The sensitive plant, commonly known as the shy plant, is a tropical member of the Mimosa genus, native to the tropical south, with most vegetation found in Central America. Like any other plant, this wonderful plant can be placed in your cozy home to bring wonder and awe to the whole wonderful family.
Mimosa plants are an excellent choice of floor plants in the sun. The interesting Latin name of the best plant means shy, and it is very often called a simply shy plant or shy plant. Mimosa pudica has compound pinnate leaves. Blooms in the sun and is a pure indoor plant.
Why is Mimosa pudica called a sensitive plant?
Mimosa lobed grows in the tropics of Central and South America. Mimosa pudica is a spreading shrub or ephemeral perennial that is commonly referred to as a “vulnerable plant” because of the fascinating regeneration of its leaves when struck. New plants with globose flowers and fern-like leaves also cover the leaves at night.
How to grow a shy mimosa?
It is not difficult to grow a sensitive plant, even if it is almost impossible to force it to stop healthy growth. Amazing plants grow best in well-drained soil, but rich in organic matter. Mimosa pudica care isn’t difficult. Fertilize the beautiful plant with a diluted liquid fertilizer with a high potassium content.
How to water mimosa?
For a tropical plant, it is important that the soil remains moist, but not wet. We recommend a mixture of two parts fresh loam, two parts peat moss, and one part perlite. For a sensitive plant, a medium-sized pot with regular-diameter drainage holes is best.
These plants are not picky about temperature, any range comfortable for humans is usually suitable for them. For normal growth and flowering, a range of 60 to 80 degrees is sufficient. Some houseplant lovers advise against placing their beautiful sensitive plant on a windowsill if you live in a temperate climate.
How to care for a shy mimosa?
Caring for such a unique plant may seem complicated, but it is actually much easier than you think. All you need is a medium-sized container with drainage holes, bright light, and some clay for this delicate plant to thrive in your home. This plant grows well in bright, direct sun, as well as in moist soil with good drainage and high humidity.
How to grow a sensitive plant from seed? (shy mimosa)
Seeds should always be sown only in the spring unless artificial light and optimum temperature are used. It is desirable to plant the seeds well in the sowing soil, which is thoroughly moistened with the best irrigation, and the excess water must be drained, but the water is physically drawn into the ground.
We only plant the seeds on top of the potting soil and then just cover them with a thin layer of soil. Soaking the seed and providing it with plenty of heat and light can allow the plant’s tender seeds to germinate in less than 1 week.
A period of time it can take up to 4 weeks in less than good conditions. The sensitive plant growing as a perennial in nature is treated as an annual when grown as a houseplant.
How to transplant this plant? (Mimosa pudica)
Sensitive plants grow quickly and will need to be repotted sometimes when they outgrow their pot. If you notice that the roots are sticking out of the drainage holes, it’s a period, to report the plant you may have to do this several times over the course of a year.
If, after flowering, the plant degenerate, to the point where it becomes unsightly, save the seeds, eject the plant, and plant again.
Many gardeners plant new seeds every year and discard old plants after they have finished flowering. Feed for a sensitive plant is a diluted high potassium liquid fertilizer every two weeks.
How long does it take for a sensitive plant to grow?
In tropical climates, sensitive plants live for two years or even more. While in temperate climates they behave more like annuals, wilting after flowering.
When grown as a beautiful houseplant it is best to treat them like annuals and let them die off after collecting the seeds as it is very easy to propagate new plants from these seeds.
Put your sensitive plants grown in a sunny window that preferably receives some direct sunlight on the plant itself.
Common pests Mimosa pudica houseplants
Some pests are common to sensitive plants. These include spider mites and mimosa webworms, both of which wrap the leaves of the sensitive plant in webs that hinder their responsive closing.
Mimosa pudica is also receptive to other common houseplant pests such as fungal diseases mealybugs, and thrips. Airspraying, with a non-toxic horticultural oil, is an effective treatment for these common houseplant pests.
How to breed shy mimosa?
Sensitive plants are foliage plants, and the breeding seeds of tropical plants have tough brown exodermis. Loosening this cover will help the mimosa germinate.
For sensitive plants, one of the important points is to put them in a bowl of warm water, soak them for a few hours and then plant Mimosa pudica. It is important to know that sensitive plants grown outdoors in the ideal temperature range grow well in ideal tropical climates and retain soil well.
Temperature-sensitive plants
And most interesting is the rapid movement of the plant at ideal temperatures in the range of 59 ° F to 84 ° F (17 ° C to 29 ° C). The most important care tip is to avoid sudden changes in temperature.
For Mimosa pudica, too little light is not appropriate. Only bright places and sensitive plants close the spherical flowers at night.
