How to Grow a Mimosa Tree Indoors?

Last Updated on April 22, 2023 by Derek

Mimosa trees, also known as silk trees, originated in China. They were brought to Europe in the 1700s and were later introduced to the United States in the early 1800s. Today, mimosa trees can be found in many parts of the world, including North America, South America, Africa, Asia, and Europe.

You can keep a mimosa tree indoors by putting it in a large container. Ensure that the container comes with a proper drainage.

You need to give it an adequate amount of space and avoid overcrowding it. But it’s important for you to give them a proper watch since it can become too hot from the sunlight.

Mimosa Growing Conditions

Plant Common Name	Scientific Name	US Growing Zone	Hardy/Perennial	Soil Type	Sunshine Requirements	Water Needs
Mimosa	Albizia julibrissin	6-9	Tender Perennial	Well-draining soil	Full sun to partial shade	Low to moderate

Florida Univ.

Here, the leaves will begin to wilt, become brown, and start scorching as a result of the heat. You should also apply fertilizer every month.

We would advise you to get the NPK that has a higher nitrogen content.

Can You Grow a Mimosa Indoors?

Yes, you can certainly grow a mimosa plant indoors. It is a great idea, especially if you don’t have a garden at home or live in an apartment.

Mimosa is native to countries like Iran, Australia, and Japan. It has a sweet fragrance that attracts bees, and its airy cotton-like appearance makes for a pretty sight.

It isn’t hardy in nature as most people would think so. People from cold regions should grow them inside in pots to avoid frosting and killing it.

Silk Tree – Britannica

Are mimosas easy to grow?

Most types of Mimosa trees are surprisingly easy to cultivate and grow, but they do require specific conditions to thrive. They prefer well-draining soil, full sun exposure, and regular watering.

However, they can be a bit sensitive to high or low temperatures and could need protection during the winter in colder climates. Overall, with proper care, mimosa trees can be a beautiful addition to any garden or landscape.

Keeping it in pots helps the plant to stay warm during winter. Growing your mimosa indoors in pots won’t impede it from flowering.

It will grow flowers just as it normally does outside. However, you should expose your mimosa to at least 4 hours of complete sunlight daily.

Ensure that you choose sunny and warm areas. But since it grows flowers indoors, ensure that no one in the house is allergic to pollen.

Tennessee Univ.

Where Do Mimosa Trees Grow Best?

Mimosa trees grow best in sheltered and sunny well-drained areas. It should be neutral towards acidic soil.

How To Grow a Mimosa Tree from Seed

A mimosa tree is also called a silk tree and it’s known for its airy foliage and fragrant pink flowers. The scientific name of this plant is called Acacia dealbata and it belongs to the ‘Mimosaceae’ family.

This tree produces an influx of seed pods that are long and pealike.

The seeds are harvested during the autumn season and used for propagating new trees. Mimosa seeds are known for germinating quickly under warm conditions.

Here’s how you can grow one from its seed form:

• Collect the tree pods and snip off the ends using heavy shears. The pods should be dry and dark to indicate its maturity.
• Open the pods and proceed in shaking out the seeds. The seeds are flat and possess a dark-brown color.
• Use a cloth bag or paper for storing the seeds. Keep them until the spring season in a dry and cool place.
• Ensure that you aren’t using a plastic bag because it tends to trap moisture and causes the seeds to start rotting.
• Now, it’s time for you to start preparing the seeds for sowing purposes after the final spring frost. Proceed in rubbing every seed’s end by using a nail filer.
• You need to do this until a pale and tiny spot begins appearing on the hull. Start soaking the seeds in hot warm water for a day prior to sowing.
• Take out biodegradable pots measuring up to 5 inches. Start individually filling in the pots using a mixture of half loam and half sand.
• Ensure that this mixture is lightly moistened. Proceed in sowing a single seed in every pot up to a depth of 1-Inch.
• Begin spreading sand all over the soil. You need to ensure that the layer of sand goes up to 1/4 inches.
• Now, you need to place the pots outside against a west or south facing wall that receives full sunlight. If it’s cool weather, then give a bottom heat of 75 F, accompanied by a propagation mat.
• If temperature during the daytime goes beyond 90 F, then give some light shade during midday.
• The soil’s moisture level should also be monitored. Whenever 1/2 inch of the topsoil starts to dry out, ensure that you are watering it up to a depth of 2 inches.
• Expect germination 1-3 weeks after you sow the seeds. The seedlings should be grown under the exact conditions as during the germination period.
• Make sure you do this until the seeds reaches over 3 inches in its height and produces multiple mature leaves.
• Proceed in transplanting the mimosas in permanent beds during autumn 6 weeks prior to the first frost. Pick a planting site with complete sun about 20 ft away from the other trees, structures, and utility lines.
• The mimosa trees should be planted at least 20 ft apart at an approximate.

How Do You Keep a Mimosa Plant Alive?

