How to Grow and Care for ‘Touch Me Not Plant’: The Unique Sensitive Plant

Mimosa pudica is a creeping annual or perennial flowering plant of the pea/legume family, also known as the "touch-me-not plant" because of its propensity to retract its leaves when touched. It can be grown either inside or outside, and it requires little maintenance.

There are many factors to take into explanation while trying to cultivate and take care of a touch-me-not plant, but don't worry; we'll go over everything, including how to grow it, how to take care of it, and some Medicinal Uses.

We'll cover how to cultivate and take care of this incredibly special plant in this article. The touch me not plant is ideal if you're seeking a unique houseplant that needs only little maintenance.

What causes Retraction in the Touch Me Not Plant?

The touch me not plant tends to react quickly when we touched. The reason for this reaction is known as Seismonastic reactions. This reaction can be found in the pulvini, an enlarged section at the base of leaf stalks. This is where the motor mechanism is located and is triggered, creating the fast motions as a result of water-filled sacs that are charged with ions moving around.

How to Grow “Touch me not” Plant:

You can cultivate the specific houseplant Mimosa pudica indoors from seeds. Here is what will be required to grow the touch me not plant.

Soil & Climate requirements:

Mimosa pudica seeds can grow successfully in any type of soil, but they do best in moist, well-drained soil. The ideal temperature range for mimosa pudica is between 20 and 23 degrees and the ideal pH range for these plants is 6-7.

Sunlight:

The Sensitive plant need bright light, so if they are not in it, their leaves will fold and won't be able to unfold again. Put the Mimosa pudica (touch me not plant) in a window that faces east and gets direct sunshine to make it grow indoors. In places with little sunlight, like the winter, artificial illumination is useful.

Fertilizer Requirement:

To ensure healthy growth, the plant should get fertilization at regular intervals. It can be fertilized with an all-purpose liquid fertilizer after a month for best results. However, every few weeks, use a high-potassium liquid fertilizer that has been diluted to half strength to give them a boost throughout the growing season.

Medicinal Uses:

• The plant's paste can be applied to the belly to treat excessive

• Make a paste of leaves and stems and apply it to the affected area twice a day to treat insect bites.

• You can consume the plant if you have high blood pressure, but you should also take the medication if your doctor has prescribed it.

• The touch me not plant is useful for avoiding baldness as well as mosquito bites, and it can be utilized in hair care products.

• These delicate plants are commonly utilized in traditional African medicine and are thought to have anticonvulsant effects.

• Infections can be treated naturally with the help of the touch-me-not plant, which has great antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties.

• This plant also has anti-venom and anti-inflammatory properties.

How to Care for Mimosa Pudica:

The Touch me not plant is quite simple to care for. To maintain the health of your delicate plant, adhere to these easy steps:

Disease prevention - Because plants need moisture to flourish, they are more vulnerable to fungus infections. Aphids and scales could attack your Touch Me Not Plant, so keep an eye on it and avoid overwatering.

Pruning: After the flowers have bloomed, cut back the plant's dried leaves and stems to keep it from growing too tall.

Removal of Thorns: The touch-me-not plant has thorns that may be dangerous. To protect your hands from injury and to ensure the safety of the plant, you must remove them.