Everyone knows what this flower looks like - small branches with small sharp leaves strewn with bright yellow inflorescences literally fill flower shops and markets on the eve of March 8. Currently, mimosa is a plant that has become a kind of symbol of the women's spring holiday. But few people know about its features. Few people know that mimosa is not a flower, but a shrub.
A bit of history
Quite often, mimosa is called silver acacia. It owes its name to a grayish tint of bark and leaves. The homeland of the bush, which has received such great popularity in our country, is Australia. The mimosa that grows there is a plant that can reach a height of 45 meters. The hot climate of the southeast coast is ideal for this tree.
Initially, mimosa could only be seen on the Australian island of Tasmania. From there, the evergreen tree began its journey, gradually spreading to the nearest countries - to the islands of the Mediterranean, the western coast of the USA, Madagascar.
Mimosa in Russia
Naturally, the question arises of where mimosa grows in Russia. After all, they do not deliver it from other countries? Of course no. At the end of the XIX century, silver acacia reached the Russian lands. Given that the shrub likes a hot climate, it has taken root on the Black Sea coast. Today, mimosa can be seen in the Caucasus, in Abkhazia, in Sochi. But the climate conditions of our country are still not the same as in hot Australia, so mimosa often does not grow to the proper height, stopping at around 12 meters.
A weed or plant of marvelous beauty?
Initially, mimosa was imported into the Caucasus as a unique plant, which was used to decorate parks and alleys. If you ask local residents today where mimosa grows in the Caucasus, they will be very surprised, because it is widespread there. The shrub literally occupied the territory so much that the local population perceives it already as a weed.
Today, a tree with sprawling branches, strewn with bright yellow flowers, can be found at every step. Therefore, in those parts of the world people do not wonder where mimosa grows. Yellow beauty is widespread in Sochi. Most simply do not pay attention to such a marvelous beauty, which has become a spring symbol. But the inhabitants of the northern regions can not stop looking at the first spring flowers, which simply strewn the shelves of flower shops during the March holidays.
Real mimosa
An interesting fact: if you turn to scientists, they will say that a small plant up to 60 cm high with pinkish round inflorescences is mimosa (flower). Where does this miracle grow? In vivo, it can only be found in the forests of South America. In fact, it is a distant relative of the silver acacia belonging to the genus of legumes. By the way, the flower is not in vain called "bashful mimosa." Its leaves are so sensitive that even with the lightest touch they instantly hide, twist into tight tubes.
How to grow a bashful mimosa
First you need to remember where the mimosa grows (recall that these are countries with a hot tropical climate and high humidity), and then create the most similar conditions. Flowers are grown in greenhouses, mainly for sale or for home use. They are not planted in open ground, because fragile beauties simply do not survive in our harsh conditions.
Given the humid and hot climate of the tropics, where mimosa grows, you need to create similar conditions. In the spring-summer period, the air temperature for normal plant growth should be at least 20 degrees. In the winter period of rest, temperature indicators should be less: it is necessary to navigate 18 degrees.
In the active period of growth, mimosa leaves need to be sprayed every day. Watering should be done when the topsoil in the pot dries. Overmoistening or drying out of the soil should not be allowed. Water for irrigation should be used only at room temperature, settled.
Young one-year mimosa should not be transplanted into a more spacious pot. Make it better next year. Anyway, this plant does not like frequent transplants. If the flower has become cramped in the same pot, then it should be transplanted carefully, without disturbing the roots.
In places where mimosa grows, the soil contains quite a lot of leaf humus. Therefore, the soil for this flower should be selected similar. Be sure to take good drainage.
The plant should be fed every two weeks, but only during the period of active growth. But in winter, fertilizer is not necessary. In order to provide mimosa with the necessary trace elements, universal mineral fertilizers are suitable.
Features mimosa bashful
Let's talk about how capricious the plant is. There are some factors that it does not tolerate. Dry indoor air, drafts and tobacco smoke - all this will negatively affect the condition of your flower. From insufficiently moist air, the leaves will begin to turn yellow and dry at the ends. Drafts and tobacco smoke may be the reason that the beautiful mimosa will simply drop all its bright green leaves. It is advisable not to experiment, checking if she really will reset them or not. The fact is that to restore the previous form to the plant, it will take a lot of time.
To grow mimosa at home, grow it from seeds. Usually they are soaked in rather warm water (but not in boiling water) for about 20 minutes. Then they are placed in moistened soil, not deeply buried. On top of the container with seeds, it is desirable to cover with glass or film, and then put in a warm place.
Do not forget to check the humidity of the soil in which the seeds are planted, periodically water it with water at room temperature. When the seeds germinate, and two real leaves appear on the sprouts, you can safely transplant the plants into separate pots. In order for the mimosa to grow quite intensively and evenly, put it in the sunniest place. Do not forget about watering and spraying.