Native to the southern subtropical regions of America. Natural environment It grows in its homeland, Brazil. This genus has more than 500 species. One of them is the “bashful” mimosa, or, as it is called, “impatiens,” 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 pudica at home is an annual, beautifully flowering herbaceous shrub. This evergreen 30-40 cm high. Stems are branched, very light. They are covered with spines that resemble thin hairs. The numerous leaflets of the light green, doubly pinnate leaves are always curled and drooped at night, and during the day only when touched. After a certain time, in a state of rest, the leaves unfold.

Mimosa pudica is a tender plant. The flowers are pink or collected in small fluffy spherical heads. They bloom for 2-3 days and fall off. The fruits are formed on the ovaries during self-pollination of the plant and have the appearance of beans. They are not eaten; their poison can cause poisoning. The flowering period is long: it begins in summer and ends in autumn. Mimosa is sometimes confused with which is a member of the Mimosa family, but is not a plant of that name. The main difference is that its flowers are yellow.

Growing

Mimosa pudica prefers well-lit places at home. She does not like wind, drafts and foreign odors, especially tobacco smoke. In a smoky room, its leaves curl and fall off. Best temperature for her in summer time it is considered 20-25 degrees, and in winter 16 is enough. The shrub loves moisture, but in moderation. In spring and summer, it needs to be watered regularly and abundantly; in extreme heat, sprinkling should be done. 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. Overmoistening can lead to loss of decorativeness. Mimosa pudica grows better on loose, fertilized soil. Growing from seeds makes it possible to obtain many shrubs at the same time.

For fruit to set, the plant must be pollinated. You can carry out this process yourself. It is enough to transfer the pollen with a brush or soft swab. After this, a pod begins to form. When it is ripe and dry, it is picked and placed in a paper bag. The pod will be stored in it all winter, until spring. It is important to remember that this plant is difficult to preserve in winter; it dies.

Transfer

Mimosa pudica grows at home as an annual; there is no need to replant it. If necessary, this is done in the following cases:

• When the bush is left for the winter and grown as a perennial plant.
• If the “touch-me-not” gets sick or the soil begins to rot.

Transplantation should be done using the transshipment method. The plant is placed in a larger pot along with a lump 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 rotted leaves. It is better to replant shrubs early in the morning or in the evening, when the sun has set.

Reproduction

Mimosa pudica can easily grow from seeds, but they should be planted only in March and April. Their shape resembles beans or peas squeezed from the sides, the peel of which is very dense and has a glossy shine. To germinate, you need to take a pan, pour soil into it and lay out the seeds without covering it with soil. You can press down a little for better contact with the soil. Then it's poured hot water future shy mimosa. The seeds will begin to crack, this is normal. Cover the top of the pan with a lid. So it will support required humidity. After some time, the beans will sprout. The bashful mimosa will give forth friendly sprouts. Growing from seeds is a hassle, but it's worth it.

Sprouted beans are planted in well-loose soil. Within a week, shoots will appear. When they grow to the size of several leaves, they can be transplanted into individual pots with good drainage and sterile soil. To destroy bacteria, it is enough to spill it with a solution of potassium permanganate.

When and what to feed mimosa?

Touch-me-not, like any plant, needs nutrients. She receives them during feeding. It is carried out when the bush is actively growing. In spring and until mid-summer, indoor 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 until the beginning of autumn, buds form. Therefore, phosphorus and potassium are needed in large quantities. To make the soil more nutritious, it should be added to it. You can fertilize it with complex mixtures for home flowers. In autumn, shoot growth stops. At this time, the application of any fertilizers stops. If this is not done, the mimosa pudica will not rest and may weaken. Growing a houseplant will not bring pleasure, as the bush will lose its decorative effect.

Beneficial features

"Touch-me-not" is known for its beneficial properties. It has long been used in many European countries in medicine. Non-traditional methods of treatment are not complete without the use healing properties this plant.

• A tincture of leaves treats sore throat and reduces fever.
• A decoction of the bark - dysentery and headache.
• Ointments treat burns and heal wounds.
• Mimosa preparations purify the blood.
• Helps in treating the heart and nervous system.
• The liver and gallbladder are tidied up.

What causes illness and damage to mimosa?

• If the bush 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 its leaves.

