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Cacao Tree

About Cacao Tree

Cacao Tree is a popular houseplant 🌿 that is isn’t challenging to grow and needs regular watering to thrive. They do best in abundant sunlight ☀ and should be less than 3 feet from a window.

Cacao Tree belongs to the Theobroma genus, and is native to Central America and Northwestern South America.

⚠️ Cacao Tree is extremely dangerous if consumed. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian immediately. These plants are not recommended for homes with children, cats, or dogs.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Theobroma cacao

Genus

Theobroma

Family

Malvaceae

Order

Malvales

Also known as

Cocoa Tree

How to care for Cacao Tree

💦 Water

How often to water your Cacao Tree

Cacao Tree needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Cacao Tree in your home

Cacao Tree may have difficulty thriving, and will drop leaves 🍃, without ample sunlight.

Place it less than 3 feet from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Cacao Tree in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Cacao Tree

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Cacao Tree: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Cacao Tree after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #CacaoTree

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Cacao Tree is generally easy to care for, though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!

How to Grow Cacao Tree →

Benefits of Growing Cacao Tree →

Common Cacao Tree Problems →

Indoor Care Guide for Cacao Tree →

Outdoor Care Guide for Cacao Tree →

💦 Water Needs

Cacao Tree prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Cacao Tree Water Frequency →

Cacao Tree Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Cacao Tree may have difficulty thriving and will drop leaves 🍃 without ample sunlight. Place it less than 3 feet from a window to maximize the potential for growth. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Cacao Tree Light Requirements →

Cacao Tree Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Cacao Tree is extremely dangerous if consumed. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian immediately. Cacao Tree is not recommended for homes with children, cats, or dogs.

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Cacao Tree will branch off as it grows. To encourage branching, pinch off the newest growth at the tip and the stem will branch off into two.

Cacao Tree Lifecycle →

Cacao Tree Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Cacao Tree →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Cacao Tree can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 11a-13b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Cacao Tree Temperature Tolerance →

Cacao Tree Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with Cacao Tree →

When to Plant Cacao Tree →

How to Plant Cacao Tree →

Where to Plant Cacao Tree →

Winter Care for Cacao Tree →

Best Companion Plants for Cacao Tree →

Is Cacao Tree a Weed? →

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Cacao Tree, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.