How to grow Mimosa pudica? Keep this complete guide to cultivation methods
Mimosa pudica is a perennial herb or subshrub of the Fabaceae family. Because its leaves respond to light and heat, they close immediately when touched by an external force, which is why it is called mimosa. 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 with very few fibrous roots, seed sowing is always used when planting it, and it is best to sow it directly in place to avoid damaging its roots when transplanting. If transplanting is necessary, it should be done at the seedling stage. Mimosa pudica is grown as an annual plant, so sowing is done in early spring.
How to grow Mimosa pudica: growing medium
When sowing Mimosa pudica, you can sow directly in a small pot, or grow seedlings in a shallow pot and then plant them separately. For the sowing medium of Mimosa pudica, it is best to mix sieved leaf mold, garden soil and fine yellow sand in a ratio of 2:3:5. When sowing, fill the pot with an appropriate amount of growing medium, level and firm it, water thoroughly with a watering can, and once the water has fully drained, 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 spacing 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: seedling care
Once the Mimosa pudica seedlings emerge in the pot, remove the cover 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, water thoroughly, and place them in a semi-shaded spot; after they recover, move them to a spot with plenty of sunlight. If Mimosa pudica was sown directly in a small pot, it can simply be placed in a spot with plenty of sunlight to grow.
How to grow Mimosa pudica: fertilising 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 at all times. When the seedlings have grown four leaves, you can fertilise them with a liquid fertiliser. Usually, applying a dilute well-rotted liquid fertiliser once every 7-10 days is enough. Once Mimosa pudica has grown larger, it can be repotted, but the new pot must not be too large; generally, planting it in a medium-sized flower pot of 15-20 cm is fine.
Summary: The above is our introduction to how to grow Mimosa pudica and its latest cultivation methods. After reading this introduction, I believe everyone has a fairly good understanding of it. Mimosa pudica is a relatively easy plant to grow, because its survival rate is very high, and it also has a special ability: it can foretell changes between sunny and rainy weather.