The mimosa is an interesting plant that lives up to its name. There are a few things you need to be aware of, especially when it comes to your location.
This plant is behaving strangely and that's what makes it so appealing. Mimosas (Mimosa pudica) are literally sensitive to touch. As a houseplant, the mimosa, which comes from tropical regions, is a rarity in our latitudes. Plant lovers will face some challenges. While the pretty plant is easy to care for over the summer, overwintering the heat-loving mimosa is more of a difficult matter.
Origin of mimosa
Mimosa includes about 500 species. The home of the "shy plant" is in the tropics of South America. The legumes have also spread to other regions as a result of climate change. Thus, increased occurrences can be found in southern Europe. In Germany, the mimosa is only cultivated as a houseplant.
Special features of mimosa
The mimosa made it onto our windowsills not least because it has something special. If the leaves are touched, they fold together in a flash. The entire sheet tilts down. About half an hour after being touched, the mimosa slowly folds back into its original form.
Tip: The mimosa stays in this "sleeping position" even at night.
Mimosa surprises quite early in the year with small round flower heads in pink to violet. The shape of the flowers makes us think of dandelions.
| Mimosa (Mimosa pudica) | |
|---|---|
| Growth: | flat, shrubby |
| Growth: | 30 - 50 cm |
| Flower: | May to September |
| Usage: | Houseplant |
| Location: | bright, but no blazing sun |
| Floor: | sandy to loamy, fresh to moderately moist |
Find the right location for the mimosa
The delicate plant does not like stress at the flower window. Mimosas thrive best at constant temperatures between 18 and 20 degrees. A sheltered stand prevents the leaves from turning too frequentlycollapse, which requires effort for the plant.
Bright sunlight should be avoided, as should drafts. Mimosas like to be light and protected and are not shade plants. In summer the plants can be placed on the balcony or terrace.
Choosing the ideal substrate for mimosa
The mimosa is less demanding when it comes to the choice of soil. The plants thrive very well in conventional potting soil. Mimosas are usually only cultivated once a year and therefore do well with uniform soil.
When buying, pay attention to quality. A substrate containing compost provides the mimosa with valuable nutrients and is more environmentally friendly than an inexpensive peat-based substrate.
Tip: A compost-based substrate is more permeable and prevents waterlogging. Peat can harden and block the drainage of liquid.
Planting and transplanting mimosa
Many hobby gardeners only cultivate mimosa for one season. The plants are usually left in the plant pot in which they were purchased. Transplanting is not necessary for annual plants.
If you want to overwinter the plants, you should definitely free them from the planters, which are usually too small. Spring is the best time to transplant mimosa.
Tip: If the root ball has already pushed all the soil out of the plant pot and the roots swell out of the top or bottom of the plant pot, transplant immediately.
The new planter should only be slightly larger than its predecessor. Mimosas appear visually more appealing in a rather smaller planter and are usually more floriferous.
The drainage holes on the bottom of the planter are very important when choosing a new plant pot. The irrigation water must not accumulate in the planter, because the delicate plants do not tolerate waterlogging.
Repot mimosa - step by step
1. Choose a new plant pot2. Get the substrate
3. Remove the plant from the old planter
4. Shake the soil off the root ball
5. Check the roots6. Remove diseased and rotten root sections
7. Put gravel or broken pottery drainage in the bottom of the container
8. Place the plant in the middle of the pot
9. Fill up the substrate
10. Press the soil carefully
11. water the plant
Water and fertilize the mimosa properly
The mimosa needs constant moisture. Watering should not be overdone. The plantsare very sensitive to waterlogging. Before watering again, the top layer of soil should be slightly dry.
Tip: The tropical plant loves an occasional shower from the plant sprayer. Soft rainwater is best.
During the growth phase, the mimosa can be fertilized. From April you can work with green plant fertilizer in 14-day intervals. This is to be used in low doses. Fertilization will be discontinued from September.
An overview of the most important planting and care tips
| Measure | What to do? |
|---|---|
| Set Location | 18 to 20 degrees constant bright protected |
| Select substrate | compost-based standard soil loose permeable |
| Casting | moderate avoid waterlogging |
| Fertilize | April to September Fortnightly Green plant fertilizer in low concentration |
Cut the mimosa
Mimosa do not need pruning. Young plants are generally not cut back. If you overwinter your plants, you can easily cut them into shape in spring. In general, the plants are less well tolerated by pruning.
Propagating the mimosa
If you want to grow mimosas yourself, you can start in March. The seeds can be obtained from the mother plants or are also commercially available.
Tip: If you want to get seeds from your own plants, the mimosa needs a place outside in the summer so that it can be pollinated by insects.
The small legumes are snapped off in autumn. The seeds are kept cool and dry over the winter months. In order for the seeds to germinate, they should be soaked for about a day before sowing.
The substrate used should be sterile. This can be done in the oven or microwave. Otherwise there is a high risk that the seeds will start to get moldy. The seeds are distributed on the potting soil, but not covered with substrate. The soil is kept slightly moist. Covering with foil or glass accelerates germination and creates a microclimate.
Tip: The cover must be aired daily, otherwise mold will form.
At a temperature of 20-22 degrees, the seeds will begin to germinate after about a week. The strongest young plants are pricked out and allowed to continue growing in their own plant pots.
Diseases andIdentify pests in mimosa
The image of their name would suggest otherwise, but mimosa are not susceptible to disease or pests. If the location is too dry, infestation with spider mites or aphids is possible. This can be prevented by spraying the plants regularly or by placing bowls of water in the room to increase the humidity.
Leaf fall in mimosa can have various causes:
- too sunny location
- too dark location
- location too cool
- too warm location
- too dry location
- too humid location
Stressing the plant too often because everyone wants to see the leaves fold can also result in leaf fall.
The plants also do not tolerate bad air quality. Mimosa will not do well in smokers' living rooms like this.
Wintering the mimosa
Mimosa come from the tropics and cannot withstand the winter in our latitudes. They need plenty of light and warmth all year round. As already mentioned, overwintering the mimosa is not an easy task and therefore the annual culture is usually preferred.
If you want to bring the mimosa through the winter, ensure warm temperatures, high humidity and a light location. Even in winter, the temperature should never fall below 18 degrees.
A stand next to the heater is unsuitable. Sun exposure should also be avoided as far as possible. Sunlight is tolerated only in the morning and evening hours.
Tip: The higher the temperature in the room, the more humid the air must be kept.
The mimosa is watered less in winter. The root ball should only feel slightly damp and not wet.
Is the mimosa poisonous?
The mimosa is not officially one of the poisonous plants, but it is not completely free of toxins either. Children and pets should not be allowed direct access to the plants. No direct damage to he alth is to be expected from the contract with the leaves and flowers of the mimosa, but nausea can occur in rare cases.