Mimosa pudica is an easy-to-care-for flowering plant that is commonly called the “sensitive plant” due to intriguing leaf movement that occurs when it is touched. The leaves of a Sensitive Plant are lined with tiny hairs that are highly responsive to touch, temperature, and motion, folding inwards when triggered. The plant also closes its leaves at night.
Description & Information
Name: Mimosa pudica
Common name: Sensitive Plant
Native: The tropics of Central and South America
Planting Instructions
- Sow in the spring
- Prepare the seeds by soaking them in water overnight.
- Sow the seeds in small pots filled with moistened compost. Cover them with 1cm of additional compost.
- Place the pot in a bright warm location. Germination usually takes about one week.
- Pot up into larger containers as the roots fill the pot and become visible through the drainage holes in the pot.
Cultivation Tips
- Sensitive plants grow fast and require multiple re-pottings if they outgrow their pot. When you notice the roots poking out of the drainage holes, it’s time to transplant the plant
- When growing them indoors, the ideal location is directly in front of or beside a bright sunny window. If the leaves remain closed during the day, it indicates that the plant is not receiving enough light.
- Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged
- Prune a sensitive plant regularly to keep it full and bushy rather than leggy. You can prune a sensitive plant any time of the year.
- Sensitive plants are a short-lived perennials, so will begin to decline immediately after flowering for the first time – but not to worry, they are easy to grow, so just re-plant some more seeds.
100 Seeds: £3.75 inc P&P
100 Seeds in Gift Card: £6.75 inc P&P
