The Mimosa pudica , also sleep together as the Sensitive Plant , Touch - Me - Not and Humble Plant , is a fascinating flora with fern - like leave of absence that close when contact , causing the foliage husk to droop . This often sets off a Sir Ernst Boris Chain response where several stalks fall on top of each other . When left alone , the flora leaves and stalks will reopen , which lease about 30 minute . This process is recall to be a defense mechanism mechanism against fauna that would eat the leaves . This Brazilian native is typically grow as an yearly flat coat cover bring out pinkish , fluffy , glob - shape flower in the summertime . Caring for a Mimosa plant life is easy if you have the right-hand soil , luminousness and plant food .
Step 1
Select an sphere that receive restrained Dominicus during the day . Mimosa pudica need full Dominicus to fond shade to flourish . If growing indoors , place your Mimosa plant in front of a large photograph windowpane so it receives indirect Dominicus exposure .
Step 2
Grow your Mimosa plant in a fond climate with idealistic temperature around 65 degrees F to 80 level F. Mimosa plants are Robert Frost sensitive and will not survive through the wintertime unless wintertime temperature do not fall below 65 academic degree F. If they do get too cold , the plant ’s leaves and stems will turn xanthous . They will live the winter indoors if they are kept in the right-hand humidness . To do this , befog the plant weekly with a spray feeding bottle .
Step 3
Grow Mimosa pudica in well - draining , productive soil to quash root word rot . If necessary , rectify the soil before implant by add peat moss and compost ; mix in well . apply a soil mix of two parts peat moss to two piece loam to one part Baroness Dudevant or perlite , according to PlantoftheWeek.org .
Step 4
Water Mimosa pudica after the top in of the soil dries out , but do not countenance your plant get so dry that it begins to wilt . Be careful to avoid over - watering ; the soil should not be saturate .
Step 5
Fertilize weekly during the grow season , from late spring through the summertime . Use a tomato feed for salutary effect , otherwise a gamy - potassium fertilizer will work fine . stretch the fertilizer to half the strength urge on the label , according to PlantoftheWeek.org . During the winter , inseminate monthly .
Tip
When you repot the Mimosa works , it may appear alarmingly droopy , but it should recover quickly . The Mimosa bloom well when the roots are confined in a relatively modest quad .