How to Grow a Cacao Chocolate Tree Indoors

Combine an acidic potting soil with organic compost and sand, using about half potting soil and 25 percent each of compost and sand. Fill a large container that has a drainage hole, and water it until water runs out the hole.

Dig a hole large enough for the root system of your young tree and then set it in, filling around it with additional soil, compost and sand. Pat it down to secure your small tree. Set your pot on a plant saucer in an area that receives only reflected sunlight, and keep the temperature of the room above 70 degrees Fahrenheit and the humidity high, above about 70 percent.

Water your tree frequently, keeping the soil mixture moist at all times. In their native habitat, cacao trees receive about 100 inches of rain a year. To keep the humidity high, mist your tree at least once each day with a spritz of water.

Control insect pests such as aphids by spraying your tree with insecticidal soap when you first discover them. Repeat your application every other day or two, until the insects are gone. Follow product instructions for correct application of this and other products.

Control fungal diseases such as powdery mildew by spraying your tree with sulfur or Bordeaux mixture, which is a blend of water, copper sulfate and hydrated lime.

Fertilize your tree once a year with a plant food having an N-P-K ratio of 12-12-17 or 15-15-6. Use a granular plant food and scatter it on the soil around your tree.