• Leaf falling is also associated with irregular watering.
• With a lack of lighting and low air temperatures, the bashful mimosa feels uncomfortable. Flowers will never appear under such conditions.
• If the "touch-me-not" grows slowly and does not bloom, you need to pay attention to the soil: it is obviously depleted. In this case, you urgently need to feed the plant and create the necessary conditions for growth.
• If mimosa bashful is infected with spider mites at home, its leaves begin to turn pale. After a while they turn yellow and dry out. 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 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 sap and inhibits growth.

To combat pests, they need to be collected manually, and then washed off with soapy water or wiped on both sides of the leaves. In case of severe damage, spraying with chemicals is used. The most important thing for the plant to be comfortable in your home is to create favorable conditions for its growth. Then many negative consequences can be avoided.

The Mimosa pudica plant reacts very quickly to any touch or As a result of experiments, it was revealed that the plant remembers stimuli and somehow adapts to them. If you drip water onto the mimosa with equal frequency, it will stop curling. After some time, we will again influence the plant in a similar way. The result will exceed all expectations: the “touchy one” will behave completely calmly.

An interesting fact is that the mimosa festival is held in France. This holiday was first held in the province of Pierre-Riche at the beginning of the twentieth century. Currently, it has not lost its significance. Numerous hills are covered with mimosa thickets. Thousands of flowers produce a pleasant sound rich aroma. The bloom of mimosa in France means the end of winter and the beginning of spring. In honor of the flower festival, parades are held throughout the country.

Instructions for growing and caring for mimosa pudica.

Many women are interested in growing flowers. This calms the nerves and helps improve the microclimate in the room. After all, some plants absorb negative energy and improve your mood. In this article we will talk about one interesting plant- mimosa bashful.

Mimosa pudica: what kind of plant is it, where is its homeland, where does it grow?

This is a plant of the legume family that grows in South America. The plant is native to Central and South America. The culture is quite unusual; the name “bashful” is due to the fact that when they come into contact with the leaves, they shrink. The plant is cultivated all over the world as an ornamental and indoor plant.

Mimosa bashful - can you keep it at home: signs

This plant is not recommended to be grown at home. Despite its beauty and unusualness, the culture releases toxic substances that contribute to human hair loss. There are also a lot of signs around this plant. The culture is thought to keep men away. If you have this plant at home, it is very difficult to find your soulmate.

The most interesting thing is that the culture has an excellent defense mechanism. The roots and stems contain toxic substances that are released when the root system is damaged. Very often, animals on pastures can die from this plant. The juice of the crop is very poisonous.

Mimosa pudica: when does it bloom?

The flowering period is from June to September. Throws out inflorescences interesting shape, which resemble balls. They last for about 3 days and then fall off. But they are quickly replaced by new flowers.

How to plant or transplant an indoor flower, mimosa pudica, into a pot: tips, description of technology

Most often the plant is grown as an annual. After all, closer to autumn, the plant stretches out and the bushes become less lush. This is why plants grown as perennials are replanted in the spring. To do this, take any soil for beautiful flowering plants. But you can prepare the soil yourself.

Soil composition:

• Peat (1 part)
• Clay-turf soil (2 parts)
• Deciduous soil (1 part)
• Sand (1/2 part)

Mimosa pudica - growing from seeds, care: tips, description of technology

In general, the plant is a perennial, but many gardeners do not like that during the winter the stem of the plant becomes very elongated and becomes not very attractive. Therefore, flower growers recommend sowing the plant every year. To obtain seeds during the flowering period, touch one flower to another and wait for the pods to appear. Wait until they are completely dry and place them on the refrigerator door. There the seeds must spend their time until spring. Sow seeds in March or April.

Instructions:

• Moisten the peat soil and loosen it well
• Soak the seeds for 30 minutes in warm water
• Immerse the seeds 0.5-1.0 cm into the soil and moisten slightly
• Cover the pot with glass or film and place it in a bright place
• In 5-7 days the first shoots will appear
• When the sprout reaches a height of 5 cm, it is transplanted into plastic cups or small pots

• The plant requires watering with soft water. Water frequently in summer
• In summer, the room temperature should be 23-25 ​​degrees. In winter it is reduced to 16 degrees
• Water every 3 days in winter. The leaves are not sprayed, but humidified. To do this, place saucers of water on the windowsill.
• You can also spray the air from a spray bottle
• Fertilize in the spring. Also, if the plant is grown as a perennial, it is cut to remove the elongated stem
• The plant wilts from tobacco smoke. Therefore, it should not be grown where people smoke

Mimosa pudica - propagation: methods

The plant propagates by seeds and cuttings. But the fact is that 50% of the cuttings do not take root and rot. Therefore, many gardeners recommend growing the crop from seeds. They can be purchased at any flower shop.

