Caring for the Shy Plant (Mimosa pudica)

Jan 27, 2021

4 min read

Updated: Oct 14

Shy plantWhen touched by the outside world, the petioles droop and the small leaflets fold together. This happens because the stimulus causes the leaf pulvinus cells to lose their cell sap. People interpret this action as “shyness,” hence the common name "shy plant" and the botanical name Mimosa pudica.

The shy plant has a mild toxicity. If humans ingest Mimosa pudica, it may cause hair loss; also be sure to place it where small household animals cannot reach it (and pay attention to where fallen leaves land). Under no circumstances should it be eaten.

Every person’s growing environment is different; learn to observe.

For plants, when just brought home, they usually need some time to adapt to the new environment. The more the environment matches their natural habits, the faster they adapt. Sometimes because of environmental change, a plant will instinctively accelerate its metabolism to adapt, and this can result in some leaf drop — this is normal. Observe the plant’s changes; taking photos to record is a good way to compare differences after a period of growing.

The most important points are as follows:

Light:

Semi-sunlightDo not expose to strong midday sun.

Mimosa pudica prefers a bright growing environment (the minimum requirement is lighting where you can comfortably read).

In hot seasons, ensure good ventilation.(Our other article about sunlight:https://www.greencapsulehk.com/post/ep-04-sunlight-full-partial-shade

)

Temperature:

Likes tropical climate (25–30℃). In winter, reduce watering to prevent frost damage.

Can be moved indoors to a sunny spot; maintaining room temperature of 10–12℃ allows safe overwintering.

Water:

Maintaining appropriate moisture is important for the shy plant; prevent the soil from drying out. With too little water, leaves will droop and even yellow, and they will no longer close when touched.

But with too much water and overly wet soil, root rot can occur.

When watering, adjust according to the weather and the soil’s wetness (a kokedama becomes lighter when it has less water).

In hot, dry weather, you can mist the leaf surfaces to increase humidity and lower temperature; when temperatures are low and humidity high, water less.

(This article mentions watering methods/timing: https://www.greencapsulehk.com/post/ep-03-kokedama-care-essentials)

* Actual conditions may need adjustment depending on indoor environment and weather.

* If possible, use filtered water or tap waterthat has been left to stand overnight(to let chlorine/fluoride dissipate).

* The leaves naturally begin to close at dusk to rest and reopen in the morning for photosynthesis.

* A normal flowering period within a year is about a month; it produces small pink spherical flowers, each of which wilts within a day.

* The shy plant has a mild toxicity. If humans ingest Mimosa pudica, it may cause hair loss; also be sure to place it where small household animals cannot reach it (and pay attention to where fallen leaves land). Under no circumstances should it be eaten.

Because the alkaloid (o-β-D-glucoside) has slight toxicity, long-term contact or ingestion can cause deterioration of hair follicles in skin cells, leading to yellowing and even loss of scalp hair and eyebrows. In addition, the alkaloid can cause cataracts and growth inhibition.

* When touched, its petioles droop and the small leaflets fold; recovery time is generally 5–10 minutes. However, if we continue to tease it and repeatedly stimulate its leaves, it becomes “annoyed” and will stop reacting. This is because continuous stimulation causes the leaf pulvinus cells to lose cell sap and they cannot be replenished in time.

People interpret this action as “shyness,” hence the names 'shy plant' and Mimosa pudica.

Shy plant Q&A

Yellowing leaves

The main causes are intense sun exposure, too much light, improper watering or fertilization (either too much or too infrequent).

To prevent leaf yellowing, care practices should include:

1. Reduce direct sunlight and exposure. If leaves are found to be yellowing, temporarily move the plant to a shaded spot (for example: a windowsill with curtains);

2. Water and fertilize regularly and in appropriate amounts. Although the shy plant prefers relatively moist soil, it does not like excessive moisture. If fertilizer is too concentrated, leaves can yellow and drop; in that case, rinse the potting soil with water to dilute it promptly;

3. In hot weather, increase ventilation and mist leaf surfaces more to cool them.

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