HOW TO GROW AND CARE FOR MIMOSA PUDICA?
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HOW TO GROW AND CARE FOR MIMOSA PUDICA?

The Mimosa Pudica, also known by its common name the Shy Plant, is a unique plant that folds its leaves inwards and droops down when touched. It is a perennial plant that originated in Central and South America, but it can be grown as a houseplant in most climates. This article will discuss how to propagate and care for the Mimosa Pudica.

About

Mimosa pudica is a plant native to South and Central America. It has pink puffball flowers that smell like rotten meat, attracting bugs that pollinate the flowers. The leaves are sensitive to touch and will fold inward when touched, hence its other name: the susceptible plant. One of its many nicknames is Tickle Me Pink, for obvious reasons. This chemical reaction can also be triggered by certain noises or changes in temperature or humidity. Mimosa pudica’s native habitats include grasslands and open woodlands where it grows as a wildflower.

HOW TO GROW AND CARE FOR MIMOSA PUDICA?

Depending on how it’s prepared, it’s also been used in folk medicine treatments as an antiparasitic or antiseptic; some people also take mimosa pudica supplements by mouth for arthritis and joint pain (it is not recommended apply mimosa pudica directly to the skin).

In other languages, Mimosa pudica is known as “shy plant” (French), “touch me not” (Spanish), “hiding grass” (Afrikaans), and “sleeping grass” (Khmer), “kachingkachanggulabi” (Bengali).

Soil and water

Mimosa pudica is a fast-growing plant, so it requires the soil that you plant your mimosa pudica in should be moist, well-draining, and rich. Mimosa pudica is not typically planted directly in the ground; instead, most people grow them in containers. If you choose to do this, make sure that whatever pot you use has plenty of drainage holes. The soil should not be allowed to dry out completely and should not be soaked through or allowed to sit in standing water.

Soil and water

The soil should also be slightly acidic or neutral, with a pH between 5.5 and 7.0. If you are not sure about the pH of your soil, you can test it by purchasing an inexpensive kit from your local home improvement store.

Temperature and humidity

Mimosa pudica, also known as the sensitive plant, is a tropical plant grown indoors. This plant has called attention to itself due to its odd characteristic of folding its leaves inward when touched or shaken. It’s easy to grow and care for mimosa pudica plants, but they require specific conditions.

Temperature and humidity

Temperature Maintain a temperature between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit at all times. Sensitive plants cannot survive extreme fluctuations in temperatures, so you may need to place your plant in a greenhouse if you live in an area where the climate fluctuates widely during the year. Mimosa does best outdoors during the summer months as long as it’s kept out of direct sunlight and in a shaded area.

Humidity is essential for mimosa pudica plants. If you live in an area with low humidity or have your air conditioning on often, it’s recommended that you place an additional humidifier near the sensitive plant. Keep your plant away from direct heat sources such as fireplaces, furnaces, and vents, as this will cause excessive dryness around the plant and could eventually kill it.

How to grow from seeds

Additionally, if you want to grow a mimosa pudica plant from seeds, it’s best to sow them in the spring. Soak the seeds for 24 hours before sowing to help them germinate faster and more successfully. Plant the seeds in a pot filled with fertile soil and place them in a sunny spot. Cover the soil’s surface with plastic wrap and keep it moist by watering daily. The pot should be kept at around 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) until germination occurs, which takes between two and three weeks.

How to grow from seeds

How to propagate mimosa pudica from stem cuttings

To reproduce mimosa pudica, you’ll need:

  • an existing mimosa pudica plant
  • sharp scissors or a knife
  • a small pot (at least 3″ deep)
  • potting soil that drains well

Here are the instructions to propagate from stem-cuttings:

  1. Take a cutting of a healthy mimosa pudica plant.
  2. Use sharp scissors or a knife to cut the stem below a node.
  3. Remove the leaves at the bottom of the cutting.
  4. Mimosa pudica can be grown from seed, but it is much easier to propagate it from stem cuttings, especially if you don’t have any sources. Make sure your scissors are clean and sterilized before cutting, as pathogens and dirt can enter through cuts in stems and leaves. You should also ensure that your existing mimosa pudica plant is healthy to give you the best chance of growing more plants from its stem cuttings.
  5. The best way to tell whether your existing plant is healthy is by looking at its leaves; there should be no discoloration or wilting. If there are leaves that aren’t doing well, you can either prune them off entirely or take cuttings from other plant parts that are healthier-looking than those specific areas.
How to propagate mimosa pudica from stem cuttings

Growth rate and Dimension of the plant

The mimosa pudica plant is a fast-growing plant that can grow to about 3 feet tall and 4 feet wide. It is a slow-growing plant. It grows to about 30cm tall and 30cm wide, but it can also extend to about 30cm tall and 40cm wide.

Soil and watering requirements for mimosa pudica’s indoor care

Mimosa pudica thrives in soil that drains well. A commercial potting mix is ideal, or you can use a DIY combination of 75 percent peat and 25 percent perlite. The soil should be kept moist but not sopping wet to avoid root rot — water the plant when the top of the ground feels dry.

In terms of light requirements, mimosa pudica will do best if grown in bright indirect light or in a spot that gets morning sun with afternoon shade. It’s not very picky about humidity, though it will grow faster and have more flowers if it’s misted often with a fine water mister sprayer.

Soil and watering requirements for mimosa pudica’s indoor care

It’s a plant that is a bit tricky to grow but very beautiful in its way

Mimosa pudica is a plant that is a bit tricky to grow but very beautiful in its way. It is a perennial herb of the Fabaceae pea family. It is native to South and Central America but was introduced to Asia and Africa. Common names include sensitive plant, humble plant, shame plant, and touch-me-not. The species epithet pudica derives from Latin predicts ‘shy, bashful or shrinking, with various appropriateness (pudor ‘modesty’).

We hope that the tips and tricks we’ve outlined in this guide have helped you with growing and caring for your mimosa pudica, whether you’re new to the plant or it’s been a part of your collection for a while. This is a beautiful, exotic addition to any collection, and we’re so glad that you could learn more about it in this guide.

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