How to feed mimosa pudica: mineral fertilizers

IN winter time no fertilizing is carried out. Mineral fertilizers are introduced once every 2 weeks in spring and summer. Fertilizers are used for beautiful flowering plants.

How to prune mimosa pudica?

To prevent the plant from stretching and producing more new shoots, regularly pinch the tops of the main branches. The first pinching is carried out in early April. Mimosa flowers appear on young shoots, so the more there are, the longer the flowering period. Just don’t overdo it, pinch only the most elongated branches.

Re-pinch after the plant has finished flowering so that the plant can produce not one but two shoots by next season. It is not recommended to severely prune the plant, otherwise the mimosa may die. It is better, if necessary, to place a wooden support and carefully tie it by the trunk. During the dormant period, the flower is not pinched.

If your plant is perennial, then in March the entire stem is cut off almost completely. Only 10 cm is left.

Mimosa pudica: why do the leaves curl and shed leaves?

In general, this plant is called impatiens. After all, after contact, the leaves fold towards the main vein or roll up into a tube. After 20 minutes, in the absence of a stimulus, the leaves return to their normal position.

Scientists know the mechanism of leaf folding. At the base of the cuttings there are water sacs filled with water. When exposed to leaves, this moisture rushes towards them and they become heavy, and that is why they fold.

There is also information about the presence of “intelligence” in the plant. That is, it gets used to mechanical influences of a certain kind and no longer reacts to them if there is no danger. But in fact, you should not touch the plant often, as this contributes to its rapid withering. Energy resources are running out.

If a mimosa has dropped its leaves, this may indicate drafts or tobacco smoke. The plant reacts to it very quickly.

VIDEO: Mimosa bashful

Mimosa bashful - not the most popular indoor plant. It is mainly bred by lovers of exotic flowers. Its low popularity is explained by the fact that the bashful mimosa does not tolerate winter well and often dies. Therefore, in the spring it is necessary to grow a new plant from seeds. Next, we will talk about caring for shy mimosa at home.

Among the plants of the Mimosa genus (legume family), gardeners are attracted to Mimosa pudica. South America is considered the plant's homeland, although currently it can be found in nature in the tropics of Asia and Africa. People call it “sissy” or “shy mimosa.”

Mimosa pudica is a herbaceous shrub. IN natural conditions grows up to one and a half meters. In an apartment, the height of the plant reaches 30-60 centimeters. The stem of the plant is straight, from which bipinnate leaves emerge on long cuttings, in groups of three to five pieces. There are small thorns on the trunk, and the entire plant is covered with whitish hairs.

The shy mimosa blooms throughout the summer. Pinkish-purple flowers are collected in spherical inflorescences and are located at the ends of young shoots. The diameter of the flower “heads” is about two centimeters. In nature, flowers are pollinated by the wind and insects. To obtain seeds when growing indoors, artificial pollination is necessary. If everything is done correctly, then over time the flower begins to droop and the stem thickens. The pod contains two to ten seeds. Dried pods are stored in the refrigerator until spring, placed in a paper bag. The best place- shelf on the refrigerator door. In the spring, seeds are planted to create a new plant.

Peculiarities

Mimosa pudica is notable for its ability to respond to touch. As soon as you touch its leaves with your hand, they curl up and press against the trunk. After twenty to thirty minutes, if the plant is not disturbed, the leaves will return to their previous shape. This is where the name comes from - bashful mimosa.

But scientists back in the eighteenth century noticed that the movement of plant leaves depends on the following factors:

• depending on the time of day;
• from external irritants.

At night, the leaves are folded, regardless of whether there is a light source or not. This feature of the flower was discovered by astronomer Jean-Jacques de Meiran (Meran) from France. He placed the plant in a room without light, but the leaves dropped only after dark. He explained this by the fact that the rhythms of leaf movement are similar to the rhythms of human sleep. Such rhythms are called circadian and are of endogenous origin. Also, mimosa leaves fall under gusts of wind, when shaking. The plant can fold its leaves along the central vein, or it can lower the leaf towards the stem.

