Seldom does anyone realize that bashful mimosa is a relative of beans. This unfamiliar plant, justifying its name, folds the leaves when touched, closes the pores and, according to experts, allegedly stops photosynthesis. However, having waited out the danger, it again appears in its former elegant form. At sunset, as if laying down for the night, the flower again folds its leaves. Due to this unique feature in the homeland of the plant, it is very difficult to get rid of it as a weed.
Features of vegetation
Native to the tropics, the shy mimosa is cultivated as a houseplant. It has a high growth rate and reaches 50 cm in 4 months. It blooms with unusual light lilac flowers - “balls”. Sets fruit by self-pollination. They should not be eaten as they are poisonous. Lighting Shy mimosa prefers bright, feels good in the sun. However, when the heat is established, it is better to shade it in order to avoid burns.
Growing and careThe temperature for comfortable growth of a guest from the tropics is standard - + 20-24 degrees. In cold weather, a reduction to+16-18 degrees. Given the habitat, mimosa should be sprayed more often and kept in a pan in which wet moss is located. In summer, abundant watering should be carried out, which should be reduced in winter.
The bashful mimosa favors regular feeding, which is carried out every 2 weeks. After the plant has faded, due to the loss of decorativeness, it can be safely thrown away. It is unlikely that mimosa will survive the winter months. However, with a lot of seeds collected, next spring it is possible to re-sow. The land that should be prepared for this purpose should have a traditional composition: turf, peat, sand and leaf humus.
Landing
In order to activate the properties of seeds, before sowing, they should be exposed to high temperatures, for example, in hot water. This procedure will take approximately 30 minutes. It is worth 0.5 - 1 cm to deepen the seed material into a moistened substrate. Mimosa creates greenhouse conditions by covering the pot with a transparent film. The required temperature regime is + 25 degrees, the lighting is bright, but not direct rays. Seedlings that have appeared should be planted no earlier than they reach a five-centimeter height. Planting density is 2-3 sprouts per pot.
Joy to children
Exotic, unusual shy mimosa, care of which will not take much time, will bring a lot of joy to children. They are ready to watch endlessly as the flower curls and lowers its green "limbs".
Mimosa does not tolerate tobacco smoke
Spider mites and aphids pose a great threat to the appearance of the plant. Using traditional processing methods will save mimosa from this scourge. The result of excessive watering can be yellowing and permanent curling of the leaves. If the bashful mimosa (photo can be seen above) is in a smoky room, most likely it will shed its leaves. The result will be the same with non-systematic watering. In order for the stems not to stretch upwards and the flowers to appear, mimosa requires sufficient lighting.
