Bashful Mimosa - caring for the touchy. Room flower mimosa bashful beauty: planting, transplanting, reproduction, cultivation and care at home in a pot

In a pot, only unpretentious and most decorative types and varieties of mimosa, which have much in common in botanical features. The genus includes mainly herbaceous plants, but also mimosa sometimes looks like a shrub or medium-sized tree with bipinnate foliage. AT natural conditions Mimosa grows in South America and Australia.

Popular types of indoor garden mimosa

In room culture by experienced amateur flower growers, Today, several varieties are grown:

• Hostilis(M. hostilis) refers to perennial evergreens, and has become widespread in northeastern Brazil and southern Mexico. The aerial part is woody or shrubby type, with bipinnate leaves. Flowering is relatively long and abundant;

• prickly(M.asanthosarra) erect, small-branched, dense shrub plant with a wide crown and smooth, grayish-brown bark. The branches are thin, slightly zigzag, red-brown in color, with spines up to 12 mm long. Foliage of the next arrangement, two-pinnate. Leaves 50-75 mm long, with several pairs of large, small, thin, gray-green leaves. The flowers are very small in size, with a pronounced aroma, snow-white or pinkish-white in color, collected in rounded brushes up to 12 mm in diameter. After flowering, red-brown fruits are formed up to 25-50 mm long with thorns;

• lazy(M. rigra) compact undersized perennial no more than half a meter high. Shoots upright and slender, branched type. On the shoots are fern-like leaves with high sensitivity. It blooms with white flowers collected in attractive spherical heads;
• Odetoferous(M.dysocarra) deciduous perennial shrub plant a little over one and a half meters high. On the branches are numerous spines of large sizes. The foliage is two-pinnate, represented by numerous very small oblong leaves. Inflorescences are cylindrical, spike-shaped, collected from light pink or dark pink flowers with long stamens;

• pointed fruit(M.aculeaticarra) is a deciduous shrub low plant with branches on which curved spines are red-brown. The foliage is bipinnate with numerous oblong-oval and dense, very small leaves. Flowers are white or light beige-pink in color, collected in axillary racemes.

Wild mimosa in some countries belongs to the category of very common weeds and is massively destroyed.

Mimosa bashful: why is it called so and its botanical features

Mimosa shy or shy (M.pudica) is a perennial herbaceous plant originating from the tropics of South America. Currently cultivated in many countries as a highly ornamental plant. For its botanical features, the culture has received such names as mimosa shy, modest and shy. At the slightest touch to the foliage, small leaves fold almost immediately, and the appearance of wilting is created. After about half an hour or an hour, the leaves open again. Scientists explain this phenomenon by the need for the plant to defend itself in conditions tropical showers.

How to grow bashful mimosa (video)

Representatives of the species can be shrubs or semi-shrub plants, the aerial part of which reaches a height of a meter. Straight shoots have a characteristic pubescence, covered with relatively long spines. The foliage is small, numerous, has a pinnate oblong-lanceolate shape, has pubescence. Shy mimosa flowers are formed from the axillary part of the apical shoots. Flowers are collected in capitate inflorescences, which have an attractive purple-pink color. Flowering occurs in the period June-August. AT indoor floriculture This species is most often grown as an annual.

Mimosa bashful: features of care at home

Yellow mimosa is a stylish and beautiful element room interior. Caring for such a house plant is quite easy. Standard care is right choice planting capacity and nutrient soil substrate, as well as timely watering and top dressing, protection from diseases and pests.

Content Requirements

Mimosa bashful loves a sufficient amount of light and easily tolerates the presence of even direct sunlight. In temperate climatic conditions, such a culture is best suited for southern exposure, and in regions with a hot sunny climate, the plant is best located in the southeastern part. You can also install a flower pot with a plant on the windows of the western or eastern direction. When mimosa is located on the southern windows on especially hot days, it is recommended to shade above-ground part crops in the midday hours, which will prevent the formation of burns on the foliage.

In the period from March to October, active growth processes and flowering are observed, therefore, optimal comfortable temperature for the plant will be 20-24 ° C. AT winter period temperature regime should be reduced to 16-18°C. Ornamental culture needs sufficient moisture. Drainage trays filled with wet pebbles or moistened sphagnum moss are best used under flower pots.

