Why is mimosa called pudica and how to care for it?

The sensitive mimosa is an unusual tropical flower whose leaves close at the slightest touch. This unusual feature, unusual for any other plant, attracts indoor gardeners. To grow this unique flower at home, you'll need to create the right conditions and provide proper care.

Description of the plant

Mimosa pudica is a herbaceous subshrub. The plant is native to South America, but is also found in the African and Asian tropics.

The "shy" mimosa is remarkable for its reaction to touch. Touch its leaves and they immediately curl up, as if frightened. The photo of a mimosa flower shows how it changes after being "scared."

Description of the plant:

• the height of the bush in nature is up to 1.5 m, indoor mimosas reach 0.3–0.6 m;
• the stem is straight, covered with small thorns;
• mimosa leaves are bipinnate, on long petioles, growing in groups of 3–5;
• the flowers are pink, with a lilac tint, collected in ball-shaped inflorescences (2 cm in diameter), which are located only on young shoots;
• After flowering, pods with seeds are formed - 2-10 pieces in each.

Features of touch-me-not mimosa:

• the entire above-ground part of the plant is covered with soft white hairs;
• flowering lasts all summer;
• When touched, the leaves close immediately and open only after 20–30 minutes.

At night, the "shy" mimosa folds its leaves regardless of the presence of light. This unusual behavior is explained by the plant's unique biorhythms.

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Care Features

Caring for mimosa at home is complicated by the flower's demanding temperature and humidity conditions. This tropical plant grows best in greenhouses, where conditions as close to natural as possible can be created.

Temperature and humidity

The comfortable temperature for mimosa during the warm season is from 20 to 24°C, and in winter, 16–18°C is sufficient. The recommended humidity is at least 70%.

How to increase humidity:

• the air around the plant is sprayed from a spray bottle;
• Place containers filled with water on the windowsill;
• The pot is placed in a tray with moistened expanded clay.

When humidifying the air, avoid getting water on the mimosa leaves.

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Lighting requirements

This "shy" flower requires good light, so it's best placed on a south-facing windowsill. However, in summer, during midday, when the sun is particularly hot, the plant needs shade to prevent the leaves from burning.

This tropical plant can also grow on other windows—east- and west-facing. However, as daylight hours decrease, supplemental lighting will be necessary. Daylight hours should be at least 12 hours.

When light levels are insufficient, the plant's shoots stretch, becoming less compact and losing its decorative appeal. This problem is especially common after winter and in young seedlings.

Watering rules

The plant loves moisture and requires regular watering. Watering frequency depends on the season, humidity, and temperature. It's important not to allow the surface soil to dry out.

Watering features:

• the soil should be constantly slightly moist, but without stagnant water;
• During flowering, plants are watered every other day, during other periods - 2-3 times a week;
• soft or distilled water is used.

To obtain water suitable for watering a flower, it is enough to let tap water stand for 24 hours.

Top dressing

The plant is fed according to approximately the same schedule as other indoor plants.

Features of feeding:

• From March to December, the plant is fertilized every 2 weeks;
• It is recommended to use universal and complex organomineral mixtures as fertilizers;
• You can use complex fertilizers for flowering plants, but at half the dosage;
• During the dormant period, the plant does not need fertilizers.

Transplanting and soil preparation

The sensitive plant has thin and fragile roots, so repotting it unnecessarily is not recommended. To minimize the risk of root damage, transplant the plant by transshipment. The roots are transferred to the new container along with the root ball. The plant prefers moderately fertile, well-drained, and moist soil.

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Preparing the pot for replanting:

• the planting container is thoroughly washed;
• a drainage layer of 3–4 cm of crushed stone is placed on the bottom;
• holes are made in the container to allow excess water to drain out;
• The substrate is prepared from turf and leaf soil, sand, and peat. These are taken in equal parts;
• To make the soil mixture looser, perlite is added to it.

