Theobroma cacao - Orchid Board

Alyons · #1 11-19-2010, 04:50 PM

I worked at a plant biotech lab that researches Theobroma cacao while I studied at Penn State and fell in love with them and got one myself. After graduation I moved and somehow my cacao was infected with MITES!

So far it is the only one of my plants to have gotten them. I noticed a spider making a web between the leaves and that is what caught my eye. It was munching on all the little mites

I rubbed it with some rubbing alcohol and I'm waiting awhile to do a follow up. I hope the stippling of the leaves shows up on here in my pictures... The last picture is just showing my newest leaf coming in, so shiny, transparent with a little bit of red color.

PaphMadMan · #2 11-19-2010, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alyons

I worked at a plant biotech lab that researches Theobroma cacao while I studied at Penn State and fell in love with them and got one myself. After graduation I moved and somehow my cacao was infected with MITES!

So far it is the only one of my plants to have gotten them. I noticed a spider making a web between the leaves and that is what caught my eye. It was munching on all the little mites

I rubbed it with some rubbing alcohol and I'm waiting awhile to do a follow up. I hope the stippling of the leaves shows up on here in my pictures... The last picture is just showing my newest leaf coming in, so shiny, transparent with a little bit of red color.

Theobroma is one of those plants that tends to be highly susceptible to mites - can be the only infested plant in a mixed group of species. You will have to be pretty thorough and repetitive with the alcohol treatments to get ahead of them. Higher humidity and cooler temperatures will help keep the mites under control.

Connie Star · #3 11-19-2010, 09:24 PM

Theobroma cacao- the most important plant in the entire world! With the possible exception of Vanilla planifolia

Mikeg · #4 11-19-2010, 10:17 PM

Wow that's awesome! (to be able to get the plant that is...not the mites!) I hope your mite problems dies soon!

samarak · #5 11-23-2010, 03:36 AM

Even aside from it being responsible for chocolate (my wife agrees w/Connie Star) it's just a cool plant, with those cauliflorous flowers and fruits. I had never tasted the fruit, but was at a botanic garden recently & the horticulturist picked one for us - very tasty. Good luck killing your mites.

Alyons · #6 11-23-2010, 09:09 AM

My job was to propagate and maintain the plants in the greenhouse as well, so I got to slice open the mature pods, mix up the potting mix, and plant the seeds. Often we would have grads from different places come to tour the lab and the last stop would be the greenhouse to look at the trees. I would make sure to have seedlings for them to take home with them. Tasting the "mucilage" is the best part. In some places they make a fruity drink out of it... yumm!

I also agree with Connie... Both plants are def on the top of the list

orchidman77 · #7 11-23-2010, 10:03 AM

WOW! I have wanted a Theobroma cacao for a long time--is there anywhere you know of that I can get one??

Alyons · #8 11-23-2010, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orchidman77

WOW! I have wanted a Theobroma cacao for a long time--is there anywhere you know of that I can get one??

I know of some people purchasing fresh pods online on ebay, but have no clue as to how viable these would be. Also there are a few seedlings listed on there as well.

orchidman77 · #9 11-24-2010, 09:29 AM

oh! I'll check them out. thanks!!

Mr. Tech · #10 12-20-2010, 04:40 PM

I've got a pair of trees in my room and I harvested some pods from them a month ago. I've sown around 50 seeds in a crate. Now the seeds are coming out from the medium. When the seedlings have leaves I'll post a photo of them.