Mimosa Pudica Turning Yellow in Winter: Will It Die? Learn the Right Way to Save It

Mimosa pudica (sensitive plant) originated in the rainy regions of South America. Under natural selection, in order to withstand the battering of fierce wind and rain, mimosa pudica generally closes its leaves rapidly when touched by rainwater or external contact. To humans this looks like shyness, but it is actually just a self-protection mechanism. Nowadays mimosa pudica is a frequent guest among household potted plants, so mimosa pudica is a tropical plant - will it die in winter? If the problem of yellowing leaves appears, what should be done?

`1. Will mimosa pudica die in winter?

1. Mimosa pudica will die if not cared for properly in winter

Without careful care, mimosa pudica will find it very hard to get through the cold winter safely. This is also why many people can only keep mimosa pudica for one year when growing it - by winter it freezes to death.

2. How does mimosa pudica get through winter safely?

The core key point for mimosa pudica to get through winter safely is to keep its growing temperature above 10 degrees Celsius. There must be sufficient insulation measures: it can be grown in a greenhouse, or a layer of plastic film can be added around the roots of the mimosa pudica, and the temperature can be adjusted through some heating equipment.

Besides controlling the temperature, sufficient light must also be ensured. For a long period in winter there will be a lack of light, so in addition to artificially increasing the light for mimosa pudica, you can let mimosa pudica have a “sun bath” when there is natural light or on sunny days.

2. What to do when mimosa pudica leaves turn yellow?

In fact, there are many reasons that cause mimosa pudica leaves to turn yellow, so when we find that mimosa pudica has a “yellow leaf” problem, we need to identify the cause and treat it accordingly.

1. “Yellow leaves” caused by transplanting

Sometimes after transplanting or repotting mimosa pudica, a brief yellowing of the leaves appears. This may be caused by mimosa pudica being “unaccustomed to the new environment”.

Solution: Move the mimosa pudica to a cool, moist place and let it sit quietly for 1-2 days to give it a recovery period, then move it to a sunny spot and carry out normal watering and fertilizing.

2. “Yellow leaves” caused by too high or too low a temperature

Anyone who has grown mimosa pudica knows how important temperature is to them. Generally, above 35 degrees Celsius or below 10 degrees Celsius, the problem of mimosa pudica leaves turning yellow and drying up easily occurs.

Solution: Therefore, in summer and winter, cooling and warming measures need to be taken for mimosa pudica.

3. “Yellow leaves” caused by overwatering

If watered too much, it easily causes water to accumulate at the roots of mimosa pudica, leading to mold and rot of the mimosa pudica roots, and then a lack of nutrients, resulting in yellowing leaves.

Solution: After draining the excess water from the soil of the mimosa pudica, loosen the soil once and put it in a ventilated place to let it dry naturally, which can alleviate the problem of yellowing leaves.

4. “Yellow leaves” caused by insufficient light

Mimosa pudica is a plant with a very strong demand for light. When the light does not meet its growing requirements, its leaves will gradually turn yellow.

Solution: In this case, as long as it is discovered in time, it is very easy to restore the mimosa pudica to vitality. Simply move the mimosa pudica into the sun for a few days. Note that in high-temperature weather you should not expose it directly to strong sun; instead, you can adopt a partial shading measure to supply sunlight.