The ability of mimosa to fold leaves has the following explanation. When you touch the leaf, it releases chemical substances from cells. This leads to a decrease in the amount of water in the cells and, accordingly, folding of the leaves. In apartment conditions, frequent curling of leaves in response to touch leads to a large expenditure of the plant’s internal forces and exhaustion.

As a result, the mimosa begins to fade and may die. Therefore, having planted mimosa pudica at home, you should not disturb it often. In addition, the plant is very sensitive to tobacco smoke, which causes it to die.

The plant's pollen can cause allergies, and its leaves are poisonous if ingested. Therefore, we recommend placing the bashful mimosa in a place inaccessible to small children and pets.

Rules of care

Mimosa pudica is grown in apartments as annual plant. In greenhouses, conditions are created for it that are close to natural: lighting, humidity and temperature. Therefore, in greenhouses, a flower grows for several years, which is difficult to achieve in conditions ordinary apartment. Let's take a closer look at what conditions are needed for a bashful mimosa.

Lighting and temperature

Mimosa pudica needs good lighting. She will be comfortable on windows facing south. During the summer afternoon hours it is necessary to cover it from the scorching rays. You can also place the flower on window sills facing east or west. But as the day shortens, it is recommended to organize artificial lighting to duration daylight hours was twelve hours.

With a lack of light, the plant stretches, losing its decorative appearance and compactness. But mimosa is gradually accustomed to bright light. This is especially true after purchasing a plant or after wintering, for young plants grown from seeds.

Mimosa develops well if the room temperature is in the range of twenty to twenty-four degrees. If the plant is left in winter, then during the dormant period it is necessary to maintain a temperature of 16-18 degrees.

Watering and fertilizing

As with most plants, when watering mimosa, it is necessary to maintain the “golden mean”. From March to October, the plant is watered abundantly, but as the earthen clod dries out. At the same time, the soil in the pot should not be allowed to dry out.

IN winter period Watering is reduced both in quantity and frequency. Excess moisture can lead to rotting of the roots. Water for irrigation is used at room temperature.

From spring to winter, mimosa is fed mineral fertilizers twice a month. You can take complex fertilizers for flowering plants and take half the amount indicated in the instructions.

Humidity

Indoor humidity is very important for growing mimosa pudica. Indeed, under natural conditions it grows in tropical forests with high humidity. The humidity level favorable for mimosa should not fall below 70%. Therefore, spraying is necessary.

You need to spray not the leaves, but the air around the plant with a fine spray. Then droplets of water will fall on the mimosa, simulating dew.

Another way to increase air humidity is to install a humidifier or a container of water. You can place a pot of mimosa in a tray with wet expanded clay, but so that the bottom of the pot is not immersed in water.

Transplantation and soil

Mimosa pudica has very fragile roots. Therefore, if the plant is already several years old, replanting is carried out only if necessary, using the transshipment method. Be sure to add drainage to the bottom of the pot. The bottom should have several holes to drain excess water.

The soil for mimosa is made up of the following ingredients, taken in equal parts:

• turf land;
• leaf soil;
• peat;
• sand.

For looseness, perlite is added to the soil mixture.

Topping

To make mimosa, which has been growing for many years, decorative, it is recommended to pinch it. The first time they pinch is in April, when the growing season begins. Elongated shoots are shortened to lengthen the flowering period. After all, flowers form at the ends of young shoots.

After flowering ends, pinching is carried out again. It is necessary for the formation of side shoots next year. You cannot shorten the shoots too much, otherwise it will be difficult for mimosa to survive the winter period. And the plant may die.

If the bashful mimosa is grown as an annual plant, then pinching can be done young plant to make it compact.

Reproduction

Shy mimosa is usually grown in apartments as an annual plant. Therefore, propagation is most often carried out by seeds. Theoretically, the plant can also be propagated by cuttings, but the survival rate of cuttings is low. Only half of the cuttings take root and take root. Therefore, the easiest way to propagate is to sow seeds.

