Can Cocoa Make Things Grow?

Nutrient Value

• Initially applied to the soil, cocoa mulch does not provide any nutrients. As it decomposes however, the nutrients retained within the mulch break down and leech into the soil. These nutrients eventually find their way to plants, helping them to build proteins and grow healthily. Cocoa shell mulch contains 2.5 percent nitrogen, 1 percent phosphate and 3 percent potash. The nitrogen value added with cocoa shell mulch should make using other fertilizers unnecessary in your yard.

Other Benefits

• Cocoa shell mulch helps plants to grow in other ways as well. It helps retain heat in the soil in winter months, ensuring that plants don't die from the cold. The mulch also retains moisture under the soil, so plants can get enough water to grow well. In addition, cocoa mulch helps to keep slugs and other malignant organisms away from your plant's root system by forming a barrier between the topsoil and the open air.

Danger to Dogs

• There has been some concern that cocoa mulch is dangerous for dogs. It contains the chemical theobromine, the same chemical present in chocolate which makes it harmful for them to eat. A dog that ingests large amounts of cocoa shell mulch may suffer from vomiting and diarrhea, but the mulch has not been shown to cause death or serious injury to pets.

Cocoa Powder and Other Cocoa Products

• The use of cocoa products other than cocoa shell mulch will not help plants grow. These products have generally been processed to the point where the nutrients that are beneficial to plants have been removed or are chemically unavailable to the plants for nutrient uptake.