Planting soil and pot

For planting and transplanting room culture you can use almost any ready-made nutrient soil that is suitable for growing flowering and ornamental plants. The main condition is sufficient friability and nutritional value of such a soil substrate.

If necessary, you can make a planting mixture yourself. For this purpose, one part of peat, two parts of clay-soddy soil, one part of deciduous soil and ½ part of coarse-grained clean sand are used. For homemade soil, you can also use one part greenhouse soil, one part peat land, one part rotted manure and one part coarse-grained clean sand or perlite.

The flower pot should not be too wide or high, and its volume should correspond as much as possible to the size of the root system of the planted or transplanted ornamental houseplant. The planting tank must necessarily have high-quality drainage holes that prevent stagnation of moisture in the soil and rotting of the root system.

Growing mimosa from seeds (video)

Watering and feeding

Irrigation measures and well-chosen top dressing are very important for different stages growth and development of such a tropical plant. Irrigation activities must be intensive. For irrigation, only well-heated water is used. room temperature. Watering is carried out every three days. Watering is best proven by immersing a flower pot in water. soil mix should be constantly moist, but not waterlogged.

Even a slight lack of moisture can provoke massive leaf fall. It should be remembered that when watering, it is necessary to completely exclude the ingress of water on the foliage. You need to feed the ornamental culture from spring to mid-autumn, about a couple of times a month. Used for feeding liquid fertilizers, but good result They also provide organic fertilizer.

Diseases and pests

In case of non-compliance with the cultivation regime, the plant can be affected by diseases and pests:

• in the absence of regular irrigation measures and a decrease in indoor air humidity, leaf shedding is often observed;
• yellowing and not opening the leaves of the plant may be the result of significant waterlogging of the soil;
• strong stretching of the aerial part is very often the result of insufficient lighting;
• lack of flowering is observed in low light, as well as low temperature conditions.

The main pests of room culture are most often plant aphids and spider mites, the destruction of which is carried out with special chemicals.

Transplantation and reproduction

Reproduction of culture is carried out by seed method. Seeds soaked for a couple of days should be sown in a nutrient mixture based on peat and perlite.

The surface of the soil substrate must be abundantly moistened, after which grooves should be made and seeds sown with a depth of 10 mm and a distance of 50-60 mm from each other. The seed container must be covered with polyethylene and place in a warm place with direct sunlight or using fluorescent lamps.

Mass shoots appear in a couple of weeks. The first feeding is carried out a couple of weeks after germination., a solution of standard complex fertilizer. If necessary, thinning of seedlings is carried out, and seating in separate flower pots is noticeable.

How bashful mimosa blooms (video)

Mimosa of some species grows very well at home. It's relative unpretentious plant can serve as an excellent plant material for creating quite complex and multifaceted decorative compositions, and if you wish and have some skills, you can form an excellent bonsai from mimosa.

Very original plant, which deserved the love of flower growers with its beauty and as if with living, moving leaves, is a bashful mimosa. As early as 1729, the astronomer de Meyron suggested that the movements of the leaves of a plant have something in common with the rhythm of the life of the human body.

plant description

Mimosa belongs to herbaceous plants. This culture is both medicinal and decorative. It reaches a height of 70 cm, has complex leaves, very sensitive to touch - they fold, creating the illusion that the plant is ashamed. For this amazing feature, the flower is called bashful.

On the stems of the flower are thorns, bent down. The flowers look like small balls of delicate, pink color. Mimosa blooms are very graceful. Mimosa fruit is a bean.

Features of growing shy mimosa

Mimosa pudica is a rather unpretentious plant, despite its exotic origin. Caring for a flower at home is not as complicated as it might seem to an inexperienced grower at first glance.

The main feature when growing a flower is that it does not tolerate cigarette smoke at all, and can immediately shed its leaves.

The plant loves heat very much and from early spring to late autumn it grows well only at a temperature of +24 ºС. In winter, the flower needs a decrease in temperature to +16 ºС.

Plant care at home

Growing a plant does not cause much trouble, however, this green "pet" still requires the implementation of certain care rules.

