Cocoa hulls, removed from cacao beans (chocolate beans), are generally used as a mulch. They are very light weight and I would seriously doubt they would last very long as a growing media because they are so thin, light, and crispy--I'd guess they'd break down rather quicky. Smell darn nice though. The CHC's that are all the rage here are Coconut Husk Chips. The word is they are supposed to be excellent are a *container* media because they are long-lasting, and hold both a large amount of H2O as well as allow good air penetration for healthier roots. I don't know about trying them in the ground. In general, a long term solution to the poor clay soil often found in our state is adding organic material--lots of it--letting is break down over time and mix in and some tilling and all that hard work to create an enriched soil. That takes a long time and a lot of effort, imho. If you are concerned with drainange issues immediately, you can always create a raised bed or mound and plant onto that. I believe the proper way to plant a tree in the ground is to use mostly native soil for both the reason mentioned by billy1had as well as for root extension issues in these rock hard clay soils, and then consider topdressing with compost or mulch or whatnot--but I am sure that millions of trees have been planted "incorrectly" and they are ok. Have I planted things by using lots of amendment to the soil used to backfill? Yes. Has it all died? No. But at least here (Bay Area), this place is darn dry and my personal feeling is you'd have to work hard to get any substantial issues with retaining too much water for most of the year (unless it's a low-lying location that will have lots of standing water after a heavy rain or something like that) but those are just my observations for my location. For the sake of your *in-ground* citrus and their sensitivity to standing water, if you choose to replant your tree I would just do it onto a raised bed--it's fairly easy to create one. HTH.

I never purchase anything off of e-bay. I really do not know if the bonsi trace minerial mix is good or not for sure. I suspect that it possibly would be OK. I would not use a slow release trace element mix. You can find the actual professional STEM at any place that sells Peters brand fertilizrs. Peters brand is a product of the Scotts company. I purchase STEM in 25-lb. bags. Millet

Lbd, I wonder what could have gone wrong. Was the tree healthy to begin with, or already in decline? CHCs are so neutral in ph that I don't know how they could hurt a plant. I've used them on at least 20 citrus, pome and stone fruits, grapevines, and many tropicals. I'm in South Florida, the sweaty armpit of the world(G). I credit CHCs for the survival of my potted fruit trees on a burning hot concrete patio during our horrible summers. I don't soak the roots before repotting into chcs. After a tree is planted in chcs, it is almost impossible to remove the soil from the roots- they hold it so tightly. I just plunk them in the ground, or in a larger container, as they are, and they do well. So far, I have not had *any* transplant shock with chcs. Not even with Cacao, Tree Tomato or Papayas, all very picky plants. How have your trees responded when planted in other potting mediums? Have you tried an orchid/cactus mix? Those are similar in that they are fast draining, but they lack the moisture holding properties of chcs. You could try fir bark or pine bark to see how your trees respond to each ingredient. Is the Tangelo the only tree you switched? What was it in before? Lisa

Jessica, if you're going to feed in winter, I suggest at least cutting the dossage way down. If you've any plant books, check out Fertilizing in Winter, especially in cold climates.. The only 2 plants I feed in winter are Hibsicus and African Violets. The hibs and AV's are in south and east/west windows. Plus get some artifical light at night..But I reduce the dossage quite a bit. I also apply Superthrive hormones once a month on all plants. Most of my citrus are in a gh so they get more sun than all my plants put together, but in Oct they get one last feeding until I see new growth. Toni