• Post Reply Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic
permaculture forums growies critters building homesteading energy monies kitchen purity ungarbage community wilderness fiber arts art permaculture artisans regional education skip experiences global resources cider press projects digital market permies.com pie forums private forums all forums
this forum made possible by our volunteer staff, including ...
master stewards:
  • Carla Burke
  • r ranson
  • John F Dean
  • Nancy Reading
  • Timothy Norton
  • paul wheaton
  • Jay Angler
stewards:
  • Nicole Alderman
  • Pearl Sutton
  • Anne Miller
master gardeners:
  • Christopher Weeks
gardeners:
  • Jeremy VanGelder
  • Matt McSpadden
  • M Ljin

Tropical Companion Plants for Cacao?

 
Posts: 50
1
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Hi friends I'm visiting a sustainable community in Costa Rica where I will be practicing permaculture with the guys down there in Jaco. We'll be planting Cacao and I am wondering what plants make good companions for Cacao in a tropical food forest setting? I'll try and get some more info about the space, (whatelse is planted micro climate, etc.. ) But if you know of any please let me know. Thanks guys.
 
steward
Posts: 6440
Location: United States
3129
transportation forest garden tiny house books urban greening the desert
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Here is a link describing the cacao tree and some of its habitat. Since cacaos require shade, midges, bats, mulch/leaf litter, acidic, and well-draining soil, some plants for companions can be fill in these needs. Midges can be attracted with one of their favorite plants- Dill. Raffle's Pitcher Plant (Nepenthes rafflesiana var. elongata) to attract bats for pollination because some bats use carnivorous plants as a toilet and bed. Tapioca and banana plants can provide shade to protect cacao plants. Comfrey could provide nutrients and lots of mulch. Some of your local canopy and emergent layer trees could be planted around the cacao trees to emulate the protective shadey habitats that cacaos grow in. I do not know what tropical plants will make the soil acidic and well-draining (maybe very thirsty plants?).
 
if you think brussel sprouts are yummy, you should try any other food. And this tiny ad:
Perennial Vegetables: How to Use Them to Save Time and Energy
https://permies.com/t/96921/Planting-Perennial-Vegetables-Homestead
reply
    Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic