Worth knowing:
The shy Mimosa Pudica is with its long stalked double pinnate leaves the most popular species of its genus. It grows 50 cm in average and develops between July and October many-flowered, head-shaped pink inflorescences that resemble a dandelion. The blossoms live only for a day, but are renewed constantly. Its botanic name already reveals the basic attributes of the plant: mimic as in flexible/versatile and the Latin word pudica for shy/shrinking. With every touch and even by stronger drafts and vibrations, the small pinnae, accordingly to the affected area and the intensity of the sensation, touch each other and fold in towards the stem. Since this happens as well through missing light, the whole plant goes to sleep at night. All parts of the Sensitive Plant are more or less poisonous should not be eaten!
Natural Location:
The Sensitive Plant originates in South America, but can also be found today in many tropical and subtropical areas as well as in South Europe.
Cultivation:
Seed propagation indoors is possible throughout the year. To increase the germinability, you should place the seeds for one day in warm water for priming. Then, simply spread the seeds on moist potting compost, put just a little bit of compost earth on top and cover the seed container with clear film to prevent the earth from drying out. Don’t forget to make some holes in the clear film and take it every second or third day completely off for about 2 hours. That way you avoid mold formation on your potting compost. Place the seed container somewhere bright and warm with a temperature between 20°C and 25° Celsius and keep the earth moist, but not wet. Usually it takes only one week until germination. Because of the small and fine roots you should wait another six weeks before you plant the seedlings in a pot. You may place three to four plants in the same pot, but be careful: every part of the Sensitive Plant is poisonous!
Place:
The Mimosa pudica is best to be kept at room temperature in a bright spot without direct strong sunlight (especially young plants). If the place is sheltered you may move your plant outdoors for the summer. Drafts and any kind of stronger vibrations should be avoided since its folding-in mechanism takes a lot of energy and weakens the plant.
Care:
Keep your Sensitive Plant constantly moist and avoid waterlogging, especially in the saucer. Between April and September it is recommended to give fertilizer for tub plants every three to four weeks. Since it is a fast-growing plant, it would be best, to choose a bigger pot for planting right from the beginning.
During the winter:
Sensitive Plants are not annual, even though it is often said that they were. During winter it casts the leaves and can be pruned back to 15 to 20 cm. Only limited watering is necessary to keep the earth from drying out. The plant is best to be kept in a cool spot with temperatures between 5° and 15° Celsius until March.
Picture credits:
- © © H. Zell - CC-BY-SA-3.0 - http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0
- © Frank Laue - © Saflax - http://www.saflax.de/copyright
- © Frank Laue - © Saflax - http://www.saflax.de/copyright
- © Sabine Laue - © Saflax - http://www.saflax.de/copyright
- © Sabine Laue - © Saflax - http://www.saflax.de/copyright
- © Eric Hunt - CC-BY-SA-3.0 - http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0
- © H. Zell - CC-BY-SA-3.0 - http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0
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