Cocoa bean hulls for container tomato mulch?

LoriA · March 21, 2017

Is it OK to use cocoa bean hulls as mulch for tomatoes in containers? Love the smell and the look; I just want to make sure that it won't screw up acidity or something like that.

KarenO · March 21, 2017

very toxic to dogs if you have one.
KarenO

kurt · March 22, 2017

I got a 30 plus pound bag(shed smells like roasting house when opened).Long time breakdown.Top husks exposed require some vinegar spraying to knock down white fungus that appears(does go away).Wife uses them for inside plant top dressing,nice shine.Looks like my coffee and tea plants love it in a combo coir,perlite mix.Will get more soon.Does hold moisture well,a good capture meduim for soluble ferts,with time release in mind.And yes it will harm if ingested,as in all garden related additives be careful,thanx KO above.

http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/cocoamulch.asp

shatbox · March 22, 2017

I've used it as a mulch and did find that it gets moldy and matted but like Kurt said it can be controlled. I just kept the hulls clear of the stem it it worked out fine.

March 21, 2017	#1
LoriA Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: MI Posts: 11	Cocoa bean hulls for container tomato mulch? Is it OK to use cocoa bean hulls as mulch for tomatoes in containers? Love the smell and the look; I just want to make sure that it won't screw up acidity or something like that.

March 22, 2017	#3
kurt Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Homestead,Everglades City Fl. Posts: 2,501	I got a 30 plus pound bag(shed smells like roasting house when opened).Long time breakdown.Top husks exposed require some vinegar spraying to knock down white fungus that appears(does go away).Wife uses them for inside plant top dressing,nice shine.Looks like my coffee and tea plants love it in a combo coir,perlite mix.Will get more soon.Does hold moisture well,a good capture meduim for soluble ferts,with time release in mind.And yes it will harm if ingested,as in all garden related additives be careful,thanx KO above. http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/cocoamulch.asp __________________ KURT Last edited by kurt; March 22, 2017 at 02:21 AM.

March 21, 2017	#2
KarenO Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 5,932	very toxic to dogs if you have one. KarenO

March 22, 2017	#4
shatbox Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Los Angeles County, CA Posts: 258	I've used it as a mulch and did find that it gets moldy and matted but like Kurt said it can be controlled. I just kept the hulls clear of the stem it it worked out fine.