Cacao Forastero Plant
Cacao (Theobroma cacao)
Theobroma cacao, also called the cacao or cocoa tree, is a small evergreen tree in the family Malvaceae. Its seeds, cocoa beans, are used to make chocolate liquor, cocoa solids, cocoa butter and chocolate. The cacao plant is evergreen and very hardy, they can live for several decades. This variety produces large deep yellow fruit and is highly sought after. When ripe it has a tinge of orange at the top of fruit.
The plant is from a Forastero variety which is the Queen of the chocolate industry producing 80% of the world cacao bean’s supply. This variety is also a disease resistant, a quick and prolific producer.
It takes about 5 years for a cacao tree to mature and start producing cacao pods. The beans grow in football-shaped pods on the trunk of the tree and from larger branches. The average cacao tree produces 30-40 cacao pods per year.
In ideal conditions and the right climate the Cacao will fruit within 4 years. In NZ, it will be 4+ years.
Plant Care
- Soil: Prefers well-drained, fertile soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0.
- Watering: Requires high humidity and consistent moisture without waterlogging.
- Temperature: Needs a warm climate, between 18°C and 32°C; not frost-tolerant.
- Light: Thrives under partial shade or filtered sunlight.
- Fertilising: Use a balanced NPK (10-10-10) during the growing season; requires magnesium supplementation.
- Pruning: Regular pruning to remove old branches and manage size.
- Mulching: Essential to maintain soil moisture and organic content.
- Pest Control: Susceptible to fungal diseases; manage with proper air circulation and fungicides.
- Flowering and Fruiting: Flowers and fruits continuously after 3-5 years of planting.
- Potting: Not typically recommended due to its size and root system.
- Feeding Regime: Regular feeding with emphasis on nitrogen and potassium during active growth.
We ship our plants and garden supplies throughout New Zealand. Due to the increased costs of shipping and packaging, we now apply a minimal delivery charge. After offering free shipping for three consecutive years, we find it necessary to adjust this policy to align with current market conditions. However, we have lowered our prices to help offset this change.
Please note, we do not ship plants or garden supplies internationally from New Zealand. We do export plants and tissue culture materials from our overseas nursery, which requires a minimum order. Please contact us at hello@exoticanz.com to discuss your specific requirements.
Shipping (per plant)
Auckland & Northland: $20
Rest of North Island: $25
South Island: $45
Rural Address: Additional $5
Shipping Garden Supplies
Auckland & Northland: $10
Rest of North Island: $15
South Island: $20
Rural Address: Additional $5
Delivery
- Our plants are available for shipment throughout the year, depending on stock levels. Typical delivery times range from 5 to 7 business days, although they can take up to 10 business days depending on the destination.
- We take extra care in packaging; most of our plants are secured in bespoke inserts and shipped in individual boxes to ensure they arrive undamaged.
- Deliveries are scheduled once a week, typically on Monday. If you place your order over the weekend, we aim to dispatch your plants on the following Monday. This scheduling allows our team to prepare your order thoroughly and ensures the courier has sufficient time to deliver your plants safely, avoiding any unnecessary delays over the weekend.
- All orders are shipped via courier track and trace service (not signature required)
- We cannot deliver to PO Box addresses.
- If you have a rural address, please contact us beforehand to discuss the best delivery options and avoid any potential issues.
Additional Delivery Information
- We dispatch our plants year-round, as most are shipped with soil. During the winter months, we closely monitor weather conditions and may temporarily delay shipments if the weather is particularly severe. Our packing process includes adding insulation when necessary to protect the plants against temperature extremes.
- In summer, we ensure that plants are thoroughly watered before they leave our nursery. Occasionally, we may need to ship plants bare-rooted, particularly when they cannot be comfortably re-potted into smaller packaging for shipping. We will always discuss this with you in advance if your plant needs to be shipped in this manner.
- It's important to note that shipping can be a stressful experience for plants, often due to spending several days in a dark, confined space. While most plants withstand this with little to no stress, some may experience leaf drop. However, they generally recover quickly with some additional care, including proper watering and gradual reintroduction to light after arrival.