Mimosa pudica seeds are sold in flower shops. You can also pollinate your flower yourself. To do this, you can transfer pollen from one flower to another with a brush, or gently rub one flower against another, shaking it. When the beans set, you will need to wait for them to ripen. Dry pods are collected, wrapped in paper, and stored in the refrigerator at a temperature of about five degrees Celsius.

This is what the seeds look like

In the first half of spring, seeds are planted. First, the seeds, which are similar in size to peas, are extracted from the pods. Only they are slightly flattened and have a dark brown color. Before planting, soak the seeds in hot water for half an hour to improve germination. Then the seeds are dried a little and planting begins.

For sowing, prepare the soil, which should be loose and nutritious. Usually this earth mixture with sufficient peat content. It is preheated in the oven for half an hour to disinfect. A layer of expanded clay is poured onto the bottom of the container.

The seeds are deepened into moist soil to a depth of no more than one centimeter. The container with the seeds is covered with film or glass and placed in a warm, illuminated place. But direct rays of the sun should not fall on the pot with seeds. It is recommended to maintain the ambient temperature in the range of 24-26 degrees. A slight drop in temperature is allowed, but not below twenty degrees. We periodically remove the film to moisten the soil with a spray bottle and ventilate.

At good conditions seedlings may appear at the end of the first week. After the sprouts appear protective film removed. The maximum period for emergence of seedlings is two weeks. Shoots with two true leaves can be planted in separate cups.

Plant two or three seedlings in one glass. For planting use the following mixture:

• turf soil (2 hours);
• leaf soil (2 hours);
• sand (1 hour).

Transplantation into a larger pot is carried out when the roots fill the cups. It is recommended to take a pot with a diameter of eleven centimeters.

Growing problems

When growing mimosa, some problems may arise due to care errors:

• If the plant's leaves begin to fall off, this may be due to irregular watering.
• Yellowing of the leaves indicates waterlogging of the earthen coma. In addition to yellowing, unopened leaves as daylight also indicates overwatering.
• With a lack of light, the shoots stretch and lose their elasticity.
• In low light and low temperature shy mimosa may not bloom.

Pests

Shy mimosa is affected by the following pests:

• Spider mite. It can be detected by small white dots on the leaves. The leaves are also covered with a thin web, barely visible to the eye. The spider mite sucks out the sap of the plants, and the leaves of the mimosa begin to fall off. If treatment is not carried out in a timely manner, the plant may die. It is necessary to treat with acaricides: Actellik, Omite. When carrying out processing, you must follow the instructions. If necessary, the treatment is repeated after a week.
• Aphid. Small green insects can be easily seen on the petioles and in the axils of the leaves. To destroy them, the plant is treated with insecticides: Fitoverm and others of this class. These drugs belong to drugs with low toxicity (fourth class). They can be used in residential premises, strictly following the instructions.

Conclusion

Growing bashful mimosa is not as difficult and troublesome as it might seem. If it is impossible to provide the plant with the necessary conditions during the dormant period and care for it in winter, it is easier to grow a new mimosa in the spring from seeds. It is only necessary to minimize touching the leaves for fun, otherwise the mimosa will die from exhaustion. People prone to allergies, especially to pollen, are not recommended to keep this flower at home.

Previously, it was grown mainly in greenhouses, but now mimosa has migrated to apartment window sills. It is difficult to find a more delicate and fragile flower than the bashful mimosa. Caring for her at home cannot be called easy. For growth and flowering you need to create favorable conditions.

Low shrub. In nature - up to one and a half meters, mimosa in a pot grows only 30-40 cm. The flowers are small, spherical in shape, delicate pink-lilac color. Flowering lasts up to 4 months (from June to September). The leaves are bipinnate, the stem is straight with a small number of spines. The entire plant is completely covered with light short hairs.

In the wild it is considered a perennial. As a houseplant, mimosa dies off by winter or simply loses its decorative effect. Therefore, it is grown as a beautiful annual. Pollinated by insects and wind. The fruit is a pod containing beans.

This is interesting! The mimosa's nickname comes from its ability to fold its leaves. It folds the leaves along the central vein and lowers them along the stem at the slightest touch. The same effect is observed from a draft. If within half an hour the irritant no longer bothers her, she opens her leaves again. She lives according to her own rhythm - she folds leaves every 22 hours, regardless of the time of day.

Rules of care

Caring for mimosa is complicated by the fact that the plant requires conditions close to a tropical microclimate.

