We all know a mimosa flower - a symbol of spring, associated with a woman's holiday. On the eve of March 8, these holly plants with bright yellow fragrant inflorescences can be found in all shops and markets. But how few mimosa grows, that it is a flower or a bush, few of us know.
How does mimosa grow at home?
The mimosa known to us with bright yellow balls of flowers has several more names. Acacia silvery or whitened is called this plant because of the silvery-green color of the leaves, and the acacia is Australian - because of its homeland. It belongs to the family of legumes. In nature, mimosa grows like grass, shrubbery and even a tree. Those flower growers who want to figure out how to grow a mimosa at home should know that although this flower is not cranky, it grows with a certain care.
How to grow a bush out of a twig of mimosa?
On March 8, you were presented with this tender plant, and you want to know whether it is possible to grow a mimosa from a twig? For reproduction of acacia silvery cut cuttings directly from an adult plant or simply from a donated bouquet. In order to observe how the silver mimosa grows at home, prepare the soil in advance, which should consist of such components:
- storey earth for seedlings - 1 hour;
- river sand - 1 hour;
- a few pieces of charcoal;
- vermiculite - 0.5 h.
Cultivation is carried out as follows:
- Selecting a fresh branch that grows on an adult silvery acacia flower, cut off its apex with a length of about 10 cm.
- Remove any excess leaves and place the stalk in the solution of any growth stimulant ( Epin , Zircon , Ribav-Extra) for 6-8 hours. P
- After this, it is possible to plant the stalk at the soil mixture, by cutting it into 2-3 internodes.
- We cover the container from above with a transparent bag or a glass and place it in a bright, warm place, keeping the temperature 22-24 ° C.
Care of a sprig of mimosa
The mimosa stalks to rooting for 2-3 months. So be patient and do not forget to water the seedling. After mimosa grows up, it must be transplanted into a larger pot. Care of the mimosa branch consists of regular watering, and in the spring and summer the plant requires more moisture, and in winter it should be watered moderately, but the drying of the earth coma should not be allowed. In summer the silvery acacia grows well in a brightly lit place and at an optimum temperature of + 24 ° C. The lack of lighting will lead to the fact that it will not bloom at all.
In winter, the plant should be kept in a cool room with a temperature of about + 12 ° C. For this, you can put the pot on a closed loggia. In extreme cases, put the container on the coldest window sill. If this is not done, then the silver acacia can be attacked by pests. Take care that the flower does not stand in the draft. In winter, the plant may require additional lighting for 3-4 hours per day.
How to grow a mimosa in a pot?
Another popular variety of this flower is mimosa, modest or incompetent. This herbaceous plant blooms with small lilac-pink balls. From any touch, mimosa folds its leaves and even lowers them along the stalk. And after a while, in the absence of external influence, the leaves rise and straighten. However, if you constantly touch it, then the plant will lose a lot of energy, as a result of which it may die. The flower of mimosa, grown in a vase, needs the same care as a silvery acacia.
How to grow a mimosa from seeds?
In nature, this flower grows like perennial, but at home in winter it loses its decorative effect due to lack of lighting, so every year it is sown anew. Growing a mimosa of their seeds at home is much easier compared to the propagation by cuttings. Planting material can be purchased at the store or collected independently. Mimosa seeds have the appearance of dark pea and grow in pods. Collected in the fall, they should be stored in the refrigerator.
Plant the seeds as follows:
- In March-April, the seeds of mimosa shyly must be soaked in warm water for half an hour.
- In advance it is necessary to prepare the soil, which must consist of a mixture of peat and sand.
- At the bottom of the tank it is necessary to lay a layer of drainage .
- Moisten the soil mixture, spread the seeds on its surface and sprinkle them with a small layer of soil.
- To create a greenhouse effect, the pot is covered with glass or a plastic transparent bag and placed in a warm, bright place. gatherings can appear in a week, a maximum - in two. Mature seedlings of mimosa are placed in containers, large in size.
Mimosa plant - care
The flower of the touchy one grows well in warmth and in bright light, the temperature in spring and summer should be maintained at about +24 ° C. In winter, the temperature should be reduced to +18 ° C. In the summer, watering the mimosa must be abundant and regular. Besides the fact that the mimosa does not like to be touched, it still can not stand the smell of tobacco smoke: its leaves fall off immediately. Therefore, if you want to see a mimosa at home, consider these growing conditions.