Yerba Mate (Ilex paraguariensis)

Yerba Mate (Ilex paraguariensis): the plant of the famous South American tea. Although made famous by the Argentines, it is used in many other countries, surely consumption was born in Paraguay. Ilex paraguariensis needs care to reproduce the conditions suitable for its development, it is intended for experts or those who want to try something challenging. On the other hand, commitment will be repaid with an exceptional plant and provide room for lots of learning. The bearing is bushy at first but over the years it lignifies until it becomes a tree even 15 meters high. At our latitudes it can reach a small tree of a couple of meters high. The most delicate phases of cultivation go from sowing to the formation of the trunk, which depending on the conditions will be in about 3/4 years. In the meantime, the plant will still make the leaves available for consumption. The comfort temperature ranges from 21 to 25° C, in this range it will provide the maximum vegetative expression of the plant, which in any case tolerates a wide range of temperatures: when the plant is well developed it will also tolerate light frosts, butcher must be paid in the early years, it should not fall below 10° C, in winter it should therefore be kept in a protected environment. First in a vase and then on the ground it should be placed in the mid shade, avoiding direct exposure in the hours of greatest sunshine. The plant requires a slightly acidic pH between 5.5 and 6.5; the subtract chosen should contain these values (no specific one for acidophilus is necessary, normally, even universal soils have compatible values, just check the package) The plant is susceptible to pH variations especially in the early stages of cultivation, so it is necessary to choose a suitable fertilizer, in this case powdered or pellet manure: the earthworm humus that we often recommend in fact tends to be alkaline, and could cause problems. The sowing of Ilex paraguariensis is not among the simplest, in fact we must resort to stratification, which will be explained in detail in the next section. The cultivation of a plant like Yerba Mate will lead you to delve into many aspects of cultivation that are often underestimated, because they are not very visible. From stratification in sowing to careful management of fertilization and Ph, the importance of exposure as well as temperature management. You will then enjoy the plants in your garden, even the most common ones, with a different look.