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Characteristic features of the plant, the origin of the name, tips for caring for mimosa when indoor cultivation, breeding technology, pest and disease control, curious notes, species.
The content of the article:
Mimosa (Mimosa), like acacia, is part of the vast legume family (Fabaceae), all because the fruit is a pod, which is often called a bean. However, a little earlier, such a plant was assigned to the Mimosaceae family (Mimosaceae), which later became a subfamily. The genus includes representatives of the flora with herbaceous, shrubby and tree-like forms of life, although the height of the latter is average. There are up to 350-400 varieties. Mimosa can rightly be considered the territory of South America, the lands of the Australian continent and the island of Tasmania as its homeland. However, thanks to natural forces and man, this delicate plant has spread to almost all continents, and now you can admire its flowering on the southern European coast, in Africa and the USA, it is not uncommon in our latitudes (the Black Sea coast and the Caucasus).
The scientific name mimosa is due to "mimes" or "mimic actors" - from the French word "mime" or "mimus". Apparently, scientists of botanists in the interval of the 16th-17th centuries were prompted to this idea by the peculiarity of the plant to bring its leaves into intermittent movement, with any touch or too strong a gust of wind.
Mimosa practically does not lose foliage all year round, but its growth rate is low, and even if it is a tree, its height does not exceed 10–12 meters, however, there is evidence that mimosa can grow up to 45 meters in its native lands of growth and in its native climate. On the trunk, you can see multiple thorns, which makes the plant very similar to its “relative” acacia. You can even hear how mimosa is called Silver Acacia or Whitened Acacia (Acasia dealbata). The surface of the branches and trunk, except for the spines, is smooth, its color is dark gray.
Mimosa leaf plates are bipinnate in shape with a silvery-green color, somewhat resembling fern fronds. The length of the leaf does not exceed 30 cm, and the entire surface of individual leaf lobes is pubescent with sensitive hairs. It is because of them that the foliage reacts so sharply to any irritants and begins to fold or tremble.
It is flowering that makes mimosa so beloved by gardeners, and indeed by many people, because as soon as the snow melts and spring begins, the plant pleases with its fluffy flowers, which are painted in yellow, cream and pink colors. But they enjoy flowering in different regions different time- from one and a half to two months. There are usually four parts in a flower, but rarely three or two pairs. Stamens are formed as much or twice as many. The fluffiness of the flower is explained by the fact that the stamens strongly protrude from the corolla, and give it a spherical shape. Inflorescences collected from such flowers look like compacted heads or tassels. In diameter, such an inflorescence can measure from five to 20 cm. Mimosa during flowering pleases with a unique and very delicate aroma.
With the advent of autumn in the northern regions of the growth of this representative of the flora, fruit ripening begins. It is clear that they are beans, with flattened sides and a slight curvature. Their length is 7–9 cm. Black seeds are formed inside such a bean. Their shape is flat, hardness is high, and the length is 3–4 mm.
Mimosa indoor care
- Lighting. For normal growth and flowering, you need a lot of sun, but with shading from direct rays. An east, west and south window will do (here curtains are needed at noon).
- Content temperature. From spring to mid-autumn, it is important for the plant to maintain a temperature within 20–24 degrees, in winter period it is better to arrange a cool content, at which the thermometer readings will be 15–18 units, but not lower.
- Humidity. For mimosa, it is important that the humidity indicators are about 60%. But due to the fact that the foliage is pubescent, spraying is not recommended, so it’s worth raising the humidity in any other way: put humidifiers, water vessels nearby, spray the air around the mimosa, or place the plant pot on wet expanded clay in a deep pan.
- Watering. When caring for mimosa, it is advised to pay attention to upper layer soil in a pot: if it is dry, then it should be watered. At the same time, from the beginning of spring to the end of September, the plant is abundantly moistened, from October they begin to gradually reduce the amount of water used for irrigation, bringing them to moderate in the winter months. The bay of the substrate or its complete drying negatively affect the mimosa, in the first case, the root system will begin to rot, and in the second, the leaves will turn yellow and wither. Water is used only well-settled, for at least a day. You can use river or rain.
- Fertilizers for mimosa. In order for the plant to feel normal, it is recommended to fertilize during the period of vegetative activity and during flowering - from early spring to August. The frequency of use of the drug will be once every 10-14 days. Use tools for beautiful flowering plants in liquid form.