Optimal growing conditions

The bashful mimosa flower loves bright light very much. It is great if the flowerpot will stand on the south window, as this plant prefers direct sunlight. But on hot days, when the sun is too active, it is better to shade the flower at noon. We must also take into account the fact that in winter it is photophilous plant does not like artificial lighting.

The culture does not tolerate drafts and wind at all, so you can not open a window in a room.

Watering and spraying

The mimosa bush is very fond of moisture, but it must be watered carefully. AT summer period the flower is watered abundantly, but the drained water from the pan must be drained. In cold weather, watering is reduced, but they make sure that the earthen ball does not dry out too much in the flowerpot. Due to waterlogging of the soil in the cold season, the flower can get sick and lose its decorative effect.

A plant from the Mimosa family, from the legume genus, with more than 300 species. The tropical forests of Africa, America, Brazil and Asia are considered to be the homeland.

Mimosa bashful - herbaceous plant, 0.5 to 1.5 m high, more like a shrub.

Two pinnate leaves extending from the stem, 3-5 pcs. in different directions. At the slightest touch, or at night, add up.

The stem is straight, covered with small spines.
The flowers are pink or purple, formed at the end of the shoots, up to 2 cm in diameter, rounded spherical.
The flowering period is summer.

In the natural environment, pollination takes place by wind and insects. At home, this must be done by yourself. But often the process ends in a fiasco. With the right actions, the inflorescence will begin to descend and the place where the fruit will appear will be strengthened by the thickening of the stem. After a while, a seed pod will appear. We'll take a closer look later. In one pod, there can be up to 10 seeds.

During flowering, the flower has a lot of fine pollen and people with allergies feel it quite acutely.

At home, mimosa is grown as annual plant in greenhouses, or apartments with good lighting, propagating every year by seeds, or cuttings.

Mimosa shy - home care

Location: First, in addition to the lighting conditions listed below, the main thing is to provide mimosa with a place that is hard to reach for children and other objects. They don't call her shy for nothing.

At the slightest touch, the leaves curl up, as if ashamed of you, and after 20-30 minutes at rest, open again. Often it brings great pleasure to adults or children to constantly touch the foliage, showing everyone around. But for frequent folding, bashful mimosa uses quite a lot inner strength, and frequent repetitions lead to the depletion of the flower, and subsequently to death. But at night, the leaves, by their nature, fold and, with the release of the first rays, open. For this process, nature has set aside forces, since the cycle takes place only 1 time per day.

As for the choice of location. Flowering is long, about 4 months, but subject to clean air. The plant needs a large number of light, sometimes well tolerated by direct sunlight. At lunchtime during the hot season, it is better to shade to avoid burns, although the leaves are quite resistant.

In temperate climates, south-facing window sills are suitable. In hot latitudes, southeast or southwest exposure.

In constant shade, or on the north side, mimosa stretches out, especially in winter, and loses its decorative effect.

Temperature: Optimum temperature during the period of active growth 22-24 degrees. In winter, the indicators are reduced to 16-18 degrees.

Humidity: It is necessary to create conditions close to natural rainforests, where a constant high humidity. Indoors, the indicators should not be below 70%, otherwise the mimosa will simply die. To increase humidity, humidify rooms with artificial fountain, humidifier, or spraying the place nearby. Direct contact with the water itself on the leaves is not recommended. Also place the flower on a pallet with wet expanded clay, or moss.

Watering: Watering in period active growth exercise abundantly. Approximately every other day in the morning, or in the evening, as soon as upper layer substrate begins to dry out. The soil during the growing season should always be moist. Starting in autumn and throughout winter, mimosa is watered with some care to avoid rotting of the root system.

For irrigation, use distilled (soft water).

Soil: An adult plant is planted in a mixture of sand, peat, turf and leaf ground taken in equal proportions. At the bottom of the pot, lay a layer of expanded clay, for a good removal of excess moisture. Pot choose small sizes, with one or more holes in the bottom. The soil should be loose and airy, for this, pieces of foam, or perlite, are often added.

Transplantation: Often, bashful mimosa is grown at home as an annual plant and already sprouted sprouts, or rooted cuttings, are transplanted into the ground. For sowing, slightly different components are used (see reproduction).

But sometimes in greenhouses, there are perennial species. Transplantation is not carried out every year, but as needed, such as root system very fragile, and excessive touch is detrimental to the flower.

