If a mimosa does not thrive, does not develop flowers or even dies, a disease is rarely responsible. It is almost always due to poor care or an unfavorable location when mimosas become ill. Pest infestation is also often due to incorrect care.

Diseases in mimosa are almost always due to mistakes in care

Diseases are caused by care errors

Root rot and shoot rot are the most common diseases in mimosa. They are always triggered by too much moisture.

At the latest when the leaves turn yellow, you should be alert and see if the root ball is too wet. In this case, repot the plant in drier substrate and keep the mimosa drier for a while. Sometimes the plant can still be saved.

Caring for mimosa properly

To prevent such a disease as root rot, water the mimosa properly. Never let the root ball dry out completely, but be careful not to let it get too wet.

Only water when the soil surface has dried out several centimeters. To be on the safe side, do the finger test. Do not leave any water in the saucer or planter, pour it off immediately.

When repotting, place a drainage layer of sand or gravel in the bottom of the pot so that the roots of the mimosa do not stand directly in the water.

What to do in case of pest infestation?

Red spider mites are a real problem with mimosa. They can be recognized by the small webs that appear on the leaf axils. The pests suck the leaves, causing them to turn yellow or fall off.

The infestation is caused by the air in the room being too dry. You can prevent this by providing more humidity by setting up open water bowls.

If there is an infestation, you can try washing the spider mites off with a spray jet. However, you will not catch all pests. There are commercially available means of combating it, which are stuck into the ground and removed through the leaves.

tips

Mimosas do not grow very tall. With optimal care, they can reach a size of up to 50 centimeters. If they drop a few leaves occasionally, that's normal and not a sign of disease.

Category:

Indoor plants