Cocoa Meal Is An Organic Fertilizer That Contains Nirogen, Phosphorous, And Potassium
The nutrient contents in cocoa meal are 3% nitrogen, 4% phosphorous and 3% potassium. It is used both as food supplement to dog and cat foods, and as soil fertilizer. For animal food uses, the meal should be handled with care as too much of it can cause harm to pets. The cacao tree is the primary source of such meal. Hence, it also contains caffeine. Because of the presence of caffeine, the normal application rates of cocoa should be between 200 and 250 pounds per acre. Also, it is best used as a component of fertilizer mix. - Many gardeners apply cocoa bean mulch as soil fertilizer and conditioner.
- The meal is derived from washed-out beans or cast-off shells of cocoa that are also used in making chocolates.
- When used as mulch, the cocoa beans are effective in discouraging snails and slugs in the garden, while making the entire place smells like chocolate.
- It is also an effective repellent of weeds, insects and other pests like termites.
A by-product of the chocolate, the soil fertilizer is considered to be outstanding when used in gardens. It has extraordinary landscaping qualities, adaptable to plants and soil, and has sweet scent. Also, it is 100% organic. For many years, growers of flowers, particularly roses, are using the cocoa meal to amend soil for beds. It is low in pH level, and high in conductance and soluble salts. Because it is derived from the shells of cocoa beans, the meal has dark brown color. When exposed to the weather, the color becomes even darker. There are three ways to use the cocoa mulch in gardening. - First, it can be applied as a bedding mulch. It is effective in keeping the moisture content in the soil, and helps in preventing weed growth.
- However, one common error in this type of application is applying it too thickly, which encourages mold in the mulch. Therefore, the best way is to apply it at no more than 1” thick. Thicker applications will definitely result to more molds.
- Second, the meal can be used at the gardens as protection for roses during winter. Mostly, starting in late November and after the rose canes are cut back to 3-inch height, the cocoa meal is spread to each rose bush. The mulch is soaked to keep it in place.
- Third, cocoa meal is used to amend the soil. This is especially done in preparing beds for roses, annuals, and chrysanthemums.
- About ½ inches of the meal is scattered over the beds to amend the soil before tilling. It is then tilled into the soil to provide good drainage and organic matter.
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