The flower is repotted into a pot of a suitable diameter. After moving the plant to its new location, the roots are covered with soil, then the plant is watered with settled water.

Topping

To keep the mimosa looking decorative, it needs to be pinched.

Pinching order:

1. The first treatment is carried out in April, at the beginning of the growing season. It is aimed at prolonging the flowering period.
2. The second pinching is done after flowering has finished. This is done to form lateral branches that will only appear the following year.

Avoid pinching shoots too short. If you do too much, the plant will have a hard time surviving the winter. It's possible that an over-pinched plant will die.

The flower, grown as an annual, is pinched at a young age to make it more compact.

Pollination and seed collection

In nature, pollination occurs naturally. Pollen is carried by insects and wind. When growing mimosa indoors, pollination is the responsibility of the gardener.

Pollinate the plants with a clean brush. It transfers pollen from flower to flower. Alternatively, gently rub the plants together. If pollination is successful, dense pods containing beans will appear after a while. Seeds are collected after the mimosa has finished blooming.

Reproduction methods

Mimosa pudica is usually propagated by seed. This is the simplest and most effective method. Sowing occurs in March-April.

Reproduction order:

1. Soak the seeds in hot water for 30 minutes. Or soak them in a growth stimulator to improve germination.
2. Dry the seeds and prepare a soil mixture of turf, leaf mold, sand, and peat. Disinfect the soil mixture with Fitosporin or a pink solution of potassium permanganate.
3. Sow the seeds in a container or pots to a depth of 0.5–1 cm. Do not compact the soil after sowing.
4. Water the seeds and cover the container with a transparent lid—either glass or plastic. Place the container in a well-lit area. The optimal germination temperature is 25°C. Ventilate the soil daily and moisten it with a spray bottle.
5. In two weeks, seedlings will appear; when they reach 5 cm in height, plant them in separate cups - 2-3 pieces in each.

The second method of propagation is cuttings. Cuttings taken from a mature plant are placed in water or a sand-peat mixture and wait for rooting. To increase the likelihood of survival, the cuttings are treated with growth stimulants.

Taking mimosa cuttings is a difficult process, as the cuttings don't take root well, even when using high-quality planting material. This method of propagation is possible, but ineffective—only one out of ten cuttings takes root.

Pests of Mimosa pudica

Owners of the sensitive mimosa must vigilantly monitor the plant's health. If pests are overlooked and not eliminated promptly, they can cause significant damage to the plant, even killing it.

Pests and their control:

1. Aphids. These sucking insects congregate on the undersides of leaves. If there are only a few aphids, soapy water will suffice. For severe infestations, stronger treatments are required. Spray the plant with Fitoverm or Agravertin.
2. Spider mites. This small insect can be identified by the spots on the leaves and the fine webbing on their undersides. It's recommended to spray the plant with a soap solution with a little alcohol. If this doesn't help, treat the plant with Actellic.
3. Whitefly. Translucent scales on the undersides of leaves indicate the presence of the pest. They become sticky, faded, and lifeless. To combat whiteflies, wash the plant with a soapy solution and spray it with tobacco infusion. For severe infestations, use "Aktara."

To take timely action and prevent serious damage to the plant, it is recommended to regularly inspect it for pests.

Problems of growing

Growing tropical plants indoors often leads to problems. Knowing the plant's weaknesses allows you to take action in advance and prevent problems.

Possible problems and their causes:

• leaf fall - due to irregular watering;
• yellowing of the above-ground part - over-watering of the soil;
• the leaves do not open, despite the onset of daylight - too frequent and abundant watering;
• the shoots stretch out and lose elasticity, the plant does not bloom due to lack of light;
• leaves fade and wrinkle due to dusty, polluted air (this happens when the windows are open);
• The plant does not bloom because of the cool air.

Despite the capriciousness of this "shy" flower, growing it isn't as difficult as it seems. If you can't provide suitable winter conditions for this tropical plant, you can limit yourself to growing annuals.