Sensitive Mimosa (Mimosa pudica) also called Sensitive Plant, is a very reactive plant, hence its name. When touched, the leaves of the plant immediately close. Once the physical stimulus stops, the plant will reopen its leaves. Despite its name and sensitivity to touch, it is not a sensitive plant in terms of care requirements, in this article we will discuss how to propagate, grow Sensitive Mimosa and its care.
Contents
Basic Facts About Sensitive Mimosa
- Scientific name: mimosa pudica
- Common names: Sensitive mimosa, sensitive plant, sleeping plant, action plant, humble plant, mimosa, plant of shame.
- Plant type: Creeping herbaceous shrub, perennial
- Of: Central and South America
- Form: Fern shaped leaves with pompom flowers
- Max size: 30cm
- Irrigation requirements: medium to high
- Lighting requirements: partial shade
- Preferred Humidity: high
- Preferred temperature: 16-30C
- Soil or growing medium: Well-drained, clayey with an acidic to neutral pH (5.0-7.5)
- Multiplication method: Seeds, cuttings (stems)
- Toxicity: Toxic to people and pets (only if ingested)
How to Propagate Sensitive Mimosa
Sowing seeds
The susceptible plant is most often grown from seed. The pink flowers produce seeds, once they have completely withered you can harvest them.
Sow the seeds in moist peat moss and perlite, bury them just an inch into the ground and place clear plastic over the planting medium, as the seeds need a lot of moisture to germinate.
Place the pot in a place where there is light but no direct sun, at least until they start to germinate, then give them sun but not too much, until they are bigger.
The seeds will germinate within 14 to 21 days. Once they reach a height of over 5cm, you can transplant them into a larger pot or into the garden.
Propagate by cuttings (stems)
You can also propagate Sensitive Mimosa by cuttings. Cut a branch about 10 cm long that has a leaf node.
Place the cutting in a container of water and leave it there while you prepare the pot.
Fill a pot with a high-quality seed starter mix, which you can find at any garden store.
If you don’t get this mix, you can create your own; place equal parts of compost, garden soil and river sand in the pot.
Make a hole in the mix and place the cutting deep enough for it to stand on its own, usually 2-3cm. Fill the hole with soil and apply it around the cutting to make it firm.
Place the pot in a container of water and leave it there until the top of the soil feels damp to the touch, once damp remove the pot from the water and let it drain.
Put a clear plastic bag over the pot, being careful not to disturb the cuttings. A glass or plastic container will also work well if it fits over the jar. This helps to better maintain humidity and creates an ideal microclimate for plants to take root faster.
Place the plant in a sunny window where it won’t receive direct sunlight until you see new leaves growing, once you notice this you can give it direct sun or transplant it elsewhere.
Growing sensitive mimosa
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Sensitive mimosas grow best in well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Being a tropical plant, it is important that the soil is kept moist but not soggy.
Good aeration is also important to prevent the roots from becoming compacted or waterlogged.
We suggest using a mixture of two parts fresh soil, two parts peat moss and one part perlite. There are ready-to-use potting soils with a similar mix if you’d rather not make your own.
Flower pot
A medium-sized pot with regular drainage holes works best for this sensitive plant. The roots like to be confined, but not compacted.
Light
Mimosa is sensitive to bright light, indeed too little light will cause the leaves to stay closed and the plant to fail to produce flowers. In summer, remember to cover it or give it shade in the midday hours, because the sun is too strong.
If you are growing sensitive mimosa indoors, place the pot in an east-facing window. If you live in an area with little sunlight or the winters are dark, artificial lighting is also an option.
It uses a full spectrum fluorescent grow light to mimic the sun and achieve the same effect as natural lighting.
Temperature
Sensitive mimosa is picky about temperature, any comfortable range for one person is generally suitable for this plant.
A range between 15 and 26 degrees is sufficient for proper growth and flower production.
Mimosa Sensitive Care
Irrigation
Watering the sensitive plant is not difficult, but it requires attention to detail. The soil should always be moist, but make sure it is not soggy.
This sensitive plant needs a lot of moisture, and unlike other plants that can adapt to drought, this one cannot.
If the mimosa pudica does not receive the right amount of moisture, the leaves will curl and stay closed. In addition, the plant will slowly begin to die.
It requires a generally high humidity level between 45% and 60%. If you live in a drier environment, make misting a regular habit. You can also place the pot in a humidity tray or use a humidifier in the room.
The best way to ensure the plant gets the right amount of water is to water the soil and let it drain. If the pot sits on wet pebbles, you can let the water sit in the tray.
Let the soil dry out slightly before watering again, but don’t let it dry out completely. Mist the plant frequently, especially if you live in a dry climate.
The plant will need less water during the winter months, but the soil should remain moist throughout the year.
Pass
Sensitive Mimosa does not require additional fertilizer, so it is sufficient to feed it only during the growing season, once every two weeks with a medium strength fertilizer.
The fertilizer should contain potassium, as this, along with nitrogen, is needed as key nutrients in the movement of its leaves.
The nitrogen fixation of which the plant is capable allows it to convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia and other compounds usable by the plant.
diseases and pests
It is a plant resistant to most pests and diseases. Spider mites can appear from time to time, and you can spot them by checking the leaves for small red dots. Usually wiping the leaves with a damp cloth will help remove them.
Fungal diseases can also affect plants due to the high levels of humidity they require. Therefore, ensuring good ventilation around the plant is just as important as ensuring high humidity.
Grow Sensitive Mimosa Indoors
Plants grown indoors tend to start to deteriorate after they first bloom.
In the flower pods seeds are formed which can be used to grow more of this plant, in the wild it does not have this problem, but the real reasons for the change are not understood.
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