• Lighting. With mimosa they work according to the principle - the more light, the better. Prefers plenty of light and sun. There is no need to shade - despite their tenderness, the leaves do not get sunburned. With a lack of light, it quickly stretches out and loses its decorative effect. It is recommended to avoid drafts, tobacco smoke, and fumes when cooking - frequent curling of leaves depletes the plant.
• Temperature. From early spring to late autumn it prefers a stable temperature of 20-24°C. When grown as a perennial, keep it at 16-18°C in winter.
• Humidity. Maintain at 70%. Dry air is detrimental to a flower. High humidity levels are achieved using special air humidifiers and frequent spraying. A pot with a flower is placed on a tray with wet pebbles or bowls of water are placed next to it. In winter, a wet cloth is hung on the radiators, wetting it as it dries.
• Watering. To understand whether mimosa needs water, touch the top layer of soil. If it dries out, it indicates the need for watering. On average, at a temperature of 20-24°C, water at intervals of 2 days. Morning watering with soft water is recommended.
• The soil. The main requirement is loose, well-drained, breathable soil. Simple and good option- a mixture of sand, turf and peat. Expanded clay or large pebbles are used as drainage.
• Feeding. Every 15 days during the growing season. Use any mineral complexes
• for flowering potted crops. The concentration is halved.

Transfer. The flower is most often grown as an annual crop. Transplantation is performed in rare cases. For example, if a pot was initially used that was too small. When transplanting, they try not to disturb the integrity of the earthen coma.

Reproduction

Advice! Mimosa pudica seeds can be obtained from your plant. It is easily pollinated by transferring pollen from one flower to another with a brush or by gently touching the flowers to each other. After successful pollination, a pod will form with flattened black peas—the seeds of the plant. Store the seeds in a paper bag on the refrigerator door. Mimosa propagation is practiced in only one way - growing from seeds. Fresh seeds have a high germination rate, young seedlings grow quickly. For the first time, seeds are purchased in a specialized store, in subsequent years they are used planting material

from your own plants.

Sowing begins in March. The seeds are pre-soaked in warm water for 30 minutes to 1 hour. The soil is watered with phytosporin or a weak solution of potassium permanganate. A box or separate small pots are used as a container for planting. The bottom is filled with expanded clay, soil is poured, and it is moistened. Seeds are planted to a depth of 1 cm. There is no need to compact the soil!

The box or pots are wrapped in polyethylene. Keep at 25-30°C, periodically ventilating the greenhouse. Water by spraying water with a spray bottle. Seeds germinate in 3-4 weeks. The seedlings are moved closer to the light, but protected from the sun. Picking at the stage of 3 true leaves. Replant very carefully, trying not to damage the delicate roots of the mimosa. Grown flowers are gradually accustomed to the care regime for adult plants. Interesting! Counts possible reproduction

mimosa cuttings. This is a complex method with low efficiency. Out of 10 cuttings, only one can take root. This method has long been abandoned by both amateurs and professional flower growers. But you can experiment by trying to root the cuttings in water or peat. Using root stimulants will increase the chances of success.

Possible growing problems

Mimosa is a delicate and capricious flower. Problems often arise during cultivation. Most of them are easily eliminated by adjusting care and maintenance.	Problem	Cause
Remedy	Rolling leaves	Reaction to smoke, draft, fumes.
Yellowish tint, lethargy, leaf drop	Lack of moisture in the soil or air.	Normalize the watering regime, spray the plant more often.
The leaves are constantly in a closed position	Excessive soil dampness, heat or cold in the room.	Check the condition of the soil. If it is too wet, limit watering for a while. Create favorable temperature conditions flower.
The stems are stretched	Lack of light.	If it is not possible to provide daylight, organize illumination with phytolamps.
Mimosa doesn't bloom	The most likely cause is low air temperature below 16°C.	The flower is moved to a warm place and protected from cold drafts.

Major pests

It is rarely affected by pests. The appearance of insects can quickly destroy a flower. As a preventative measure, it is recommended to periodically treat mimosa with small doses of Fitosporin and insecticides. At the same time, check neighboring indoor plants for pests.