- Mimosa transplantation and substrate selection. If the plant is grown as an annual, then transplantation is usually not carried out. But otherwise, the change of the pot and the soil in it is carried out as necessary every 2-3 years. In this case, the size of the container should be gradually increased by 3–4 cm until its diameter becomes 60 cm. Transplantation must be carried out by transshipment so that the earthen ball does not collapse and the roots are not injured. Be sure to lay a drainage layer on the bottom of the new pot, which is expanded clay, pebbles or small pieces of broken brick.
- river sand, turf, leaf humus and peat, the proportions of the components are taken equal;
- clay-turf substrate, hardwood, river sand and peat (in a ratio of 2: 1: 1: 0.5).
Reproduction of mimosa when grown indoors
It is possible to obtain a new plant by cuttings or planting seed material.
Already in the first year of its life, mimosa can make happy with the appearance of bean fruits, while such homemade mimosa can be grown annually. Sowing of seed material is possible from March to the end of April days, but some flower growers recommend the time from January to March. In order for the seeds to germinate as soon as possible, it is recommended to soak them for two days in a very hot water: at first with a temperature of about 60 degrees, and then, the remaining time, the water is maintained at 40 degrees. Another method of scarification is to douse the seeds with boiling water and then cut the tough skin with nail clippers or rub it with sandpaper. But in this case, it is necessary to try not to damage the inner layer.
The container into which the landing is carried out should not be large, its diameter is usually 15 cm. Then, during transplants, the diameter can gradually be increased.
To do this, a universal soil or a peat-sand mixture is poured into the container, that is, the acidity of the substrate must be neutral or slightly acidic. Often, flower growers prefer to make it on their own from light soddy soil, coarse-grained sand and high-moor peat (in a ratio of 3: 1: 2). Before sowing the seeds, the soil is thoroughly mixed and moistened. The temperature during germination is maintained at 25 degrees. To do this, the container with seedlings should not be placed on the windowsill, it may be too hot there, but choose a place nearby, for example, on a table not far from the battery central heating. But in this case, the question becomes with the humidity parameters - they must be at least 60%. In this case, it is recommended to place a vessel with water or an air humidifier nearby, or periodically spray the air nearby.
Also, to create conditions with high humidity, you can cover the seed pot with polyethylene or put a piece of glass on top. But then the owner will have to carry out daily ventilation to remove accumulated drops of condensate and monitor the condition of the soil in the pot - if it starts to dry out, then it is moistened from a fine spray gun.
When the first sprouts appear, young mimosa begin to accustom to room conditions, gradually increasing the airing time. But if a pair of true leaves unfold on the seedling, then a transplant can be carried out. In this case, the diameter of the pot is selected no more than 7 cm. 2-3 seedlings are placed in such a container, so that later a more lush bush is obtained. Mimosas, which will appear from seeds, will delight in flowering for 2-3 years from the moment of planting.
The method of cuttings is often used. Cut blanks for this with a length of about 5–10 cm from adult specimens from mid to late summer. Sometimes, in the maternal mimosa, young growth can be seen near the trunk, which can also serve as material for grafting. Such offspring are cut off with a sharp knife. Then the sections of the cuttings are treated with a means of stimulating the growth of roots and planted in pots filled with a peat-sand substrate. You can wrap the cuttings with a transparent plastic bag or put under a cut plastic bottle. But it is important not to forget then to ventilate the seedlings daily and, if necessary, moisten the soil in the pot. Such branches take root over a 2-3 month period. After that, you can carry out seating in large pots with a more fertile substrate.
Diseases and pests of the mimosa plant when grown in rooms
Of the pests that infect the plant, aphids and spider mite. These harmful insects, settling on mimosa, suck out nutrients from the leaves and stems, depriving the plant of vitality. Therefore, the leaf plates begin to turn yellow, new ones grow deformed and quickly fly off. Signs of pests are small green or black bugs, a thin cobweb on reverse side leaf lobes and in internodes, as well as parts of the plant, can be covered with a sugary sticky coating.
When signs of pests are detected, they are treated with insecticidal preparations, such as Actellik, Aktara or Fitoverm.
The following troubles are also possible when growing at home:
- Yellowing and wilting of leaves occurs due to insufficient soil moisture and low humidity. The solution is regular watering and increasing the level of humidity around the mimosa by all available methods.
- With stretching shoots, the plant signals an insufficient level of lighting.
