Mimosa Pudica is the touch-me-not plant’s scientific name. They are known to attract the attention of not only children but adults too for their unique feature of shying away when touched, from which it gets the name. For that, these plants can be an excellent addition to your home garden as they are low maintenance and suitable to grow both indoors and outdoors.
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Touch-me-not plants: Key facts
| Botanical name: Mimosa pudica
Type: Creeper Leaf Type: Fern-like, soft leaves that react and close on touch Flower: Woolly and tiny pink-coloured flowers that bloom during summer and spring Varieties available: More than 850 Also known as: Touch-me-not, live and die, shame plant, sensitive plant, humble plant, sleepy plant, action plant, sleeping grass Height: Is usually 15-45 cm high but can reach up to 1-meter Season: Perennial by nature but can be grown all year long as a houseplant Sun exposure: Needs bright sunlight but not consistently; morning sunlight preferred Ideal Temperature: 60-85 degrees Fahrenheit Soil type: Well-drained Soil Ph: Acidic to Neutral Basic Requirements: Well-drained soil, morning sunlight, cosy warm environment Ideal location for placement: Window that receives direct sunlight but not throughout the day Ideal season to grow: Spring and summer Maintenance: Extremely low |
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Touch me not plant: Scientific name
The scientific name of touch me not plant is Mimosa pudica. The name is derived from Latin pudica, referred to as ‘shy’ bashful or shrinking. It is also known by different names such as sensitive plant, action plant, sleepy plant, or shameplant.
Touch me not plant: Characteristics
Touch-me-not plant that can be grown throughout the year when fostered in a household. It belongs to the legume family, named Fabaceae and is known to be short-lived. It is a tropical shrub and is native to Southern and Central America. The shy plant gets its name from how it reacts to various kinds of stimulation like motion, touch and temperature.
Its leaves are like that of a fern which is not only soft but also possesses tiny hair-like structures lining the edges, and these actually help to detect any external stimuli. These short-lived shrubs can grow anywhere from 15cm to 1 meter and bear extremely pretty, pink-purplish soft velvety flowers in the shape of a ball during the spring season. Although these plants can be called shrubs for their height, they progress into a creeper soon.
Source: Pinterest
Source: Pinterest
How to grow a touch-me-not plant?
Mimosa Pudica plants can be easily grown and taken care of without much hassle as this houseplant does not need regular watering, but even then, once in a while, fertiliser can provide the plant with a health boost during its growing stage.
A basic multipurpose fertiliser can be used at regular intervals in liquid form for optimal results. Other potassium-enriched fertilisers can also be used to improve the health of the creeper, which will then contribute towards its growth. But one has to be careful while using potassium fertilisers as it needs to be diluted with water and reduce their strength by at least half of the original.
Here are the steps to grow a touch me not plant:
- The first step is to prepare the seeds for planting. It can be done by removing the hard shell by scratching or soaking them in water overnight.
- Once the seed is ready, sow them in a pot with a moist potting mixture and keep the pot in a warm location.
- It will take about 7-10 days for germination, after which you can shift the plant to a larger pot when the roots fill up the small pot.
Touch me not plant: Care tips
Touch-me-not plants are very low maintenance by nature, and this quality gives them the ability to be the perfect houseplant for anyone. These generally grow copiously in any kind of soil, but for best results, it is advisable to grow them in well-drained loamy soils. These creepers do not need to retain much moisture, so water-retaining muddy soils and regular water feeding are best avoided. Mimosa pudica belongs to that category of plants that need bright sunlight to grow well; these turn out to be very healthy, especially when they are grown or placed in spots that receive morning sunlight.
Bright sunlight helps the leaves grow greener and also contributes to the process of unfolding in the morning, as the leaves generally close up at night. But, even though bright sunlight is a requirement for the plant to be healthy yet consistent exposure is also not recommended.
It is best to place the plant in an east-facing window receiving morning sunlight and put it inside after a few hours as it has soaked up the required amount of warmth and light. In places where sunlight is not bright or during the rainy season when the sun is mostly hidden away behind clouds, it is recommended to use artificial light and warmers to provide for the plant.
