Theobroma bicolor - your growing experance

[EvilFruit]

How easy to grow Theobroma bicolor ?. Any idea about the heat tolerance of this specie ?.

Thanks

[buddyguygreen]

Pretty easy to grow, They stand heat well, keep mostly shaded or in filtered light, I have mine under some big trees so it gets dappled light all day with a little over an hour of full evening sun. Mine are about 2 years old. Just keep watered on Hot days but you can let it dry out for a couple days for the most part, the leaves will show you when their stressed and need water.

[fruitlovers]

Very easy to grown, and is very vigorous in right conditions. I don't know though that they will stand heat over 40 C? They have large leaves, so can dry out very fast. Don't plant in area susceptible to wind. Much more upright and bigger than cacao.

[nelesedulis]

Hello Friend,

The growth is easy, but germination is tense!
I brought several fruits in 2014 in Manaus, germination was very poor, but I think it was the fault of the winter here in my region of Brazil.
Germination is a little better than the germination of cupuaçu.
The taste is very tasty, and the tree grows well fast!

Very easy to grown, and is very vigorous in right conditions. I don't know though that they will stand heat over 40 C? They have large leaves, so can dry out very fast. Don't plant in area susceptible to wind. Much more upright and bigger than cacao.

[Finca La Isla]

Yes, it's easy to grow, but probably has lots of limitations.  In Mexico, for instance, I don't think it is grown in very dry areas.  It is grown along with cacao where there is high humidity.  Perhaps if it grows well for Luc then it could be grown in Dubai. 
Peter

[nelesedulis]

I always saw this tree in damp and shaded location.
Only need protection from the sun and cold wind.

Yes, it's easy to grow, but probably has lots of limitations.  In Mexico, for instance, I don't think it is grown in very dry areas.  It is grown along with cacao where there is high humidity.  Perhaps if it grows well for Luc then it could be grown in Dubai. 
Peter

[PahoaJo]

Seed germination was very easy for me. I planted all the seeds from one pod, and all but one seed germinated.  I don't think they like straight sunlight or any competition from weeds.

[fruitlovers]

Seed germination was very easy for me. I planted all the seeds from one pod, and all but one seed germinated.  I don't think they like straight sunlight or any competition from weeds.

Mine are in full sunlight. As grown plants they can take full sunlight, especially in our area with lots of cloud cover.

[EvilFruit]

Pretty easy to grow, They stand heat well, keep mostly shaded or in filtered light, I have mine under some big trees so it gets dappled light all day with a little over an hour of full evening sun. Mine are about 2 years old. Just keep watered on Hot days but you can let it dry out for a couple days for the most part, the leaves will show you when their stressed and need water.

Thanks for your input.

I always like to try something new and  I believe no one have tried to grow Cacao or any related specie in the Arabian peninsula. i might be crazy in trying to grow ultra-tropical plants in the middle of desert. lol

[EvilFruit]

Very easy to grown, and is very vigorous in right conditions. I don't know though that they will stand heat over 40 C? They have large leaves, so can dry out very fast. Don't plant in area susceptible to wind. Much more upright and bigger than cacao.

I wish I had more space, the land around here are really expensive, 20,000 ft Square could easily cost me  $800k (virgin land).

I'm going to plant it under a big tree.

Thanks Oscar

[HIfarm]

I found germination of these to be quite good.  I had a pod I got locally but procrastinated too long to extract the seed (pod turning brown).  When I finally got them out, it was pretty nasty to try to clean the seeds off, with a slimy, snotty pulp that smelled like bad clams that did not want to come off the seeds.  Despite this, I got very high germination.

I had corresponded with a guy in Central America about these & they supposedly do very well in wet areas, so he plants his mocambo in parts of his farm not well suited to cacao.  I am easing my first plants into full sun (here in HI) now, in a wetter part of my property.

John

[EvilFruit]

Hello Friend,

The growth is easy, but germination is tense!
I brought several fruits in 2014 in Manaus, germination was very poor, but I think it was the fault of the winter here in my region of Brazil.
Germination is a little better than the germination of cupuaçu.
The taste is very tasty, and the tree grows well fast!