Fertilizer: In the period from spring to autumn, mimosa is fed with purchased mineral fertilizers 2 times a month.

Mimosa bashful - growing from seeds

Seeds are used purchased, or grown independently, taken from the reached fruits.

At home, you need to dust the flowers yourself. This is done with a brush, transferring pollen from one flower to another, or lightly rubbing the flowers together. After some time, the ovary will appear, the stem at the place of formation of the legume fruit will get a little thicker and stronger.

The fruit is considered ripe when the pod is completely dry. It is torn off, wrapped in a bag and stored until spring in the refrigerator at a temperature of +5 degrees. In early spring, the pod is opened and the seeds are taken out. Externally, the seeds are 2 mm dark peas. Up to 6-10 pcs. contains one fruit.

Immediately before sowing, seeds give warm water, or placed in a container with warm water for 20-30 minutes, so they will rise faster.

Starting in March, seeds are sown in the ground from steamed peat, with the addition of sand, or universal purchased soil is used.

Do not use open source substrate components without pre-treatment, they contain many bacteria and microorganisms that adversely affect the seedlings.

The soil should be light and allow moisture and air to pass through. Use small bowls with a hole in the bottom. Previously, as a drainage, a layer of expanded clay is laid on the bottom.

The substrate is well moistened, excess water is drained, then seeds are laid out on the surface, lightly sprinkled with soil on top, or deepened by 1 cm. Covered with polyethylene on top to maintain high humidity and temperature. Can be placed in a mini greenhouse.

The environment must always have high humidity and a temperature of 25-30 degrees. The bowls are regularly opened for ventilation and watered abundantly. Use a sprayer to prevent seeds from floating up.

After a few weeks (2-4), shoots should appear. The containers are placed in illuminated places, but without direct sunlight, the temperature is kept at 25-26 degrees. Too dry, or too wet earthen ball, leads to the death of sprouts.

As soon as at least 3 leaves appear, the seedlings dive into separate pots. The soil is used from peat, sand, turf and leaf soil in the same proportions.

At the bottom of the pot, a layer of expanded clay is also laid as a drainage system.

The bashful mimosa has very fragile and delicate roots, be extremely careful when diving.

Until young plants get stronger, they should not be exposed to the sun.

Cuttings: There is a second method of propagation - cuttings. But it is used from extremely rarely through a small% success rate. Mimosa shy is a very delicate plant and the rooting of the cuttings is a rather complicated process. The cutting is rooted both in water and in the ground, consisting of peat and sand.

Pests and difficulties

Mimosa bashful is affected by aphids and spider mites. To eliminate, use the site of the lesion with an acaricide or insecticide solution.

• Smoke causes the leaves to curl.
• Frequent leaf folding leads to depletion and death of mimosa.
• Water containing salts is detrimental to the flower.
• Beware of drafts.
• Leaves turn yellow and wither - possibly low room humidity and insufficient watering. Such care also leads to dropping leaves.
• The leaves do not open in the daytime - waterlogged soil, or the temperature regime is disturbed.
• The stems are stretched, the bashful mimosa loses its charm - too little daylight. Change habitat, or install additional artificial lighting.
• The mimosa never bloomed. This happens at too low a temperature, below 16-18 degrees.
• Possible allergic reaction to pollen at the time of flowering.

Mimosa. The name is familiar to everyone, even men, because in our country it is given for one of the most beautiful holidays. Yellow twigs delight every woman of the fair sex. But, you know, there is a mimosa flower that is not related to Women's Day at all, it is not a shrub with yellow beads that grows somewhere in the south. No, this plant can be freely grown at home. But do not rush to conclusions, the flower has one secret.

Bashful mimosa - who called you that?

What is the flower shy about?

In the world of plants, we meet different names, they are sometimes so unique and even funny that the question immediately arises, who came up with such a name and why. Mimosa bashful, which you see in the photo, is a flower that got its “nickname” for a reason. In fact, it has unique sensitive leaves, which, by the way, are very similar to a fern. They close themselves from touch, hide even from the breath on them, like a timid beauty from the eyes of others.

But the name was given not simply, among the people, but back in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus, when he created his work on describing plant species. He gave the prefix “pudica” to Mimosa, which means “hiding” or “shy” in translation. This flower is known in many countries around the planet, it can grow at home and on the street, where it reaches one and a half meters. different peoples bashful mimosa is called differently - shameful, modest, touchy, sleeping grass and even a mole. The latter name is typical for countries such as Spain, Portugal and Brazil.

It is interesting! In the Caribbean and the Dominican Republic, mimosa is called "morivivi". The translation sounds beautiful and life-affirming - "I'm dead, I'm alive."

Meet the bashful touchy

The decorativeness of the flower is high

The flower is very popular for its unusual properties among lovers of indoor plants. As you understand, it is now growing in many countries, mainly with a warm climate. Someone considers mimosa even a malicious weed. In nature, it reaches more than one and a half meters in length, while at home, as a rule, it grows up to 35-50 cm. The species belongs to semi-shrubs.

Outwardly, it is quite decorative. Children also like mimosa, because they can clearly see that the plant is alive and can move. But sometimes they flirt, constantly touching the tender leaves, and the flower begins to suffer. If you want to plant a touchy mimosa, then consider this fact. The plant blooms with a purple inflorescence that resembles a soft ball with needles or a pompom. It can be more stuffed or loose, the shade varies from lavender to soft pink. After flowering, a pod is formed, in which there are seeds.

On a note! Seeds can be bought at many garden stores, they are not uncommon, and then grown at home - the process does not differ in complex agricultural technology.

Type description:

• belongs to the mimosa family. Currently, scientists have discovered more than 400 different species;
• the native places of the touchy mimosa are South America, Asian countries and Africa. That is, the climate prefers a hot and humid flower;
• the semi-shrub has two-pinnate leaves, flowers of small diameter;
• inflorescences do not live long, there are a lot of them on the bushes, and they open every day;
• in a natural warm climate, the plant is perennial; in a more severe climate, mimosa does not survive in winter, therefore it is grown at home;
• the flower is unique in that, like a person, it has life cycle. Every day through a certain amount of time, mimosa opens and closes;
• leaves can curl not only from touch, but also from a change in location and temperature in the room. Usually the flower opens again in about half an hour.

Here is such an unusual mimosa, in the photo you can see it in the interior. The flower beautifully decorates any room. If you just purchased it or gave it to you, then you can learn more about care below.
Looks a lot like a fern
Delicate mimosa flowers

Mimosa shy at home - care rules

The plant loves sunny places.

Such a fragile plant raises doubts that it requires complex care. But this is not so, millions of gardeners grow mimosa of this species in our country with its harsh climate. All you need to do is follow minimum requirements, you will learn more about them.

Where to place the flower

A native of a tropical climate, mimosa is very photophilous, even in direct sunlight it can feel good. The ideal place for a flower is the southern windows in conditions temperate climate, in warmer regions, eastern window sills are suitable. The most ideal place is on a pedestal next to a bright window, where there will be light partial shade from the curtains. If the flowers in the store stood at artificial light or in a place that is not very well lit, then you should not immediately put the pot where the sun's rays are bright. Mimosa-touchy takes some getting used to.

Important! Do not place flowers where pets can bother them, hurt them, in the children's play area.

Condition Requirements

Poor conditions will not flower

The room should have well-moistened air - about 70%, because it often rains in the tropics. To moisturize it, you can buy special device either use simple methods- a jar of water, air spray, trays under plant pots, where there will be wet expanded clay, perlite or moss. Mimosa begins its active life cycle in March and ends in October. At this time, the dormant period begins, it is better to lower the temperature to 16-18 degrees, placing it in a cooler room or on the north window. Since spring, it is better to maintain the temperature not lower than +22 degrees.

Important! When you put additional trays for air humidity, the bottom of the pot should not touch the water. Otherwise, the roots will start to rot.

Watering and fertilizing

The mimosa flower is moisture-loving, it is watered quite often from March to October. But an important condition is not to fill the pots, the soil must be moist, but not wet. During the flowering period, mimosa requires watering every other day, provided that the earth has already dried up in the upper part. In normal periods, it is enough to moisten the flowers 2-3 times a week. One more important rule irrigation is the quality of water - it should be soft or distilled. In the first case, simple settling during the day will help.

Mimosa loves feeding, does not make special demands on them. You can buy any mineral fertilizer in liquid form in flower shop and apply it twice a month. This is provided that the soil in the pot was already nutritious. During the dormant period, watering and top dressing is reduced to a minimum. If you don’t know what quality the soil is in the pot, since you were given a touchy mimosa, the flower quickly began to lose its decorative effect or sits in one place for a long time, it would be best to transplant it. How to do this, read on.

Transplanting bashful mimosa

Mimosa seedlings

So, you were given a flower, but no one knows how nutritious the earth is in a pot and whether everything is in order with the root system. This directly affects the future growth and development of the plant, as it often happens that in stores we are surprised by chic flowering. different flowers, and after the purchase, they quickly wither and die. The best thing to do is replant. But this is only in extreme cases and by the method of transshipment of the root system, along with earthy clod into nutrient soil.

The soil of the touchy mimosa loves moderately fertile, well-drained and moist. Choose a pot of the right diameter so that the flower is free in it, wash it thoroughly. Next, prepare the soil - in equal parts take peat, sand, leafy and soddy soil. Drainage is needed at the bottom - perlite, expanded clay, crushed stone to choose from. Transfer the plant to a new container, sprinkle with soil, pour settled water.

Advice! It is better to shed the soil before planting for 1-2 days with boiling water with manganese crystals, which will kill all the pathogenic flora, and the flowers will not get sick.

Secrets of growing mimosa

Pruning helps the plant to be beautiful

Many novice flower growers do not know how a flower is grown - is it perennial or annual. You can often hear the latter, but this is a mistake. The fact is that after flowering, mimosa often loses its decorative effect, then it is replaced with a new one, because it is very easy to grow a flower from seeds. The process is the same as when planting any seedlings - the seeds are placed in a universal store soil, watered, covered with a film. When the sprouts have risen, the shelter is removed and then the seedlings are transplanted into separate pots with nutrient soil. Further, all care is as described earlier.

But bashful mimosa can grow more than one year. The main thing, proper care, fertilizing and watering. If after flowering the leaves began to fade, fall off, the stems stretch, then you just need to carry out a cardinal pruning. After the flower needs to be fed nitrogen fertilizer, which helps to build up green mass and put in a sunny place. Further watering is required and as feeding grows. So, you save your flower.

Possible troubles

Mimosa can be bothered by spider mites

If you are confused by what your mimosa looks like, then the reasons may be different, but all problems are solvable.

• Dull, wrinkled leaves may indicate that there is a lot of dust, the air is polluted. It happens when the window is constantly open.
• If the air is dry and watering is irregular, then the leaves can begin to not only wither, but also turn yellow and even completely fall off.
• If water is in excess, then the mimosa will always keep the leaves closed.
• AT cold room the flower will not bloom for a long time.
• If there is little light, then the plant will begin to stretch, lose its decorative effect. You need to change the place or add lamps for lighting.
• Mimosa can be bothered by spider mites, aphids. They are removed with insecticides or folk infusions.

You met with interesting and unusual plant. Growing it is easy if you know some secrets, but you already know them.

Previously, it was grown mainly in greenhouses, now mimosa has migrated to the window sills of apartments. It is difficult to find a more delicate and fragile flower than bashful mimosa. Care at home for her can not be called simple. 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 up to 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). Leaves bipinnate, stem straight a small amount spines. The whole plant is completely pubescent with light short hairs.

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

It is interesting! Mimosa is nicknamed because of its ability to fold its leaves. She 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 the leaves again. She lives according to her own rhythm - every 22 hours she folds the leaves, regardless of the time of day.

Care rules

Mimosa care is complicated by the fact that the plant needs conditions close to the tropical microclimate.