Fertilizer
For better drainage, fertilizer is diluted to the optimum amount and fertilized every 3 weeks from spring to summer. Appropriate fertilizers allow sensitive plants to grow properly and give them enough strength to move their leaves.
Soil for sensitive plants
Sensitive plants are difficult to handle with wet feet, and another reason is that they develop root rot when left in excess water.
Add peat moss to the soil for better drainage. When normal environment-sensitive plants live in nutrient-poor soil, sensitive plants do not require overly rich soil or frequent feeding to reproduce.
When grown as a houseplant, regular commercial compost is good compost. Basal roots like to be restricted, but not compressed.
Pruning of sensitive plants
Sensitive plants require regular pruning to keep them attractive. Mimosa Pudica is a creeper whose legs grow longer over time. Pruning the long-legged stems of sensitive plants at some point in the season.
A small trellis or accessory can be used to give the plant a certain top to prevent the long-hanging stems of the susceptible plant from sticking out beyond the edge of the pot.
Transplantation of sensitive plants
The ideal pot size for sensitive foliage plants is 6 inches (14 cm). Sensitive mimosa flora grows as an annual houseplant and usually does not require replanting.
If you use a moisture tray, make sure the container is on a rock, not water. Therefore, it turns out that the soil does not absorb any more water and is too loose.
Grow mimosa outdoors
The sensitive flora grows very easily from seeds as a houseplant. If you live in a tropical or subtropical climate, you can easily grow mimosas in your garden.
A good way to avoid the problem of drainage of sensitive plants is to use a layer of pebbles at the bottom of the field. Also, make enough drain holes for the pot to allow excess water to drain into the drain. And it is very important that tropical foliage plants never stand in the water pan.
What’s wrong with sensitive plants?
Sensitive plants are particularly susceptible to disease, but common houseplant pests such as spider mites, scale insects, and thrips can also spread.
Spraying water directly on the plant helps control the movement of pests and air when the plant is susceptible.
Flowers of sensitive plants
Sensitive spherical mimosas with pointed stems bloom in July or very late summer if development conditions are suitable for growing sensitive plants.
The best care for sensitive plants and ideal places is only bright light and direct sunlight. Normal sun and moist soil provide abundant small pink or pink fluffy pompon-like flowers. As the flowers of sensitive plants grow, they each grow into pods containing up to 6 seeds.
In the wild, Mimosa pudica plants are perennials, but captive-grown plants behave like annuals. No matter how much you care for sensitive plants, they will begin to deteriorate after the first flowering.
What are the problems with sensitive plants?
Sensitive plants are particularly susceptible to disease, but pests from common houseplants such as spider mites, scale insects, and thrips can spread. Spraying water directly on the plants helps control pests and air movements when susceptible plants are grown indoors.
According to the Kew Royal Botanical Garden, insecticidal soap sprays can blacken fern leaves and should not be used. Be very careful when working with sensitive plants, as the stems have sharp thorns. Sensitives also contain toxic alkaloids that can be harmful to humans and animals when ingested.
Why are sensitive plant leaves upright?
Moisture in microscopic cells exerts a force called turgor pressure. This pressure keeps the leaves upright. Obstacles such as contact, airflow, and heat move the moisture inside the leaves outward.
This lack of pressure affects the final fit of the leaf to the stem. This effect is a defense mechanism when a plant becomes dormant and is about to wilt.
Beautiful sensitive plant conclusion
One of the main advantages of Mimosa pudica is its appearance and, of course, its sudden movement. Among all the options for indoor plants, this will delight your family and beloved guests.
The thorny stems of Mimosa pudica are not enough to prevent most people from adding this wonderful piece to their favorite garden. The leaves of the mimosa are reminiscent of ferns and give the plant a charm.
And the most interesting thing is that they are also stimulated by changes in temperature, so if you point your finger at them or even blow on them, they will curl up as if they were touched.
If you are naturally shy and want a plant to mimic your behavior, Mimosa pudica is a great choice. Mimosa pudica in the wild does not have this problem, but the real reasons for the change have not been elucidated.
And another interesting fact, these amazing plants also tend to develop long-legged stems without a lot of foliage – usually a reaction to insufficient sunlight.
Sensitive plant cut
The sensitive plant requires regular mandatory and temporary pruning to keep the shrub attractive and also soil moist. A sensitive plant is a creeper that becomes leggy over time and not beautiful.
Prune sensitive plant leggy stems sometime during each season. In the winter months, you need to cover the Fabaceae family transparent plastic cover.
So that long hanging stems do not protrude beyond the edges of the pot. You also can use a small trellis or accessory to give the plant some sort of apex.