Sensitive Plant

Mimosa pudica,Shameplant, Sleeping Grass

The Sensitive Plant is a creeping, perennial herb native to South and Central America. It is famous for its rapid, dramatic movement (seismonastic movement): the leaves quickly fold inward and the stems droop when touched, shaken, or exposed to heat. The leaves are composed of small, delicate leaflets arranged on feathery fronds. It produces small, fluffy, pink or lavender puffball flowers. It is grown as a novelty for its motion and its delicate foliage.

Care Guide

LIGHT

  • Requires bright, direct sunlight for at least a few hours a day to thrive and exhibit good leaf movement.
  • A South or West-facing window is ideal.
  • Insufficient light leads to very weak growth, slow or nonexistent leaf response, and no flowering.

WATER

  • Prefers the soil to remain consistently moist but not soggy.
  • Water thoroughly when the top inch of the soil feels dry to the touch.
  • Never let the soil dry out completely, as this will cause the delicate leaflets to crisp up and shrivel.
  • High humidity is essential.

SOIL

  • Needs a rich, well-draining, standard indoor potting mix.
  • A blend with good moisture retention, such as potting soil with some peat moss or coco coir, is ideal.

GROWTH HABIT

  • Ideal conditions: High humidity (60%+), warm temperatures (70-85F), and constant bright light.
  • Growth rate & size: Growth rate is fast. It grows as a low, spreading, slightly woody shrub, typically 1-2 feet tall indoors. Often treated as an annual due to its relatively short lifespan.

PROPAGATING

  • Propagated easily from seed (scarification of the seed coat is recommended) or by stem cuttings.
  • Cuttings are best rooted in a moist, warm medium under high humidity.
  • Cuttings are best taken in the spring or summer.

PRUNING

  • Pruning is often necessary to control its sprawling, leggy nature and encourage bushiness.
  • Pinch or cut back the longest stems to promote new side growth.
  • Remove old, woody, or damaged stems.

REPOTTING

  • Repot when the plant is root-bound, typically every year, as they grow quickly.
  • Repot in spring or early summer.
  • Since they are short-lived, it's often better to start new plants from seed or cuttings than to repot an old, woody specimen.

FERTILIZING

  • Feed lightly and regularly during the spring and summer growing season (monthly).
  • Use a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer diluted to half strength.
  • Stop fertilizing in the fall and winter.

FLOWERING

  • Produces small, fluffy, globe-shaped, pink or lavender flowers that look like pom-poms.
  • Flowering is a sign of a healthy plant receiving maximum light.

TOXICITY

  • The Sensitive Plant is generally considered non-toxic to humans and pets.

PRO TIPS

  • Do not constantly touch the leaves; this uses up the plant's energy and is stressful.
  • If the leaves are not moving, it needs more bright, direct light or the air is too cool/dry.
  • It is best grown in a terrarium or near a humidifier due to its high humidity needs.

Variability in Care

This plant is primarily grown as the main species Mimosa pudica with minimal variation in care.

Dwarf Cultivars

  • Are bred to be more compact and are better suited for small indoor spaces or terrariums.
  • Require the same light and water but are slower growing.

Standard Species

  • Will grow fast and sprawling and require aggressive pruning to maintain a tidy indoor appearance.
  • Needs more frequent watering due to its high growth rate.

Plants for Sale

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