How to grow Mimosa pudica? Home cultivation methods and growing environment
Mimosa pudica, also known as zhixiu cao and pa xiu cao, is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Fabaceae family. Because its leaves are extremely sensitive, a light touch makes the leaflets immediately fold together left and right; a firmer touch makes even the pinnae and petioles droop to 60 degrees. At night it also takes on a dormant drooping posture, and it reacts the same way to sudden cold or electrical stimulation. This morphological reaction makes people find it extremely interesting, as if it were shy, hence the name Mimosa pudica. Below, the editor will introduce to you how exactly Mimosa pudica should be grown.
The growing environment of Mimosa pudica
Mimosa pudica prefers a warm, humid environment with plenty of sunlight, and is suited to well-drained sandy loam rich in organic matter. The plant is robust, grows quickly, has strong adaptability, and its cultivation technique is simple with minimal management. It is not strict about climate, sunlight or soil, so when cultivating it, fertile, loose sandy loam is best. During the plant's growing period, loosen the soil, weed and water in a timely manner. For indoor potted plants, water once a day in summer. Fertilize once a month; if you do not want the plant to grow too large, reduce the amount of fertilizer, or even do without fertilizing.
Mimosa pudica is relatively easy to propagate, generally by sowing seeds. Sowing can be done at any time of year, but early spring in February, sown in pots indoors, is best. When sowing, scatter the seeds evenly over fine soil and cover with about 1.5 cm of soil; at a temperature of about 18°C, seedlings emerge in about 10 days. To encourage earlier germination, soak the seeds in a 800-fold dilution of Xin Gao Zhi Mo for one day before sowing. Mimosa pudica basically has no pests or diseases. If there are slugs, they can be controlled with fresh lime powder in the morning.
Home cultivation of Mimosa pudica
After sowing, place the pot in an environment of 15-20°C, and seedlings will emerge in about 10 days. When the seedlings grow to 5-6 cm tall, transplant them separately with a soil ball; when they reach 10 cm, plant them permanently in a somewhat larger pot.
1. Water: It likes humidity; water once a day during the summer growing period.
2. Fertilizer: Apply a top dressing once every half month during the seedling stage. If you do not want the plant to grow too large, reduce the amount of fertilizer.
3. Soil: It requires deep, fertile, moist soil.
4. Temperature: It is not cold-tolerant and likes a warm climate; in winter the plant dies back on its own.
5. Light: It likes ample light and tolerates partial shade slightly.
Propagation methods for Mimosa pudica
Mimosa pudica is propagated by sowing seeds. When collecting seeds, select robust mother plants and strengthen management; during the fruiting period, collect as they ripen, because the pods split open automatically when mature, so they must be harvested in time. Sowing can be done in spring or autumn. Before sowing, soak the seeds in 35°C warm water for 24 hours, sow them in holes in a shallow pot, cover with 1-2 cm of soil, water by the immersion method, and keep the potting soil moist; at 15-20°C, seedlings emerge in 7-10 days, and when the seedlings are 5 cm tall, pot them up.
Mimosa pudica is a taproot plant with very few fibrous roots, so it is suitable for propagation by sowing, and it is best to sow directly to avoid damaging the roots when transplanting; if transplanting is necessary, it should be done at the seedling stage, otherwise it is not easy to survive.
Winter cultivation methods for Mimosa pudica
Mimosa pudica prefers a warm, humid environment with plenty of sunlight, and is suited to well-drained sandy loam rich in organic matter. It grows quickly and has strong adaptability. During the plant's growing period, along with watering, apply a diluted, well-rotted liquid fertilizer about every 10 days (3-4 times in total). For potted ornamental display, in winter it should be moved indoors to a sunny spot, and maintaining a room temperature of 10-12°C is enough for it to overwinter safely.
Mimosa pudica is a very interesting plant. When you touch its leaves, the leaves slowly close, like a shy young girl, and its flowers resemble pink pom-poms, especially endearing. Mimosa pudica likes a warm, humid environment and is suitable for potted cultivation.
1. It needs frequent watering. Mimosa pudica originally comes from the tropics and likes a humid environment, so the potting soil should often be kept moist. In summer, water according to the condition of the potting soil, about once a day; do not let the soil dry out. You can often spray water on the plant. In winter, reduce watering to prevent frost damage.
2. Choose fertile, loose soil. Mimosa pudica is not demanding about soil; ordinary garden soil will do. But if you want Mimosa pudica to grow better, choose relatively loose, fertile soil; you can mix leaf mold and sandy soil, or use only leaf mold. Humus soil is also a good choice.
3. Ensure ample sunlight. Mimosa pudica likes sunlight, so it is best to place it on a sunny balcony or by a window. Full exposure to sunlight is good for its growth; if there is too little sunlight, it may hinder its growth.
4. Prevent frost damage. Mimosa pudica is suited to growing in a warm environment, with 20 to 28 degrees being ideal. If the temperature is too low, it stops growing. In winter, because the temperature is too low, water less to avoid frost damage to the roots and stems. Watering should be done at the time of day when the temperature is higher. If the temperature is below 10 degrees, it is best to provide some protective measures.
5. Prevent pests and diseases. Mimosa pudica generally has very few pests or diseases. The most common pest is the slug; if found, sprinkle some lime powder to control it. If the plant is not growing well, check whether there is insufficient light or not enough water.
6. Fertilize according to your own situation. Mimosa pudica only needs fertilizing once a month, but some people think a potted Mimosa pudica looks bad when it grows too large; those who think so should not fertilize it.