- If moisture stagnation occurs in the soil, then the leaf lobes take on a yellow color and they do not open in the daytime.
- At low temperatures and low light, mimosa will not bloom. It is recommended to move the plant closer to the light source and raise the heat indicators.
Curious Notes on Mimosa
It should be borne in mind that pollen from mimosa flowers negatively affects people who are sensitive to allergens. Interestingly, in 2017, "Mimosa hostilis" was included in the list of plants that have narcotic and psychotropic effects, but such a plant has nothing to do with ordinary Mimosa shy, as it has never been grown as an ornamental crop.
On the territory of France and Montenegro, such unpretentious plant like Mimosa, a day has been set aside on which the whole country celebrates delicate flowers with a fragrant smell.
It is because of the sensitive hairs on the foliage that the plant responds to any mechanical impact. From any touch or even a gust of wind, the mimosa leaves fold up, and the branches, as if frightened, fall down. After about half an hour, they again take their former position.
The same reaction goes to the change of time of day - the plant folds the leaflets at night, but with the first rays of the sun the leaves are again “in the ranks”. But still, you should not often irritate the mimosa with touches, because due to your efforts, the plant very quickly becomes severely exhausted.
Types of mimosa for home cultivation
Of the many varieties indoors, it is customary to grow only a few, while it is clear that the species should not be large in size and are mainly herbs, shrubs or shrubs.
- Mimosa bashful (Mimosa pudica). It can equally take the form of grass, shrubs or semi-shrubs. Homeland are areas of South America with a tropical climate. Worldwide, this variety is most popular as an ornamental crop. In rare cases, the shoots of the plant reach one and a half meters in height, most often this value ranges from 30–70 cm. The foliage has a bipinnate outline and the entire surface is pubescent with sensitive hairs. Pubescence is present in straight branches, but on the trunk you can see multiple spines. The inflorescence combines a large number of flowers, yellow or purple-pink color scheme. The shape of the inflorescence is racemose or capitate, dense. The flower seems fluffy because of the too long stamens that protrude from the corolla. Most flowers originate from the leaf axils. Homemade mimosa will delight all summer months with flowering. But now it is grown in rooms as an annual plant. This variety can be pollinated by insects, the wind or the host. After this, the bean ripens, filled with black, flattened seeds. There can be from two to eight of them.
- Mimosa lazy (Mimosa pigra) it is also a perennial in nature, but in rooms its life span is greatly reduced (up to a year), which is very sad, since the variety has a great decorative effect. The branches of the plant reach half a meter in height. The color of the flowers is snow-white and from their large number inflorescences are formed in the form of a head with spherical outlines. The leaf blades, due to their bipinnate dissection, strongly resemble fern leaves. The leaf lobes have pubescence with hairs that allow them to respond to any contact, be it a person or nature. The foliage oscillates and folds, and then returns to its original shape for a very long time.
- Mimosa cat (Mimosa aculeaticarpa) differs in the shrub form of growth, reaching with its shoots up to a meter height. But in some areas, these parameters can double. On the shoots there is a hairy pubescence, with spikes of backward-protruding outlines. The foliage is bipinnately divided, the shape of the leaf lobes is oblong, the size is small. When flowering, snow-white or whitish-pink flowers are formed, from which a spherical inflorescence with a head shape is collected. The fruits are pods (beans), with flattening on the sides. Their length does not exceed 4 cm, between the seeds of the beans the parts are closer together and when fully ripe they split. The native habitat is in the lands of central and southern Arizona, New Mexico (its southern region), Texas (west and center), Mexico (northern regions).
Originally from the southern sub tropical areas America. The natural habitat is its homeland and Brazil. This genus includes over 500 species. One of them is the "shameful" mimosa, or, as it is called, "touchy", which is grown at home. This plant got its name for the ability of the leaves to fold and fall down at the slightest mechanical impact, as if embarrassed by something.
Description of the species
Mimosa bashful at home is an annual, beautifully flowering herbaceous shrub. This evergreen 30-40 cm high. Branched stems, very light. They are covered with spines resembling fine hairs. Numerous leaflets of light green doubly pinnate leaves are always twisted and lowered at night, and during the day - only when exposed to them. After a certain time, at rest, the leaves unfold.
