Moderate Tropical Safe for pets

Sensitive Plant

Mimosa pudica

A fascinating plant whose leaves fold instantly upon touch, providing a unique interactive spectacle in the plant kingdom.

The essentials at a glance

Watering

Every 3 days
Light

Full sun
Humidity

60–80 %
Temperature

18–28 °C

How to care for your Sensitive Plant

Everything you need to keep your Sensitive Plant healthy: watering, light, humidity, feeding, repotting and pruning.

Mimosa pudica is a tropical plant native to South America, famous worldwide for its extraordinary ability to fold its compound leaves within seconds when touched. This defense mechanism, called thigmonasty, is triggered by pressure changes in the plant's specialized cells. Its small bipinnate leaves, similar to ferns, and its pink pompom flowers also make it a decorative plant. In temperate climates, it is grown as an annual or biennial houseplant.

Watering your Sensitive Plant

Every 3 days

Keep the substrate regularly moist without excess. Use lukewarm, lime-free water. Sensitive plant is susceptible to drought, which causes leaf yellowing and drop.

How to know it needs water

Substrate beginning to dry at the surface
Leaves remaining folded longer than usual
Leaflets yellowing at the base of the plant

How much light a Sensitive Plant needs

Full sun

Bright light with a few hours of direct sun per day. Indoors, place near a south- or east-facing window. Insufficient light produces a lanky, spindly habit.

Direct sun tolerated: 2 to 4 h a day
Orientations that suit it: East, South-east, South, South-west

Humidity and misting

60–80 %

60–80% Mist frequently to maintain high ambient humidity. Note: water droplets on the leaves can trigger foliar closure, which is natural but energy-consuming for the plant.

Feeding and fertiliser

Every 14 days

Fertilize every 2 weeks from March to September. Sensitive plant grows quickly and appreciates regular nutrition during its growing period.

Recommended feed: Balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half dose. · 5-10-5

Repotting your Sensitive Plant

Every 12 months

Use light, rich, well-draining compost. Handle with care as the plant responds to touch and can become stressed. Sensitive plant is often grown as an annual and resown each spring.

When: Spring (April–May)
Potting mix: All-purpose potting mix
Mix in: perlite, coco fibre

The tell-tale signs

Roots emerging from the pot
Plant has become too large for its container
Substrate drying very quickly

Pruning your Sensitive Plant

When the plant becomes too sprawling or leggy. Pinch shoot tips regularly. Pinch stem tips to encourage branching. Cut overly long stems above a node. Handle gently as the plant folds at the slightest touch.

Through the year

Watering is not set once and for all: it follows the light and the growth. Allow 5 days between waterings in the depth of winter, against 2 in the growing season.

Active growth · Days between waterings

Good to know

The sensitive plant folds its leaves within seconds at the slightest touch through a hydraulic mechanism: cells in the pulvini lose water in response to the stimulus.
At night, the sensitive plant naturally folds its leaves in a phenomenon called nyctinasty, as if it were falling asleep.

Frequently asked questions about the Sensitive Plant

How do you care for a Sensitive Plant?

Water it every 3 days. Give it full sun. Ideal humidity: 60–80 %. Ideal temperature: 18–28 °C. Keep the substrate regularly moist without excess. Use lukewarm, lime-free water. Sensitive plant is susceptible to drought, which causes leaf yellowing and drop.

How often should you water a Sensitive Plant?

Every 3 days Keep the substrate regularly moist without excess. Use lukewarm, lime-free water. Sensitive plant is susceptible to drought, which causes leaf yellowing and drop. How to know it needs water : Substrate beginning to dry at the surface ; Leaves remaining folded longer than usual ; Leaflets yellowing at the base of the plant.

How much light does a Sensitive Plant need?

Full sun Bright light with a few hours of direct sun per day. Indoors, place near a south- or east-facing window. Insufficient light produces a lanky, spindly habit. 2 to 4 h a day

Is the Sensitive Plant toxic to cats and dogs?

No, the Sensitive Plant is not listed as toxic to cats and dogs. That is still no reason to let your pets chew on it.

Why are my Sensitive Plant leaves turning yellow?

Yellowing most often comes from too much water: the mix stays wet and the roots suffocate. Check that the pot drains, empty the saucer, and let the mix dry before watering again. Too little light or a cold draught cause the same symptom.

When should you repot a Sensitive Plant?

Repot every 12 months, ideally in spring (april–may). Use light, rich, well-draining compost. Handle with care as the plant responds to touch and can become stressed. Sensitive plant is often grown as an annual and resown each spring.