diff --git a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_bone_meal/API.md b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_bone_meal/API.md
index f0402aae39..46a28fadb5 100644
--- a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_bone_meal/API.md
+++ b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_bone_meal/API.md
@@ -8,7 +8,17 @@ The bone meal API provides a callback definition that nodes can use to
 register a handler that is executed when a bone meal item is used on it.
 
 Nodes that wish to use the bone meal API should in their node registration
-define a callback handler named `_mcl_on_bonemealing`.  This handler is a
+define a callback handler named `_mcl_on_bonemealing`.
+
+Note that by registering the callback handler, the node declares that bone
+meal can be used on it and as a result, when the user is not in creative
+mode, the used bone meal is spent and taken from the itemstack passed to
+the `on_place()` handler of the bone meal item used.
+
+It is for all intents and purposes up to the callback defined in the node to
+decide how to handle the specific effect that bone meal has on that node.
+
+The `_mcl_on_bonemealing` callback handler is a
 
   `function(pointed_thing, placer)`
 
@@ -17,10 +27,9 @@ Its arguments are:
 	bone meal is applied
 * `placer`: ObjectRef of the player who aplied the bone meal, can be nil!
 
-The function should return `true` if the bonemealing was succesful.
-
-It is for all intents and purposes up to the callback defined in the node to
-decide how to handle the effect that bone meal has on that particular node.
+The return value of the handler function indicates if the bonemealing had
+its intended effect.  If `true`, 'bone meal particles' are spawned at the
+position of the bonemealed node.
 
 The `on_place` code in the bone meal item will spawn bone meal particles and
 decrease the bone meal itemstack if the handler returned `true` and the
diff --git a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_bone_meal/init.lua b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_bone_meal/init.lua
index 8c8447c3e8..f7b152e961 100644
--- a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_bone_meal/init.lua
+++ b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_bone_meal/init.lua
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ end
 --
 mcl_bone_meal.bone_meal_callbacks = {}
 
--- Shims for the old API are still available in mcl_dye and refer to
+-- Shims for the old API are still available in mcl_dye and defer to
 -- the real functions in mcl_bone_meal.
 --
 function mcl_bone_meal.register_on_bone_meal_apply(func)
@@ -91,9 +91,9 @@ minetest.register_craftitem("mcl_bone_meal:bone_meal", {
 		if ndef and ndef._mcl_on_bonemealing then
 			if ndef._mcl_on_bonemealing(pointed_thing, placer) then
 				mcl_bone_meal.add_bone_meal_particle(pos)
-				if not minetest.is_creative_enabled(placer:get_player_name()) then
-					itemstack:take_item()
-				end
+			end
+			if not minetest.is_creative_enabled(placer:get_player_name()) then
+				itemstack:take_item()
 			end
 		-- Otherwise try the legacy API.
 		elseif apply_bone_meal(pointed_thing, placer) and
@@ -114,8 +114,9 @@ minetest.register_craftitem("mcl_bone_meal:bone_meal", {
 		-- If the pointed node can be bonemealed, let it handle the processing.
 		if ndef and ndef._mcl_on_bonemealing then
 			if ndef._mcl_on_bonemealing(pointed_thing, nil) then
-				itemstack:take_item()
+				mcl_bone_meal.add_bone_meal_particle(pos)
 			end
+			itemstack:take_item()
 		else
 			-- Otherwise try the legacy API.
 			if apply_bone_meal(pointed_thing, nil) then
diff --git a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_cocoas/init.lua b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_cocoas/init.lua
index f09b274e83..cc7bcc4648 100644
--- a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_cocoas/init.lua
+++ b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_cocoas/init.lua
@@ -167,6 +167,7 @@ for i = 1, 3 do
 	end
 	if i == 3 then
 		def.drop = "mcl_cocoas:cocoa_beans 3"
+		def._mcl_on_bonemealing = nil
 	end
 
 	minetest.register_node("mcl_cocoas:cocoa_" .. i, table.copy(def))