A delicate plant is shy mimosa. The flowers are pink or they are collected in small fluffy heads. spherical shape. They bloom for 2-3 days and fall off. The fruits are formed on the ovaries during self-pollination of the plant and look like beans. They are not eaten, their poison can be poisoned. The flowering period is long in time: it begins in summer and ends in autumn. Sometimes mimosa is confused with which represents the Mimosa family, but is not a plant with that name. The main difference is that its flowers are yellow.
cultivation
Mimosa shy at home prefers lighted places. She does not like wind, drafts and foreign smells, especially tobacco smoke. In a smoky room, its leaves curl up and fall off. The best temperature for her in the summer is 20-25 degrees, and in winter 16 is enough. The shrub loves moisture, but in moderation. In spring and summer, it should be watered regularly and plentifully, in extreme heat, sprinkling should be carried out. And in winter, when the plant is resting, it is enough to monitor the condition of the soil and prevent it from drying out. Water as needed. Waterlogging can lead to loss of decorative effect. On loose fertilized soil, bashful mimosa grows better. Growing from seeds makes it possible to get many shrubs at the same time.
The plant must be pollinated in order to bear fruit. You can do this process yourself. It is enough to transfer the pollen with a brush or a soft swab. After that, a pod begins to form. When it is ripe and dry, it is plucked and placed in a paper bag. In it, the pod will be stored all winter, until the onset of spring. It is important to remember that this plant is difficult to preserve in winter, it dies.
Transfer
Mimosa bashful at home grows like an annual, it does not need to be transplanted. If necessary, this is done in the following cases:
- When the shrub is left for the winter and grown as a perennial.
- If the "touchy" gets sick, or the soil starts to rot.
Transplantation should be done by transshipment. In a larger pot, the plant is placed along with a clod of earth. First, the bottom of the pot is covered with pebbles, which will serve as drainage. The soil is prepared in advance. The earth is mixed with sand, peat and decayed foliage. It is better to transplant a shrub early in the morning or in the evening, when the sun sets.
reproduction
Mimosa bashful from seeds may well grow, but they need to be planted only in March and April. Their shape resembles beans or peas squeezed from the sides, the skin of which is very dense and has a glossy sheen. To germinate, you need to take a pot, pour soil into it and lay out the seeds without sprinkling it with earth. You can press down a little for better contact with the soil. Then poured hot water future bashful mimosa. The seeds will start to crackle, this is normal. Cover the pot with a lid on top. So it will support required humidity. After a while, the beans will sprout. Shameful mimosa will give friendly sprouts. Growing from seed is tricky, but worth it.
Sprouted beans are planted in well loosened soil. Seedlings will appear within a week. When they grow to the size of a few leaves, they can be transplanted into separate pots with good drainage and sterile soil. To kill bacteria, it is enough to spill it with a solution of potassium permanganate.
When and how to feed mimosa?
Impatiens, like any plant, needs nutrients. She receives them during feeding. It is carried out when the shrub is actively growing. In spring and until mid-summer, roomy mimosa bashful is fed with nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. These fertilizers are mixed in equal proportions and applied to the soil twice a month. In the second half of summer and before the beginning of autumn, buds form. Therefore, phosphorus and potassium are needed in large quantities. To make the soil more nutritious, it should be applied to it. You can make top dressing with complex mixtures for home flowers. Shoot growth stops in autumn. At this time, the introduction of any fertilizer stops. If this is not done, the shy mimosa will not rest and may weaken. Growing a houseplant will not bring pleasure, as the shrub will lose its decorative effect.
Beneficial features
"Touchless" is known for its useful properties. It has long been used in many European states in medicine. Non-traditional methods of treatment are not complete without the use of healing properties this plant.
- Leaf tincture treats sore throat, reduces fever.
- A decoction of the bark - dysentery and headache.
- Ointments treat burns and heal wounds.
- Mimosa preparations purify the blood.
- Help in the treatment of the heart and nervous system.
- Cleans up the liver and gallbladder.
What is sick and who damages mimosa?
- If the shrub experiences excess moisture, its leaves will turn yellow and begin to curl during the day.
- When a plant grows in a room where tobacco smoke is always present, it sheds foliage.
- Falling leaves are also associated with irregular watering.
- With a lack of lighting and low air temperature, the bashful mimosa feels uncomfortable. Flowers under such conditions will never appear.
- If the "touchy" grows slowly and does not bloom, you need to pay attention to the soil: it is obviously depleted. In this case, you need to urgently feed the plant and create the necessary conditions for growth.
