Mimosa

Species: pudica
Genus: Mimosa
Family: Fabaceae
Order: Fabales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Phylum: Magnoliophyta
Kingdom: Plantae

Conditions for Customer Ownership

We hold permits allowing us to transport these organisms. To access permit conditions, click here.

Never purchase living specimens without having a disposition strategy in place.

There are currently no USDA permits required for this organism. In order to protect our

environment, never release a live laboratory organism into the wild.

Primary Hazard Considerations

none

Availability

Mimosa are grown in our greenhouse and are generally available year-round. Shortages occur during the winter months due to colder weather and the decrease in the amount of sunlight exposure, affecting the growing time.
Individual plants are shipped in plastic pots with soil and are 10–12.5 centimeters in height. For shipping purposes a cardboard disc is used to hold the plant and soil in place. The potted plant is sealed in a plastic bag and wrapped in corrugated cardboard. Upon receipt remove the potted plant from the bag, remove the cardboard disc and water immediately as Mimosa prefers a moist substrate. Leaves will appear droopy upon receipt due to disturbance during shipment. Leaves will resume their original position and complete recovery should be attained within 24 hours.

Care

Watering: Keep uniformly moist, mist occasionally.
Fertilizers: Fertilize with a balanced water-soluble fertilizer monthly.
Temperature: Average room temperature (68-77°F).
Light: Diffused.
Soil: A basic Potting Soil 20 W 8306 is all that is required to grow Mimosa.
Propagation: From seed or from soft woodcuttings with bottom heat.

Information

Life cycle/span: Typical dicot.

Wild Habitat

Mimosa is a genus of of approximately 400 species of annuals, evergreen perennials, shrubs, and small trees. Mimosa are found worldwide in tropical regions, from dry savannah to forests.

Special Notes

When touched or disturbed, the leaflets will fold up and the leaf will droop. This is caused by a loss of turgor of certain cells of the pulvinus. The pulvinus is a swelling at the base of each cluster of leaflets. The cells in the lower region of the pulvinus lose water causing the stem to drop. After a period of time, turgor returns and the leaflets resume their original position.

Disposition

We do not recommend releasing any laboratory specimen into the wild, and especially not speciments that are not native to the environment. When finished with your plant please dispose of it by incineration in a well-ventilated area.