The Yerba Mate plant originates from the subtropical region of South America and is scientifically known as Ilex paraguariensis. This plant is often cultivated indoors, and Yerba Mate leaves are used to make tea, which is believed to provide several health benefits. Like any other plant, Yerba mate has specific requirements and circumstances that must be met for it to flourish.
Let’s discuss them in detail below!
Background on Yerba Mate Plant
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The Yerba Mate plant is referred to as ka’a, meaning “herb” in the Guaran language spoken by the people who invented ‘mate,’ a caffeinated, green tea-like drink made from the plant’s leaves. Yerba mate plant is also widely recognized for being a rich source of minerals and loaded with vitamins, including vitamin E and antioxidants.
Due to its several benefits, many South American nations now consume ‘mate’ regularly. It is currently made in Argentina and Brazil and is getting popular in several other countries.
Most people cultivate yerba mates within homes to make natural tea free of additives. The leaves are used to brew the energizing tea, which is then served with milk, lemon, or sugar to counteract the bitterness. The leaves are also often combined with citrus rinds or peppermint.
This 49-foot-long tree with a leathery green exterior starts as a shrub. The evergreen tree has leaves with serrated edges which measure anywhere from 0.3 to 4.3 inches in length and 1.2 to 2.2 inches in width.
Yerba mate is a flowering plant that produces four-petalled, small white flowers with hues of green. The fruit is a reddish-colored drupe with a diameter of 4 to 6 millimeters.
A yerba mate may develop into a 40-foot-tall tree with multiple stems in its natural habitat. However, given the proper care, it can survive comfortably in a planter for seasons as a 5-foot plant, producing plenty of green leaves in partial shade as a subtropical plant.
The seeds required to start new yerba mate trees are gathered when they have developed a deep purple color. This procedure usually takes place between January to April. After that, the seeds are soaked in water to remove non-viable seedlings and debris like twigs or leaves.
New yerba mate plants are grown between March and May from March to May, but this can vary greatly depending on the weather. Transplanting is performed from April to September for yerba mates that have been started in pots. The bare roots plants are usually transplanted in the summer months of July and June.
Yerba Mate Plant Care
Here are a few considerations when growing your Yerba Mate to ensure it thrives.
Water
Yerba mate plants don’t need a lot of water to thrive. When it is planted in a 5.0-inch pot and kept away from full sunlight, it will do well with 0.8 cups of water after every nine days.
The best way to ensure you are not underwatering or overwatering your yerba mate plant is to wait until the soil is dry between watering’s before soaking it with water.
If you live in a warmer region, your yerba mate will need irrigation at least once per week. If the weather is too hot and the soil begins to look dry, you can also water the yerba mate plant twice a week. Mulch aids in moisture retention, so cover the plant’s base with a thick coating of at least 2-3 inches.
Soil
A Yerba Mate trees like acidic, loamy, sandy soil with good drainage and a pH of approximately 6.8. So when choosing a soil to use for potting yerba mate plants, ensure that it meets all these requirements.
Sun
The size of yerba mate trees depends on the amount of sunshine they receive; yerba mates need partial or full sun to grow. The maximum height of a yerba mate kept indoors in a pot is about two to three feet.
If you want your yerba mate plant to become taller, the secret to achieving that is to place it on a balcony or a south-facing window. Doing so will also help you achieve faster growth.
Also, ensure the yerba mate plants receive sunshine for at least 50 percent of the day to maintain maximum development and health. If you don’t get sunlight 50 percent of the day, four hours of direct sunlight will do.
If it’s too hot, consider moving the plant into a spot with some shade or cutting back on the amount of time it spends in direct sunshine to prevent burning. You can also consider placing a light curtain to filter out the harshness of the sunlight during extreme summer.
One way to know if your plant is receiving excess sunlight is to look for signs of wilting on yerba mate leaves. This term refers to a plant with leaves that droop downwards as if thirsty or exhausted.
Fertilization
Even though a yerba mate plant can grow without a fertilizer, a relatively well-balanced fertilizer is needed for a yerba mate to grow optimally. When growing a yerba mate plant from seeds, the shrub can grow more quickly if a slow-release fertilizer is added to the potting mix.
It is advised to fertilize yerba mate plants weekly or every two weeks from spring through autumn when they are in their growing season.
Temperature
Yerba mate plants originate from the subtropical regions of South American countries. They favor humid, hot environments with a lot of precipitation. When the temperature remains over 15 degrees Celsius, yerba mate plants thrive. Yerba mate plants can withstand cooler temperatures for small amounts of time.
However, a yerba mate tree will perish if the temperature drops below forty degrees Celsius. Therefore, it is recommended that you refrain from planting a yerba mate tree outdoors if you live in colder climates.
Also, keep yerba mate plants indoors during winter to protect them from frostbite and cold air. You can still cultivate a yerba mate plant in a cooler climate.