How to grow Mimosa pudica: the complete guide to cultivation methods
Mimosa pudica is a perennial herbaceous plant or subshrub of the Fabaceae family. Because its leaves react to light and heat, they close immediately when touched by an external force, hence the name Mimosa pudica. The flowers, leaves and pods of Mimosa pudica all have ornamental value, and it is relatively easy to keep alive, making it very suitable for growing on balconies
and indoors. Today, let us look at how to grow Mimosa pudica, with a complete guide to its cultivation.
How to grow Mimosa pudica: propagation methods
Because Mimosa pudica is a taproot plant, it has very few fibrous roots, so when planting it, propagation by sowing is always used. It is best to grow it by direct sowing to avoid damaging its roots when transplanting. If transplanting is needed, do it at the seedling stage. Mimosa pudica is grown as an annual plant, so sow it in early spring.
How to grow Mimosa pudica: potting soil
When sowing Mimosa pudica, you can sow directly in a small pot, or grow seedlings in a shallow pot and then transplant them separately. For sowing Mimosa pudica, the soil is best prepared by sifting leaf mold, garden soil and fine yellow sand and mixing them in a ratio of 2:3:5. When sowing, fill the pot with an appropriate amount of potting soil, smooth and firm it, and water thoroughly with a watering can; once the water has fully seeped in, immediately sow the Mimosa pudica seeds into the soil. If sowing directly in a small pot, sow only 1-2 seeds per pot. If raising seedlings in a shallow pot, sow in spots at a distance of 2 cm x 2 cm. After sowing, cover with 3-5 cm of soil, just enough to cover the seeds. Finally, cover the pot with glass or plastic cling film to retain moisture, and place the pot in a spot at 20°C.
How to grow Mimosa pudica: growing the seedlings
After the Mimosa pudica in the pot has sprouted, remove the covering from the pot and gradually let it receive sunlight. When the seedlings grow to 3 cm, the seedlings in the shallow pot can be separated and transplanted. When separating the seedlings, transplant them with soil, as the survival rate is higher that way. Water the newly potted seedlings promptly and water thoroughly, then place them in partial shade; after they recover, move them to a spot with ample sunlight. If Mimosa pudica was sown directly in a small pot, it can be placed directly in a spot with ample sunlight to grow.
How to grow Mimosa pudica: fertilizing and watering
Generally, in April-May each year, move the seedling pots of Mimosa pudica outdoors to grow, and water promptly to keep the potting soil moist. When the seedlings grow to have four leaves, you can fertilize them; use a liquid fertilizer for fertilizing. Generally, apply a diluted, well-rotted liquid fertilizer once every 7-10 days. Once Mimosa pudica has grown larger, it can be repotted once, but the new pot must not be too large; generally, planting it permanently in a medium-sized flowerpot of 15-20 cm is enough.
Summary:The above is the editor's introduction to how to grow Mimosa pudica and its latest cultivation methods. After reading the editor's introduction, I believe everyone has a fairly good understanding. Mimosa pudica is a relatively easy plant to grow, because its survival rate is very high, and Mimosa pudica also has a special function: it can foretell changes between sunny and rainy weather.
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Why Mimosa pudica is shy: how to grow Mimosa pudica and an introduction to cultivation methods
Nowadays people's interest in raising animals and plants is growing stronger and stronger. Using plants you grow yourself to decorate your warm and lovely home lets us both enjoy the fun of planting and achieve a decorative effect, killing two birds with one stone, so why not do it? Do you want to know why Mimosa pudica is shy? Nature is magical and unpredictable; you cannot imagine what will quietly be changed the next second, and it is impossible to fathom. At the same time, nature's creative power is also very strong. All kinds of animals and plants form a big family, each with its own characteristics, and they are very appealing.
Why Mimosa pudica is shy
Precautions:
1. Prevent frost damage. Mimosa pudica is suited to growing in a warm environment, with a suitable temperature between 20—28 degrees. If the temperature is too low, it will hinder its growth. Because the winter temperature is too low, water less to avoid frost damage to the roots and stems. The time for watering is roughly when the temperature is highest in the day. If the temperature is below 10 degrees, it is best to provide some protective measures.
2. Prevent pests and diseases. Mimosa pudica generally rarely has pests or diseases, and the most common pest is the slug. If pests are found, sprinkle some lime powder to control them.
3. When fertilizing, fertilize according to your own situation, and Mimosa pudica can be fertilized about once a month. If you think a potted Mimosa pudica looks good when it grows too large, you can give up fertilizing it.
Why Mimosa pudica is shy
Cultivation methods: potted cultivation
When you touch the leaves of Mimosa pudica, they slowly close, which is very peculiar. And its flowers are like furry little pink balls, especially cute. Because of its living habits, Mimosa pudica is a small plant suitable for potted cultivation.
Watering:
Because Mimosa pudica is originally a tropical plant and very fond of a humid environment, we should often keep the potting soil moist. In summer, water according to the condition of the potting soil, about once a day; never let the soil dry out. You can also often spray water on the plant. In winter, reduce watering to prevent frost damage.
Why Mimosa pudica is shy
Fertilizing:
Mimosa pudica is not demanding about soil; ordinary soil will do. But if you want Mimosa pudica to grow better, you can choose relatively loose, fertile soil; you can also use a mixed soil of leaf mold and sandy soil, or use only leaf mold, and humus soil is also a good choice.
Sunlight:
Mimosa pudica likes sunlight. Placing it in a spot with ample sunlight is very beneficial to its growth. If there is too little sunlight, it is instead not good for its growth.