- If a bashful mimosa is infected with a spider mite at home, its leaves begin to turn pale. After a while they turn yellow and dry up. Numerous green or yellow dots and cobwebs appear on them. This means that the room is too dry and the air is hot.
- At the first sign of an aphid infestation, the leaves of the plant curl and turn yellow. Small black or green bugs appear on the shoots. This is the aphid. It feeds on cell juice and inhibits growth.
To control pests, they must be collected by hand, and then washed off with soapy water or wiped with leaves on both sides. In case of severe damage, spraying is applied. chemicals. Most importantly, in order for the plant to be comfortable in your home, you need to create favorable conditions for its growth. Then it will be possible to avoid many negative consequences.
The shy mimosa plant reacts very quickly to any touch or. As a result of experiments, it was found that the plant remembers stimuli and somehow adapts to them. If you drip water on the mimosa with the same frequency, it will stop curdling. After some time, we will again act on the plant in a similar way. The result will exceed all expectations: the "touchy" will behave completely calmly.
An interesting fact is the mimosa festival in France. This holiday was first held in the province of Pierre-Rich at the beginning of the twentieth century. At present, it has not lost its significance. Mimosa thickets cover numerous hills. Thousands of flowers emit a pleasant rich aroma. Mimosa flowers in France signify the end of winter and the beginning of spring. In honor of the holiday of flowers, parades are held throughout the country.
Mimosa is one of the most mysterious and unusual plants. Flower growers grow mimosa not only because of its tenderness - it is known for being able to move the leaves, fold and unfold them. Children especially love to watch the spectacle.
Moreover, the plant pleases the eye with fluffy and touching inflorescences. They decorate any room or greenhouse. Mimosa is famous for the fact that it looks favorably against the background of white materials or light flower arrangements. Growing a miracle of nature is easy. However, for this it is necessary to create certain conditions. The information will help the grower to properly prepare the soil for the plant and successfully grow the touchy mimosa.
Mimosa is often confused with silver acacia - these are the branches that are usually given to women on March 8th. However, real mimosa has nothing to do with acacia and looks completely different. The plant is native to South America, Brazil, East Asia and Africa. Mimosa grows on sunny hills in the humid tropics. She envelops pretty large areas growing in wild places.
Mimosa is a shrub, tree or herbaceous plants depending on the species and place of growth.
Belongs to the subfamily Mimosa. There are about 500 species. It is grown as an annual plant, as it loses its decorative effect over time.
Features of the structure of mimosa:
- Greens form two-pinnate leaves, the surface of which is equipped with receptors. Thanks to them, the plant feels danger and folds the leaves - they close.
- Mimosa blooms in small inflorescences, collected in ears or a bunch, a head.
- The color of the flowers is often pale purple with a pinkish tint.
- In height, mimosa can reach one meter, some species stretch even higher.
Mimosa is very fond of sunny color and high humidity air. The cultivated plant species is Mimosa Shy - it is she who is grown everywhere at home or in open field if climatic conditions permit.
The ability of leaves to respond to changes in environment was the number one reason for growing mimosa. It is interesting to watch how the leaf quickly folds and also quickly unfolds. However, if the plant lives more than a year, this ability is gradually lost, the response process slows down.
We create growing conditions
Since the plant is native to the rainforests of South America, it needs similar growing conditions. Mimosa loves high humidity, warmth and sunlight. It is not recommended to breed a plant in open ground even in the south of Russia. Therefore, mimosa is often grown at home.
In the room where it is planned to place a flowerpot with mimosa, sunlight should be constantly present. The plant can easily tolerate direct sunlight. However, young sprouts are accustomed to this gradually. If there is not enough light in the room, the mimosa will not grow, shed its foliage and die. Choose a room south or east.
The room must constantly maintain high humidity with regular sprinkling and.
Dry air can kill the touchy. Must be placed in pots good drainage, a layer of expanded clay can be laid on the pallet, which will retain moisture. Many people place a pot of mimosa in moist peat for the same purpose - to retain moisture.
The temperature regime for the plant must be strictly observed, otherwise it will drop foliage and will not grow. In summer, the air temperature should be 22 ° -26 °, in winter the minimum figure is 15 °, and the maximum is 22 °. If the temperature regime does not match, mimosa can get sick and die. To grow a plant, all conditions must be observed, otherwise the bashful beauty will not please with flowering.
