Ahuehuete (Taxodium mucronatum)

El ahuehuete it is an amazing conifer. It reaches immense heights, and has a crown capable of casting a very pleasant shade. Although it is not a plant that can be had in all types of gardens, and less in small ones, it can be pruned to keep it in a pot.

With minimal care, you can enjoy it without problems. For this reason, we think it is interesting to know it, since this way you will be able to know if it is really worth growing it.

Origin and characteristics of the ahuehuete tree

Our protagonist is an evergreen or semi-evergreen tree native to Mexico that is also found in very localized areas of southern Texas and northwestern Guatemala. Its scientific name is Taxodium huegelli (before taxodium mucronatum), but it is better known as ahuehuete. It reaches a height of up to 40 meters, with a trunk of 2 to 14 meters in diameter.

The leaves are arranged in a spiral, lie in two overlapping rows and are 1-2cm long by 1-2mm wide. The pineapples are oval, with polygonal pyramidal scales and 1,5 to 2,5 cm long by 1 to 2 cm wide.

As a curiosity, to say that its origin dates back to the Mesozoic Era, between 100 and 200 million years ago.

What are the cares of the ahuehuete?

If you want and can have a specimen of ahuehuete, we advise you to take into account the size it reaches as an adult, as well as its needs, which are the following:

Location

Where do you put it? From the first moment it must be outside, in full sun or in semi-shade. Although it is normal to acquire young specimens, 1, perhaps 2 meters high, it is a plant that needs to be outside, in the open air, to be able to grow.

In fact, although it does not grow excessively fast, if we take into account that it becomes very large, it is highly recommended to plant it in the ground as soon as possible. But yes, we must find a site where the pipes are at a minimum distance of ten meters from where we want to plant it.

Earth

• Flower pot: can be filled with universal growing medium (on sale here) mixed with 30% perlite. It is not very demanding with this, but it is important to avoid those poor quality substrates that get puddled quickly.
• Garden: the soil must be fertile and have good drainage.

Irrigation

The ahuehuete is a conifer that grows wonderfully in humid soils. In fact, in their natural habitat it is possible to find specimens growing next to a river or a swamp. So, in cultivation it is necessary to prevent the soil from drying out.

And if we have it in a pot, we will put a plate under it and we will always keep it with water. This will be a great help to quench your thirst, especially in the summer when you need it most.

Subscriber

From spring to summer it must be paid with organic fertilizersand guano, compost u others. In case of having it in a pot, fertilizers should be used in liquid form.

Follow the instructions for use so that there are no problems, since we often want to add more than what would be adequate and we do not think that this would cause very serious damage to the roots, since they would burn. If this happened, it would be difficult to recover the ahuehuete.

Multiplication

The ahuehuete multiplies by seeds in autumn (They need to be cold before germinating). If winter is mild in your area, we advise you to stratify them in the fridge in a tupperware with vermiculite or coconut fiber for two to three months. After that time, plant them in a pot that you will place in full sun.

If everything goes fine, will sprout in spring. But do not be in a hurry to plant them in larger pots or in the ground: until the roots come out through the drainage holes of the seedbed you have chosen, it is better not to handle them too much. In addition, you must treat them with fungicides that contain copper (such as this) so that neither fungi nor oomycetes finish them off.

Pruning

If it is to be potted, it is important to remove dry, diseased or weak branches, as well as cutting those that are growing too much, always keeping it with a height of 2 meters or less.

Rusticity

Withstands cold and frost up to -12ºC.

What is the ahuehuete for?

The ahuehuete is a tree that used as an ornamental plant. It is used as an isolated specimen, since over time it reaches very large dimensions. In addition, it provides a very cool and pleasant shade.

On the other hand, in Mexico it is used as a medicinal; specifically its bark and leaves, as they are astringent and help to heal wounds better.

And last but not least, the ahuehuete is a tree that can be worked as bonsai.

How to take care of an ahuehuete bonsai?

If you work as bonsai, you have to provide it with care that is a little different from what we would give it if we let it grow at its own pace. For example, as substratum It is highly recommended to add a mixture of akadama with 30% kiryuzuna, since this will allow the tree to take root somewhat faster.

Since that substrate dries quickly, the irrigation it will have to be frequent. Very frequent Furthermore, during the warmest season of the year it may be necessary to water in the morning and in the afternoon, avoiding the central hours of the day. But be careful: the plant should not be sprayed if the sun hits it; if it is going to be done, it is better to do it in the late afternoon and only if the ambient humidity is low.

Also in that season, in summer, it will be recommended pay it with a specific fertilizer for bonsai, following the instructions that you will find on the package.

With respect to pruning, it will be done at the end of winter. It is highly recommended to do it since it is young, since this will avoid drastic pruning which would decrease the ornamental value of the ahuehuete. The style that is most used is the chokkan, that is, a straight trunk and a more or less pyramidal crown.

El transplant It will be done every 3 years or so, but it will depend on how fast our bonsai is growing. It is done in late winter. The same day it is transplanted, you can take advantage of it to prune it, if you consider it necessary.

This way you will have a beautiful bonsai that even your distant descendants can take care of, since the life expectancy of this species exceeds 500 years.

What did you think of the ahuehuete?