• Lighting. With mimosa, they act on the principle - the more light, the better. Prefers plenty of light and sun. There is no need to shade - despite the tenderness, the leaves do not get sunburn. With a lack of light, it quickly stretches and loses its decorative effect. It is recommended to avoid drafts, tobacco smoke, waste when cooking - frequent folding leaves deplete the plant.
• Temperature. From the beginning of spring to late autumn, it prefers a stable regime of 20-24°C. When grown as a perennial, they are kept at 16-18°C in winter.
• Humidity. Maintained at 70%. Dry air is detrimental to a flower. High performance humidity is achieved using special humidifiers, frequent spraying. A flower pot is placed on a pallet with wet pebbles or bowls of water are placed next to it. In winter, a wet cloth is hung on the batteries, wetting it as it dries.
• Watering. To understand whether mimosa needs water, touch the top layer of soil. Its drying indicates the need for watering. On average, at a temperature of 20-24 ° C, they are watered at intervals of 2 days. Recommended morning watering with soft water.
• The soil. The main requirement is loose, well-drained, breathable soils. simple and good option- a mixture of sand, turf and peat. Expanded clay or large pebbles are used as drainage.
• Top dressing. Every 15 days during the growing season. Use any mineral complexes for flowering potted crops. The concentration is halved.
• Transfer. The flower is more often grown as an annual crop. Transplantation is carried out in rare cases. For example, if it was originally used too small pot. When transplanting, they try not to violate the integrity of the earthen coma.

Advice! You can get bashful mimosa seeds from your plant. It is easily pollinated by transferring pollen from one flower to another with a brush or by gently touching the flowers together. After successful pollination, a pod will be tied up with flattened black peas - the seeds of the plant. Store seeds in paper bag on the refrigerator door.

reproduction

Mimosa propagation is practiced in only one way - growing from seeds. Fresh seeds are characterized by high germination, young seedlings grow quickly. The first time the seeds are purchased in a specialized store, in subsequent years they use planting material from their own plants.

Sowing starts in March. Seeds are pre-soaked in warm water for 30 minutes-1 hour. The soil is watered with phytosporin or a weak solution of potassium permanganate. A box or individual small pots are used as a container for planting. The bottom is filled with expanded clay, soil is poured, moistened. Seeds close up to a depth of 1 cm. No need to compact the ground!

The box or pots are wrapped in polyethylene. Keep at 25-30 ° C, periodically airing the greenhouse. Watered by spraying water with a spray bottle. Seeds germinate in 3-4 weeks. Seedlings are rearranged closer to the light, but protected from the sun. Pick at the stage of 3 true leaves. Transplanted very carefully, trying not to damage the delicate roots of mimosa. The grown flowers are gradually accustomed to the care regimen for adult plants.

Interesting! It is considered possible to propagate mimosa by cuttings. This is hard way with low efficiency. Out of 10 cuttings, only one can take root. This method has long been abandoned, both by amateurs and professional flower growers. But you can experiment by trying to root the cutting in water or peat. The use of root stimulants will increase the chances of success.

Possible Growing Problems

Mimosa is a delicate and capricious flower. When growing, problems often arise. Most of them are easily eliminated by adjusting care and maintenance.

Problem	Cause	Remedy
leaf folding	Reaction to smoke, draft, waste.	Find a comfortable place for the flower.
Yellowish tint, lethargy, leaf fall	Lack of moisture in the soil or air.	Normalize the watering regime, spray the plant more often.
Leaves are permanently closed	Excessive dampness of the soil, heat or cold in the room.	Check the condition of the ground. If it is too damp, limit watering for a while. Create favorable temperature conditions flower.
The stems are stretched out	Lack of light.	If it is not possible to provide natural lighting, they will organize backlighting with phytolamps.
mimosa not blooming	The most likely cause is low air temperature below 16°C.	The flower is moved to a warm place, protected from the action of cold drafts.

Major pests

Pests are rarely affected. The appearance of insects can quickly destroy a flower. As a preventive measure, it is recommended to periodically treat mimosa with small doses of Fitosporin and insecticides. Simultaneously check neighboring houseplants for the presence of pests.

Name of the pest	How does it manifest	What to do
Aphid	Small insects that suck the juices from the tender leaves of the plant. Settling in colonies reverse side leaves, tops of shoots. The leaves become sticky, the tops curl, stop growing.	Examine the plant. If there are not many aphids, plant treatment will help soapy water. With a strong lesion, the twisted branches are cut off, the flower is sprayed with preparations with permethrin.
spider mite	The appearance of light dots on the leaves, cobwebs on the back of the leaf. The plant withers.	Treated with a soapy solution with the addition of alcohol. If it 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 is discolored, withers.	The plant is washed with soapy water, sprayed with tobacco infusion. From chemicals Aktara helps a lot.

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