- For planting seeds, use small containers with a diameter of 9 cm.
- Fill them with a substrate of equal parts of leafy soil, humus, soddy soil and a little sand - half of one part.
- The substrate should preferably be disinfected. Spill the soil with a solution of potassium permanganate.
- Lay drainage at the bottom of the container.
- Seeds are usually not buried, but pressed down to the substrate.
- The container is covered with foil and placed in a warm room.
It is necessary to monitor the appearance of sprouts under the film. As soon as they appear, it is advisable to ventilate the container, that is, open it for about half an hour. The measure will prevent the appearance of a black leg, which loves young shoots so much.
Seeds germinate in about 7-8 days.
Mimosa has a high germination rate. It is rare that inoculum fails to produce results. This usually happens when the seeds are wrong. When two full-fledged leaves are tied on a sprout, it can be placed in a permanent flowerpot with the same composition of the substrate. Only the components should already be in equal proportions. To sunlight sprouts accustom gradually. Exposed to open rays for a certain period of time and again removed to a shaded place. Be careful not to burn the leaves. Mimosa grows quite quickly, it needs to create all the conditions for this, in particular, proper care.
After planting a mimosa in a permanent pot, you should feed the plant. A complex for flowering plants is used. Dilute it twice as much as the dose indicated on the package. Before fertilizing, be sure to moisten the soil, otherwise it may get burned. The first feeding is carried out immediately after planting, the second and further every 2-3 weeks until August.
Watering mimosa:
- Throughout the growing season, mimosa should be watered abundantly, but not flooded. Excessive watering, as well as drying out an earthen coma, will lead to the death of the plant.
- carried out as the top layer of the substrate dries.
- In addition to timely soil moistening, mimosa welcomes sprinkling procedures. They are held once a day in the summer.
- For irrigation and use only settled water at room temperature.
Mimosa does not like drafts and temperature changes. The plant can get sick and lose foliage. Do not overdo it with leaf twisting games. If you imitate a danger to a plant very often, it will weaken, grow and develop poorly. It is also necessary to monitor faded inflorescences and fallen leaves. The fact is that during flowering a lot of garbage is formed - pollen, flowers, leaves. All this can provoke an allergic reaction, if there is a tendency to this. Therefore, clean up the garbage after the beauty, so as not to start sneezing and crying from the abundance of pollen.
Mimosa is propagated by seeds or. The first method is the most common, since the plant easily produces seeds. It remains only to collect them at the end of summer or autumn. Reproduction by cuttings occurs less frequently, as they sometimes do not take root. It is more expedient to purchase seeds or collect them from an already adult plant.
Store seed all winter until April - the time of planting mimosa. The collected material is disinfected with a solution of potassium permanganate, dried and cleaned in dark place for . Before planting, many flower growers soak the seeds. So they grow faster and better. Cuttings are cut from an adult plant - its upper shoots. They do it in the summer. Usually such a procedure is welcomed in the case of growing a plant in greenhouses, where growing conditions for mimosas are constantly maintained.
At home, the method of propagation by seeds is more often used.
If the plant is purchased already in the form of a young sprout, do not rush it. It must adapt to the temperature and humidity of the air. Planting an already germinated cutting is carried out in April or May. For the substrate, a mixture of leafy, soddy soil, peat and sand is used in equal proportions. The sprout is transplanted by transshipment, so as not to damage the tender root system. Growing a touchy is quite simple if all growing conditions are met.
More information can be found in the video:
This beautiful plant with an interesting name bashful came to us from the subtropical and tropical regions of South America, hot Brazil, Asia and some regions of Africa.
Mimosa bashful - ornamental shrub, the stems of which are completely covered with hairs and spines.
Mimosa flowers decorated in inflorescences are presented in the form of balls small size pinkish and lilac.
A plant from the genus Mimosa, which has about 500 species.
Appearance
The flowering period is about 4 months. In winter, in most cases, it dies.
Homemade shy mimosa is grown as an annual crop and reaches a height of up to 30-50 cm.
In wildlife, it is considered perennial and grows up to 1.5 m.
Why is mimosa called bashful?
Mimosa got its name because of the characteristic properties of the leaves to fall and curl up from any, even the most gentle touch or shaking.
Its leaves also fall when the temperature fluctuates and from the breath of a light wind. It looks like the plant is alive.
