Mimosa (indoor flower) has nothing in commonwith a plant, the branches of which are traditionally given to women by the Eighth March. This herbaceous perennial with tender-lilac flowers belongs to the family of legumes. Its leaves have a unique property - they react to touch, folding and sinking. Flowers (Mimosa pudica) decorative flowers, growing their homes, you can enjoy fully with their beauty. This plant is unpretentious, and its features will allow watching it with unflagging interest.
Shy with mimosa
Flower, photo of which you can see in thisarticle, has long been in the focus of attention of many who are interested in botany. As early as the beginning of the eighteenth century, observations of the daily movements of the bicameral leaves of this plant made the researchers think that they are endogenous in nature. After all, the movement took place even in complete darkness. Some scientists suggest that the rhythms responsible for them are similar to the change in the person's periods of sleep and wakefulness.
Spherical lilac flowers of mimosa are verycute, and the plant itself is poisonous enough. This must be taken into account when growing. It is pollinated by both wind and insects. This bizarre plant is evergreen. In nature it grows in some countries of Latin America. Leaves curtail, not only obeying the daily cycle, but also in response to a touch or a whiff. It's funny to watch. But to abuse touching the leaves is not worth it. Flowers of mimosa become especially beautiful and neat in the event that the plant is grown as an annual culture.
Care of the plant
Shy mimosa likes warmth, and ifkeep the temperature within 20-24 degrees Celsius, then it will feel great. In winter, it should be reduced by 4-6 degrees. Bright light is very useful for mimosa - it is not afraid of even direct sunlight. It should be watered regularly and fairly abundantly from spring to autumn, but in winter, only slightly moisten the soil. The listed conditions are quite enough to make the flowers of mimosa flourish and delight you with their beauty. Another important detail: this plant is extremely sensitive to toxic tobacco smoke. If someone is smoking in the room, the mimosa immediately discards the leaves.
Reproduction by seeds
Plant the seed in boxes,filled with a mixture of equal parts of sand, peat, turf and leafy land around the end of February. Pre-moisten the soil. Do not add fertilizer. The box is covered with a film, put in a warm and well-lit place. The emerging shoots should be transplanted into separate small containers, adding drainage to each of them, and put on the most illuminated window sill. Mimosa flowers will please you about four months a year. In winter, the plant, unfortunately, most often dies. You can collect the seeds and plant the mimosa again for the next year. You can also trim the tips of the shoots and try to root the cuttings. But it is quite difficult. Seedlings are likely to die. It is not necessary to transplant the mimosa.