Very easy to grown, and is very vigorous in right conditions. I don't know though that they will stand heat over 40 C? They have large leaves, so can dry out very fast. Don't plant in area susceptible to wind. Much more upright and bigger than cacao.

Thanks for the information Alexandre.

[EvilFruit]

Yes, it's easy to grow, but probably has lots of limitations.  In Mexico, for instance, I don't think it is grown in very dry areas.  It is grown along with cacao where there is high humidity.  Perhaps if it grows well for Luc then it could be grown in Dubai. 
Peter

The humidity can get really high and so is the temperature. I tried to grow cacao before but I have failed duo to my lack of knowledge. I believe the key is to find the perfect growing medium/soil. Regular potting soil is not good enough especially if you live in a desert. Nowadays, i use peat moss, Compost, perlite and red desert sand.

Thanks Peter

http://www.godubai.com/explore/whatshot.asp

[PahoaJo]

Seed germination was very easy for me. I planted all the seeds from one pod, and all but one seed germinated.  I don't think they like straight sunlight or any competition from weeds.

Mine are in full sunlight. As grown plants they can take full sunlight, especially in our area with lots of cloud cover.

Good to know, thank you.  How many years before yours fruited?

[DimplesLee]

I know - Sonoran desert vs Arabian desert totally different ecosystem - but you might find this an interesting readhttps://books.google.com.ph/books?id=fv2GAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA97&lpg=PA97&dq=grow+cacao+in+desert&source=bl&ots=YsbnEVb9F9&sig=vNbFTdyRE_WO-5-x77JrW7ohIII&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj3vpac2o_NAhXFjJQKHa1nD7Y4ChDoAQgjMAA#v=onepage&q=grow%20cacao%20in%20desert&f=false:

[fruitlovers]

Seed germination was very easy for me. I planted all the seeds from one pod, and all but one seed germinated.  I don't think they like straight sunlight or any competition from weeds.

Mine are in full sunlight. As grown plants they can take full sunlight, especially in our area with lots of cloud cover.

Good to know, thank you.  How many years before yours fruited?

About 5 years from seed planting.

[EvilFruit]

Seed germination was very easy for me. I planted all the seeds from one pod, and all but one seed germinated.  I don't think they like straight sunlight or any competition from weeds.

Thanks PahoaJo

Good luck with your tree

[EvilFruit]

I found germination of these to be quite good.  I had a pod I got locally but procrastinated too long to extract the seed (pod turning brown).  When I finally got them out, it was pretty nasty to try to clean the seeds off, with a slimy, snotty pulp that smelled like bad clams that did not want to come off the seeds.  Despite this, I got very high germination.

I had corresponded with a guy in Central America about these & they supposedly do very well in wet areas, so he plants his mocambo in parts of his farm not well suited to cacao.  I am easing my first plants into full sun (here in HI) now, in a wetter part of my property.

John

Good luck and Thanks John

[EvilFruit]

I know - Sonoran desert vs Arabian desert totally different ecosystem - but you might find this an interesting readhttps://books.google.com.ph/books?id=fv2GAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA97&lpg=PA97&dq=grow+cacao+in+desert&source=bl&ots=YsbnEVb9F9&sig=vNbFTdyRE_WO-5-x77JrW7ohIII&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj3vpac2o_NAhXFjJQKHa1nD7Y4ChDoAQgjMAA#v=onepage&q=grow%20cacao%20in%20desert&f=false:

Sukran Dimples Lee, nice find.

Creating a micro climate or growing a tropical tree under a big tree (companion tree) is probably one of the most important factors to success. Jack mace and Sheamus from Arizona covered this topic in their YouTube videos.

[luc]

Yes, it's easy to grow, but probably has lots of limitations.  In Mexico, for instance, I don't think it is grown in very dry areas.  It is grown along with cacao where there is high humidity.  Perhaps if it grows well for Luc then it could be grown in Dubai. 
Peter

Grows well for me Peter and Moh'd , but it's getting too much shade from a Litchi and a Kwai Muk , has plenty of humidity ( I kinda created my own micro climate ) and watered at least 2 x a week , but ....still waiting for fruit ...Meanwhile , since I adore the pulp , I have pods sent from friends in the south of Mexico .