The compost of your mimosa tree shouldn’t be soggy but moist during the spring and summer seasons. And you must water the tree in a spring manner during winter.

How To Grow a Mimosa Tree from a Cutting?

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Here’s how you can do it:

• Cut a stem spanning 4-6 inches from your mimosa tree during late of spring. Ensure that you are choosing a branch that didn’t bloom yet.
• The cut should be underneath the area where its leaves happen to be attached to its stem.
• Get a 4-Inch pot and begin filling it with potting soil that’s well drained. Continue watering the soil until water starts coming out from its drainage holes.
• Remove everything except the 2-3 leaves present on top of the tree’s stem.
• Here, the stem’s leadless end should be dipped into water. Get rid of all the excess water by shaking it.
• Proceed in sticking the wet stem inside the rooting hormone. Begin tapping the stem for removing the extra rooting hormone.
• The stem, along with the hormone rooting powder should be inserted in the soil. Here, you need to gently firm the soil around the stem.
• Put the pot inside a plastic bag and shut it by tying it.
• Next, you must place the pot near the window to receive the required sunlight. Ensure that the temperature stays around 75 Degree F in that place.
• Keep checking the soil for moisture daily by opening the bag. Remember that the soil should be moist and not soggy.
• Gently pull the stem and test the cut for roots after 3 weeks. If it easily moves, then the roots haven’t formed yet.
• You will notice that the roots have properly formed when you experience some resistance during the pull.
• It is safe to remove the plastic bag once the roots have been formed. You can let it grow on a smaller pot for the next 2 months.
• Lastly, allow the tree to grow in a 1-gallon pot by transplanting it. You can keep it in a protected section of your greenhouse or home.
• Now, you can transplant your mimosa into a permanent area after a year.

Why Is My Mimosa Plant Dying?

Your mimosa plant could be dying as a result of a fungus called ‘Fusarium Oxysporum F. Sp. Perniciosum. This fungus is born in a soil and attacks trees via the root system.

Common Diseases and Problems with Mimosa Trees and Solutions

Problem	Description	Solution	Commercial Products
Verticillium Wilt	Fungal disease causing wilting, yellowing, and browning of leaves and branches	Prune infected branches, improve soil drainage, avoid over-fertilization	Bonide Fung-onil Concentrate, Monterey Garden Phos Systemic Fungicide
Powdery Mildew	Fungal disease causing white powdery spots on leaves, stunting growth	Remove infected leaves, improve air circulation, avoid overhead watering, apply fungicide	Bonide Copper Fungicide, Safer Brand Garden Fungicide
Mimosa Webworm	Caterpillar feeding on leaves, causing skeletonization	Prune infected branches, apply insecticidal soap, release parasitic wasps	Bonide Insecticidal Soap, Monterey Garden Insect Spray with Spinosad
Mimosa Webworm	Caterpillar feeding on leaves, causing skeletonization	Prune infected branches, apply insecticidal soap, release parasitic wasps	Bonide Insecticidal Soap, Monterey Garden Insect Spray with Spinosad
Mimosa Webworm	Caterpillar feeding on leaves, causing skeletonization	Prune infected branches, apply insecticidal soap, release parasitic wasps	Bonide Insecticidal Soap, Monterey Garden Insect Spray with Spinosad

Mimosa problems

How To Keep a Mimosa Tree Small?

Watering your mimosa tree on a daily basis for the first few weeks post planting will help it grow. Your mimosa will require very little care and maintenance once you do this.

Here, you can cut back on watering it regularly to minimize its growth. Ensure that you are cutting back after the flowering phase.

But make sure that it’s no later than late of summer. It’s because the flowers in the following year develops during autumn.

How Old Does a Mimosa Tree Have to be to Bloom?

For a mimosa to fully bloom, it must reach a height of 10 feet. Every mimosa will grow to this height at varying rates.

It all depends on the moisture and nutrients of the soil.

How To Prune a Mimosa Tree Video

How Fast Does a Mimosa Tree Grow?

A mimosa tree can grow up to 3 feet in a single year. They tend to grow pretty fast, and it has a brittle wood with weak branch attachments like most fast-growing trees.

You can expect it to reach a height of 20-40 feet at a maximum in a span of 2 decades. But this case only applies if you haven’t pruned your mimosa tree.

How Do You Care for a Mimosa Tree Indoors?

You need to place it near a sunny window to receive ample sunlight. Make sure to water it regularly and fertilize your mimosa once a month.

FAQs

What Is the Lifespan of a Mimosa Tree?

The mimosa tree can live up to 15-20 years at an average. It’s an impressive life expectancy but it can even live longer depending upon its growing environment.

Are Mimosa Trees Toxic to Dogs?

Yes, mimosa trees can be toxic to dogs as well as the livestock. Its seeds contain a harmful neurotoxin that if ingested could be fatal to dogs.

Do Mimosa Trees Smell?

Mimosa trees are known for possessing a powdery scent that’s quite addictive. You will get a lot of its scent during its flowering period.