Cocoa Shell Mulch

[flower Power]

I Mulched my containers & baskets a week ago with a inch of cocoa shells, to stop water evaporation. When i checked the pots etc today i saw that they had started to go mouldy.
What did i do wrong?
Should i remove the mulch?
Should i of dug it in?
Will the mould on top of the soil hurt the plants?
:(

[flower Power]

[saddad]

Quite normal... shouldn't hurt anything unless it is a seedling...
at least the cats and birds are leaving it alone!
;D

[Pigface51]

I've used cocoa shell mulch at home for last several years...some observations:

1. When fresh, nice smell
2. After 1-3 weeks will develope a white moldy top layer (normal)
3. May eventually harden to a crust after a further few weeks (weather dependant)
4. Neighbours cats love using it as a litter tray (boo)
5. Initially deters slugs, but when it starts to breakdown (12 weeks+) turns into a slug sanctuary
6. Haven for woodlice at all times
7. Works really well at moist retention & keeping roots cosy (as all mulches should)

...I do not use it on the allotment as generally, the Cocos Shells are from the confectionary industry, and I am as organic as possible on my plot and have no knowledge as to how they've been treated.

Hope this helps.

[flower Power]

Thanks for the info. Slugs, Cats and Woodlice will love it!! :(
Perhaps i should of used shingle, would that of been better?  ???

[Georgie]

Hmmm, may I offer a different view?  I use cocoa shells as a mulch on my border but apply it at 3-4 inches.  I'd say it's a very effective mulch and as I get it from the Organic Catalogue I'm happy about its organic status.  I hate the smell of it when fresh but it deters cats from my borders!  I wouldn't use it in pots though because you cannot get sufficient depth for it to be effective.  I use 2" of washed gravel to top dress my pots which has many advantages: it helps with the evaporation problems, deters weeds, stops leaves and flowers getting splashed with soil, adds weight so the pot is less likely to blow over and if you get the really gritty gravel helps to deter slugs and snails.

G x

[jennym]

Think I read a time back that you have to be careful when using cocoa shell mulch as it can make dogs very sick if they eat it? may be wrong, but this rings a bell somewhere.

[Georgie]

That's right, Jenny, in fact it can kill them.  Sorry, I forgot to add that rider.

G x