree was more than 25 years old it had podded from ants crawling on it. Or was it the aphids?
The seeds germinate fast and are fascinating to look at.
orchidguyftl
15 years ago
no pics yet
i'll try to get some
trianglejohn
15 years ago
I grow mine in pots, they are no where near fruiting age but they do so well as winter houseplants/summer patio container plants that I will keep them no matter if I ever see a pod on them.

I worried about mine at first because the new leaves were so limp and pale - it looked like a plant in distress. But that is just how they look in new growth, after a week or so the leaves darken and stand out away from the center trunk.

A great potted novelty plant and a good conversation starter.

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