Pest name	How it manifests itself	What to do
Aphid	Small insects sucking juices from the tender leaves of a plant. Settle in colonies on back side leaves, shoot tips. The leaves become sticky, the tops curl, and stop growing.	Examine the plant. If there are not many aphids, treating the plant with a soap solution will help. In case of severe damage, the twisted branches are cut off and the flower is sprayed with preparations containing permethrin.
Spider mite	The appearance of light spots on the leaves, cobwebs on the back of the leaf. The plant is withering away.	Treat with a soap solution with the addition of alcohol. If this does not help, spray with insecticides.
Whitefly	Translucent scales appear on the lower surface of the leaf blade. The leaves are covered with a sticky shiny coating. The plant becomes discolored and withers.	Wash the plant with soapy water and spray with tobacco infusion. From chemicals Aktara helps a lot.

Before you grow mimosa at home, think about whether you have enough time to care for it. This delicate flower requiring constant attention.

lat. name - Mimosa pudica

Mimosa pudica belongs to the legume family (Fabaceae), formerly belonged to the mimosa (Mimosaceae). This indoor plant can be considered both a flowering plant and an ornamental foliage plant, native to the humid tropics of Brazil.

Mimosa is a plant medium difficulty growing. It is cultivated in all countries of the world both as an annual and as a perennial.

In favor of the annual plant is the fact that by autumn mimosa becomes very elongated and loses its splendor and decorativeness. Therefore, it is often recommended to renew it with seeds, with which it reproduces without problems.

1. Appearance

Decorative shrub up to 60 cm in height with spiny stems. The leaves are pinnate with small oblong leaves, up to 30 cm in length, light green in color, with sensitive hairs.

The inflorescences are in the form of spherical fluffy inflorescences that resemble a pompom made of threads, light purple in color, about 2 cm in diameter. Blooms from June to September. The fruits are flat, single-seeded pods that open when ripe.

2. Why is mimosa shy?

A peculiarity of the plant is its great sensitivity to mechanical influences. When touched, the leaves fold and the branches fall down. After about 20-30 minutes they straighten again.

The same thing happens with the change of time of day - at night the leaves fold, and in the morning they are “in working order” again.

You should not often experiment with the plant and often irritate its sensitive hairs. As a result, it quickly depletes.

3. Mimosa care

Mimosa shy prefers southern windows - moderately warm rooms with intense lighting. Optimal temperature growing - 20-22°C during the growth period and 15°C during the dormant period (winter). Does not tolerate hot and dry air well.

From spring to autumn, mimosa pudica needs regular moderate watering. In winter, watering is reduced to a minimum, to about once a week. The water should not be very hard.

Because mimosa loves high humidity air (75-85%), it is advisable to regularly spray the air around the plant. It is better not to spray the mimosa itself and not to disturb it again.

Do not forget to regularly loosen the soil in the plant pot and prevent the formation of a crust on the surface.

4. Fertilizer

Mimosa needs regular feeding during active growth and during the flowering period, from spring to late summer, approximately once every 10-14 days. You can use ready-made liquid fertilizer for beautifully flowering plants.

5. Transplantation and soil

Any soil is suitable for planting and replanting. beautiful flowering plants. The main thing is that it is loose and nutritious.

The composition of the soil mixture for those who want to prepare it for planting mimosa on their own: peat (1 part), clay-turf soil (2 parts), deciduous soil (1 part), sand (0.5 parts).

Replanting the plant is necessary only in case of disease or rotting of the soil. Also, at the beginning of spring, replanting is necessary for the plant that you left for the winter and grow as a perennial.

6. Propagation of mimosa

Mimosa pudica is propagated by shifts, which are sown in February-April. You can use universal soil mixtures for seedlings or, as mentioned above, soil for beautiful flowering plants.

When the seedlings reach 2-3 months of age (in May-June), they are transplanted to permanent place and try not to bother you anymore, because... Mimosa does not tolerate transplantation well.

You can grow several plants in one pot at once. This way they look more decorative. As they grow and if necessary, the mimosa stems are tied to supports.

7. Features of cultivation, pests and diseases

Pests of mimosa pudica: aphids, spider mites.

If the leaves wither and turn yellow...

Possible reasons: lack of moisture.

Solution to the problem: mimosa needs regular watering and moist air around; try to adhere to the required maintenance regime.

8. Mimosa bashful: video

This short video clearly shows how mimosa leaves react to touch.

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