The drooping leaves unfold, as a rule, after 20-30 minutes. A modest beauty is also called "touchy".
Cultivation and care
How to grow bashful mimosa at home?
reproduction
At home or in greenhouses, shy mimosa is grown as indoor plant from seeds.
The easiest way is to buy a bashful mimosa flower.
There are three breeding options:
- Option 1 - planting cuttings,
- Option 2 - planting from seeds,
- Option 3 - growing by pollination of an adult plant.
cuttings
The method of growing mimosa cuttings is inefficient, so it is rarely used by anyone.
seeds
How to plant shy mimosa from seeds?
At home, it is more convenient to grow a plant from ready-made seeds, which are sold in flower shops. The technology is simple.
Ready seeds are best planted in late February - early March in moist soil. The recommended deadline is before the beginning of April.
The composition of the soil for bashful mimosa should be as follows:
- turf,
- sheet,
- peat land and
- sand.
Everything is taken in the ratio 1:1:1:1.
You can also purchase ready-made soil suitable for this type of plant.
Expanded clay is suitable as a drainage.
After planting, cover the container with a film, bag or glass, put in a warm place, away from direct sunlight.
Before germination, it is necessary to periodically remove the film and ventilate the container. Seeds germinate quickly, in 25-30 days.
Sprouts, 4-5 cm long, transplant into pots and place in a well-lit place. After the plants get used to the sunlight, they can be rearranged on the windowsill.
Seed collection
How to grow bashful mimosa from an adult plant?
If there is already a mimosa in the house, then for growing you need to follow these simple steps.
- Pollinate an adult plant - transfer pollen from one flower to another with a brush. Wait for the fruits to appear.
- After drying, collect the pods. Store them in a paper bag in the refrigerator.
- In late February - early March - the time for planting - take the seeds out of the pods, pour them with warm water for 25-35 minutes.
- Prepare containers for planting - lay out drainage, fill with moist soil.
- Plant the seeds to a depth of 1 cm, cover with a bag, glass or film. Remove to a shady place.
It is important to avoid direct sunlight!
Subject to the air temperature from 20 to 25C, the first sprouts will appear in a couple of weeks or, at the latest, in a month.
Transplant sprouts 4-5 cm long into separate glasses (plastic ones will do) and put in a warm place.
In late May - early June, transplant the grown sprouts into pots.
Some flower growers advise planting several sprouts in one pot.
Mimosa bashful transplant
Mimosa bashful is considered an annual plant, and transplantation is usually not needed.
But, in rare cases, if its branches persist in winter, the plant should be transplanted into a larger pot.
This must be done very carefully. Without disturbing the earthen ball, drag the flower along with it smooth movement in another pot, having prepared and moistened the soil in it in advance. After transplantation, care for mimosa as before.
Creation of favorable conditions
Mimosa bashful is easy to care for. Despite their tenderness and vulnerability, proper care mimosa actively grows from April to October.
Blooms for about 4 months. Dies in winter.
Temperature
The plant loves heat, but does not tolerate scorching heat. An adult plant loves the sun and bright rays. But it is better for young sprouts to avoid them so as not to get burned.
The ideal air temperature should be between 20-25C. In winter, the temperature can drop to 18-20 C.
Watering
In spring and summer, water abundantly and regularly - in the morning, every other day. It is advisable to water with soft water, distilled water is also suitable.
If the leaves of the plant turn yellow, then there is not enough water or the place where it is located is not sufficiently illuminated by sunlight.
In winter, you can keep the soil moist.
Fertilizer
Like many other plants of this species, bashful mimosa needs additional fertilizer during the growing season.
It is enough to apply fertilizer 2 times a month.
Diseases and pests
With careful maintenance, you can not be afraid aphids and spider mite- the main pests of mimosa.
If infection has occurred, then the leaves begin to turn pale, then turn yellow and fall off.
When infested with aphids, the leaves quickly curl and fall off, small bugs appear on the stems.
Pests are harvested by hand, trying not to damage the stems and leaves of mimosa. Wipe the plant itself with soapy water.
If the infection is severe, then it is necessary to apply chemical agents.
Interesting facts about bashful mimosa
The plant does not tolerate tobacco smoke. With regular exposure sheds leaves and dies.
Frequent contact for mimosa is a huge stress. She can die quickly.
Mimosa bashful has medicinal properties- tincture of the leaves reduces the temperature, ointments heal wounds and burns.