Yerba Mate is a South American plant that is used to make a stimulating drink. It is popularly known for its health benefits as it contains vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. The plant is easy to grow and maintain, but like most plants, it may outgrow its pot over time. Repotting your Yerba Mate plant can give it room to grow and flourish. Here’s how to do it.
Choose a new pot: Yerba Mate plants grow well in pots that are wider than they are deep. The new pot should be one size larger than the current pot to allow room for growth.
Prepare the new pot: Fill the bottom of the new pot with fresh potting soil. Make sure the soil is evenly distributed and level.
Remove the plant from the old pot: Gently remove the plant from its old pot by tipping the pot on its side and tapping the sides of the pot or squeezing the sides of the pot until the plant loosens.
Loosen the roots: Gently loosen any tangled or compacted roots with your fingers or a fork.
Trim the roots: If there are any brown or damaged roots, trim them with pruning shears or scissors.
Position the plant in the new pot: Place the plant in the center of the new pot, ensuring that it is at the same depth as before.
Fill in with soil: Fill in around the plant with fresh soil until it is level with the top of the root ball.
Water: Water your Yerba Mate plant thoroughly until water comes through the drainage holes of the new pot.
Place in a suitable location: Place the plant in a location that receives bright, indirect sunlight.
Yerba Mate plants should be repotted once every two years or when they outgrow their current pot.
Yerba Mate plants grow well in well-draining soil. You can use a mixture of potting soil and perlite or sand.
It is not recommended to use a pot that is too large for your Yerba Mate plant. A pot that is too big can hold too much water, which can lead to root rot.
If you notice that your Yerba Mate plant is not growing as well as it used to, or if roots are growing out of the drainage holes, it may be time to repot.