However, it will take more effort and attention, and you might have to use artificial lights to replicate the environment the plant is used to.
Humidity
Yerba Mate enjoys humidity since it is native to hot, humid areas, and its optimal humidity requirements are approximately 50%. However, it can withstand relatively low humidity levels. You may also mist your yerba mate with water if the weather is too dry to give it the moisture it needs to flourish.
Pruning
Like the majority of plants, yerba mate benefits from occasional pruning. If the leaves aren’t pruned down, they may spread excessively and take up a lot of space within your home. Pruning will help you achieve the required size and shape if you have limited room within your property and want to maintain a more compact and clean shrub shape.
Pruning will also allow you to remove damaged or dry leaves on your yerba mate plant and encourage new growth during autumn.
Disease and Pest Control
Yerba mates could contract pests and diseases from other plants. Plant owners must thus avoid placing yerba mates with other plants that are susceptible to disease or pests to avoid them from coming into contact with other plants that are infected with mealybug or scale.
Other than that, Yerba Mate is a resilient plant mostly unharmed by other illnesses or pests. Separating your yerba mate from other plants and using a natural pesticide will help prevent the problem from worsening if you spot pests or diseases on the plant.
Avoid using commercially marketed insecticides since they contain strong chemicals that might harm the plant.
Propagation
You can use Seedlings or leaf cuttings from other yerba mates for propagation. However, using seeds for propagation can be challenging since they quickly lose their germination capacity. Although if they first undergo thorough preparation to keep them prepared for germination, propagation can become manageable.
However, given that the seeds must first be chilled or stratified, some people find it challenging to cultivate yerba mates. The time it takes for the seeds to germinate might range from six to twelve months; therefore, it is a lengthy process.
Therefore if this is your first time growing a yerba mate plant, it may be easier to work with leaf cuttings. They should be semi-woody and picked in the later summer months. You must also treat them with a rooting hormone before you grow them.
If you want to grow a Yerba mate tree with seeds, you must know that they are readily available at any nursery which sells culinary plants. Herb stores or organic food stores are other places to find yerba mate seeds.
How to Grow Yerba Mate from Yerba Mate Seeds?
If you want to amp up the beauty of your garden with yerba mate plants, here is how you can grow a yerba mate from seedlings. As discussed above, allow your yerba mate seeds to be stratified before planting them in your garden.
The first step is to locate an area with a lot of sunlight and the appropriate loamy soil that yerba mates require to grow. If not, you can also purchase the soil and cover the area where you wish to grow the plant with it
The next step is to make a hole in the appropriate location with well-drained soil and add the Yerba mate seeds into that home before covering it with the soil. (Pro tip: Add some mulch into the soil mix for moisture retention)
Now you can mix in some slow-release fertilizer into the soil (fertilize every 2 months during the growth periods in the first year)
If you do not have the appropriate weather and warm temperatures needed to grow yerba mates outdoors, you can also grow this plant indoors by planting the seeds in pots. Here is how you can grow yerba mate with seeds indoors:
Choose a small to medium-sized pot with appropriate drainage holes
Next, add the appropriate soil mix to the pot and place the seeds in the depths of the soil. (You will also find proper instructions behind the seed pouches)
Now place the pot in a warm location and water it regularly. A temperature of approximately 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit is the ideal temperature to germinate the yerba mate seeds during this stage
Make sure the soil stays moist during this stage. You can also use a spray bottle to mist the soil regularly
Important note! To germinate your yerba mate, place it in a warm or heated environment such as a greenhouse. The seedlings are still delicate at this stage, so keep them away from extreme direct sunlight.
Tips on Caring for Yerba Mate Tree in Winters
If you own a yerba mate and the wintertime is approaching, or if you want to purchase a yerba mate and live somewhere where winter months are in abundance, it can become challenging to take care of this plant since it likes warmer climates. However, here are a few tips to remember to ensure the plant thrives in winter.
If your yerba mate plant is outdoors, bring it indoors during the winter season to protect it from cold weather
Find a sunny spot for your yerba mate plant to help it thrive and stay warm during wintertime
If the weather is freezing and you lack sunlight where you live, consider using a LED grow light to offer your yerba mate plant the energy it needs to flourish
Water yerba mate plant regularly, at least once a week, and allow the soil to dry between waterings
Keep your yerba mate plant slightly distanced from windows during winter to protect them from cold gusts of wind
Concluding Thoughts
Yerba maté is a beautiful plant that can add aesthetic appeal to indoor and outdoor areas. Moreover, yerba maté plant owners can also use leaves from this healthy tree to make yerba maté, a caffeine-based drink with several health benefits and anti-inflammatory properties.
So what are you waiting for? Take advantage of this plant by growing it in your home or purchasing a pre-grown plant from the store and using the yerba mate plant care tips mentioned above to help it strive.