Here are some other ways to nurture your touch-me-not plant.
- Pruning: The shy creepers can be trained to grow a certain way with the help of regular pruning. Unlike some plants, these shrubs can be offered a trim at any time of the year. Trimming not only helps in cleaning the plant by ridding it of dead leaves and stems but also helps it in growing into a fluffy healthy bush rather than a lanky one.
- Potting: These shrubs have a general tendency to outgrow their pot, and the same can be identified by looking for roots that may poke out of the soil or out of drainage cavities. When this type of situation arises, it is best to transfer the plant into a new pot and a new soil mixture.
- Pests and diseases: The touch-me-not plants can become home to various pests like spider mites and mealy bugs. These can affect and seriously harm the plants’ growth which is why spraying down the plant with natural and organic mite repellents might be a good idea. These plants can also attract fungus infections, so keeping a regular eye on them and avoiding frequent water feeding will help avoid such troubles.
Touch me not plant: Uses
Apart from improving the look and feel of your house, Mimosa pudica has many attractive uses as well. They are:
- Leaves: The leaves of the touch-me-not plant are known to be able to cure and help with a lot of health conditions like haemorrhoids, fistula and insomnia. The leaves can be made into a paste and consumed or even applied over open wounds to treat them. Other than this, the plant leaves can be dried and used as a wall piece as well.
- Roots: Just like the leaves, the roots are also capable of treating various health conditions like smallpox, jaundice, asthma and even ulcers. Shameplant roots are also popular for their ability to treat snake bites and venomous wounds.
- Seed: The seed of this creeper is just as useful as the leaves and roots as it is also made into a paste and then transformed into tablets for consumption. The seeds are known to contribute hugely towards treating infections related to the urinary system, commonly known as UTIs.
Touch me not plants: Medicinal properties
By now, it is no secret that different parts of the touch-me-not plant have tremendous medicinal benefits. The whole plant contributes towards the treatment of cancer, muscle sprains, depression and even hypertrophy. It also has antiseptic values, which can be used to treat skin inflammations or other irritations.
The sensitive plant is also recommended for people having high blood pressure issues and can also be made into a paste mixed with sesame oil to treat skin infections and mosquito bites.
The plant’s anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties make it fit for inclusion in hair care and skin care products as well.
Touch me not plants: Benefits
- Soil Erosion Prevention: The deep roots of these plants enhance soil quality and prevent soil erosion. They aid in water retention, essential for healthy plant growth. As a result, Touch Me Not plants are often used as a protective cover crop to preserve soil nutrients and control erosion on steep slopes.
- Natural Pest Control: Touch Me Not plants possess insecticidal properties, making them a valuable alternative to synthetic pesticides. Farmers use these plants as a natural treatment to manage pests without harming beneficial insects or the environment.
- Soft Robotics Inspiration: Scientists have drawn inspiration from the Touch Me Not plant to develop soft robots that respond to touch, mimicking the plant’s leaves and stems. These robots have promising applications in various fields like healthcare and transportation, offering exciting possibilities for future technological advancements.
FAQs
Is the sensitive plant toxic?
No, it is not, which makes it an ideal houseplant.
Will the plant creep and climb walls?
The touch-me-not plant being a creeper will have wall-climbing tendencies, but it can be trained to grow into a bush by regular trimming.
Do the leaves close up at night?
Yes, the leaves of the touch-me-not plant close up at night and again open up when it receives sunlight.
How frequently should a Mimosa pudica be repotted?
Mimosa pudica will require repotting mostly throughout the year but only when it outgrows its current pot.
Does this plant have thorns?
Yes, Mimosa pudica does have thorns, and one may remove them to ensure that one does not get hurt while handling the plant.
What is the ideal place to store the plant?
The ideal place to store and grow this plant would be an east-facing, illuminated window.
Dhwani is a content management expert with over five years of professional experience. She has authored articles spanning diverse domains, including real estate, finance, business, health, taxation, education and more. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication, Dhwani’s interests encompass reading and travelling. She is dedicated to staying updated on the latest real estate advancements in India.
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