Cocoa Shell Mulch Anyone?

[nicki]

This year I wanted to try something different in the flower garden, I'm not a big fan of the regular big box store mulch. But I've used it for years since other options weren't available. I saw cocoa mulch on tv a couple years ago & have been interested in that but have never seen it anywhere. Well I finally found some this year. And after some research I decided to give it a try. I know the pros & cons. I don't have dogs & we have a fenced in yard. The only other problem I read was that the mulch can get mold which made it sound like that comes with any mulch. The impression I got was it's not that big a deal. If it gets mold just mix the mulch around & the sun will pretty much dry it up. A couple days we had a storm. Yesterday I went out to look for slugs & clean up any dead flowers. I was not expected there to be so many thick white patches of fuzz everywhere. I knew a lil bit of mold might happen but this terrible. And we are getting more rain today so it's not like it will dry up anytime soon. I really love the way this mulch looks minus the mold of course. It's exactly what I want. But this mold thing is bring up some regret with this investment.
Does anyone else have cocoa mulch? Can the mold harm the flowers?

[Ron-NY]

I have not used it but I wouldn't think the mold would harm your plants.

[cindiras]

I used it one year around a fruit tree and flower bed. The smell was heavenly for the first two weeks. I didn't spread the mulch until the end of June since early June tends to be our rainiest season. But just watering the flower bed was enough for the mold to appear. I have never used it again. It didn't seem to harm the tree or the flowers, but it was ugly!

[nicki]

Thanks. Live and learn I suppose I was so excited with this stuff at first. We'll see if I can deal with it til end of the season. I have extra bags too. Didn't realize how far a little bit of that mulch went.

[Molly Taco]

I have never used it but have heard that if dogs ingest it they can become quite sick. Apparently they are attracted to the smell which is HEAVENLY !!!
Cin

[cindiras]

Yup! the smell of chocolate is devine! Unfortunately, it doesn't last when exposed to open air.