Cacao trees are quite finicky. They need protection from sun and wind, which is why they thrive in the understory of warm rainforests. To start a tree, you will need seeds that are still in the pod or have been kept moist since their removal from the pod. If they dry out, they lose their viability. It isn’t unusual for the seeds to begin sprouting from the pod. If your seeds have no roots yet, place them between damp paper towels in a warm (80 degrees F. plus or over 26 C.) area until they begin to root. Pot the rooted beans in individual 4-inch (10 cm.) pots filled with damp seed starter. Place the seed vertically with the root end down and cover with soil just to the top of the seed. Cover the pots with plastic wrap and place them on a germination mat to maintain their temperature in the 80’s (27 C.). In 5-10 days, the seed should sprout. At this point, remove the wrap and put the seedlings on a partially shaded windowsill or under the end of a grow light.