The arrival of spring is accompanied by the flowering of spring flowers and plants. With the onset of the first warm days, the scent of tulips and mimosa, which often sell on March 8, hovers in the air. Few people know that the scientific name of mimosa is silver acacia, and that it can be grown in the garden or at home. How to carry out this process correctly, we will discuss in this article.
Silver acacia (mimosa): features of the species
Silvery acacia (Acacia dealbata) belongs to the subfamily Mimosa Bean family. Very thermophilic plant, with which, first of all, and the difficulties of its cultivation.
In the wild it grows in Australia and Tasmania. Distributed in the southern regions of Europe, South Africa, in the western regions of the United States, in Madagascar. Since 1852 it has been cultivated on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus. It is from there in February and March, it is imported into the countries of the former Soviet Union.
The plant is evergreen, reaches a height of 10-12 m. In the wild form there are specimens up to 45 m. The crown of a tree is spreading. The barrel reaches a diameter of 60-70 cm.
Leaves pinnatisect, 10-20 cm long. Consist of 8-24 pairs of small leaves. They form a gray-green bloom, because of what the sun seems that they are silver, - hence the name of the plant.
Acacia blooms from January to April with small yellow flowers, collected in the heads in the form of balls with a diameter of 4-8 mm. Each head contains from 20 to 30 flowers. In turn, the heads form a racemes, and the inflorescences are panicles. Blooms in the second year after planting.
The fruits of silver acacia are beans, flat, oblong, brown, 1.5-8 cm long. Fruiting occurs in August-September.
Subject to the temperature regimes mimosa can be grown in the garden, in the greenhouse and in room conditions.
Did you know? Silver acacia has a decorative, economic and medicinal value. It possesses valuable wood from which cellulose is made. Acacia essential oil is used in perfumery.
Conditions for growing mimosa
From the description of mimosa and information about the climatic conditions in which it grows in the wild, one can understand that the tree loves heat and light. Without providing these two conditions to the plant, it will not work to achieve its normal development and flowering.
Lighting
If the climatic conditions at your summer cottage allow you to grow silver acacia in open ground, then it is necessary to choose a well-lit area, sheltered from the winds.
When grown under room conditions, mimosa should be placed near the window facing the south side in a bright room of medium or large size. It is suitable for growing in well-lit halls and stairways.
If the acacia will lack light, then it will not bloom. In winter, she needs to create additional lighting indoors — for four hours a day.
In summer, it is advisable to bring acacia to fresh air or a balcony or a terrace. However, this must be done after pre-quenching, which is done by airing the room where it grows, avoiding drafts.
Temperature
Mimosa can withstand temperatures as low as -10 ° C. Therefore, its planting in the open ground is possible only in regions with warm mild winters.
When grown in a pot tolerates normal room temperature. Feels comfortable at 16-18 ° C. In the summer - at 20-25 ° С. In winter, it is advisable to move it to a room with low temperatures, but not exceeding -10 ° C.
Did you know? The plant is able to tolerate lowering the temperature to 0 degrees, but only for a few hours.
Tips on caring for acacia silvery
Silver acacia does not require much effort for care and cultivation. It tolerates drought normally, does not impose requirements on air humidity, and can do without pruning.
When growing acacia in a container, it will need regular watering and feeding.
Watering
Mimosa must be watered once or twice a week. In winter, the amount of watering is reduced, so as not to provoke diseases. In winter, it is recommended to carry out one watering at 10-12 days, when the topsoil dries.
Acacia is not demanding to the level of air humidity, therefore spraying is not necessary. Exceptions can only be on too hot days. To the plant was not too hot, it is sprayed in the morning and evening.
Important! Spraying is prohibited during the period when direct sunlight falls on the leaves of acacia. Water droplets can cause burns.
Top dressing
You can feed acacia once or twice a month in spring and summer. For her fit liquid complex mineral fertilizers. It is not necessary to feed in winter.
Crown formation
The tree grows very quickly. Therefore, care for silver acacia also implies its trimming. As a rule, the plant tolerates this procedure well.
It gives a particularly strong increase in spring and summer. In order for the crown to have a beautiful and lush look, after flowering, weak branches and those that create excessive thickening are cut off.
The branches of young plants are cut, leaving a third. The old ones shorten them by half.
How to make a transplant
Silvery acacia will grow well in fertile, friable soils. During transplantation, it is necessary to prepare a substrate of the following components:
- leaf earth (4);
- turf ground (2);
- humus (1);
- sand (1).
Transplantation of young plants is carried out once a year. Adult plants are transplanted every two to three years.The plant must be transplanted immediately after flowering. Since it is fast-growing, it is necessary to select a spacious and deep container for it.
The maximum diameter of the container that the mimosa will need is 60 cm. Then the plant can not be transplanted, only limited to replacing the top layer of soil.
Important! With each transplant the diameter of the pot should be 2-3 cm larger.
Possible difficulties in growing
The fact that she lacks something, or she suffers from a problem, mimosa will tell you changes in appearance. So, abundant abutment of buds will indicate that the tree lacks moisture and the ground is too dry.
The wilting of the leaves indicates improper watering - the soil is either too wet or too dry. Also the leaves wither when the acacia is planted in heavy ground. In this case, it will need to be transplanted into a new substrate in accordance with the recommendations.
Mimosa leaves turn pale - so she suffers from a lack of light. It is necessary either to rearrange the silver acacia in a pot in a lighted place, or place it under a fluorescent lamp.
Important! If the plant has been in the shade for a long time, then it will be necessary to train it to the bright place gradually.
Too dry air and insufficient watering can cause the mimosa leaves to dry out and turn brown.
When dark spots appear on the foliage, check the temperature in the room where the plant is located. It may be cold or exposed to drafts. Also, the cause of this phenomenon may be any disease or defeat spider mite.
Breeding methods
Silver acacia propagates in two ways: seed and vegetative (grafting).
Seeds
Before sowing in January, acacia seeds require special preparation. They are soaked in warm water for a certain time, which will depend on the temperature of the liquid. If you place the seed in a container with water heated to 60 ° C, then you need to leave them there for a day.
It will take two days to soak the seeds in water at a temperature of 40 ° C. After that, the seeds are sown in the substrate of sand and peat. Connections may be different, the main condition - the soil for sowing should be easy.
Seedlings of acacia silvery from seeds also germinate very quickly. After the appearance of their shoots, they dive into the ground, which should contain turf (1), leaf (1) earth, and sand (0.25).
Cuttings
Mimosa cuttings are carried out in spring or mid-late summer. To do this, use the apical stem cuttings or shoots that remained after pruning.
For rooting, they are placed in a peat-sand substrate. In order for the cuttings to root well and quickly, they will need a temperature of 20-25 ° C and a high level of humidity. In order to create such conditions, the process of reproduction of mimosa cuttings can be carried out in a mini-greenhouse.
Healing properties of acacia silvery
As we have already written, silver acacia has a number of useful properties, including medicinal. The bark and gum solution of the plant are beneficial. The latter is able to provide anti-inflammatory and enveloping effect.
It is used for inflammation and ulcers of the stomach, relieves irritation of its mucous membranes, resulting from the use of other drugs. In official medicine does not apply.
In folk medicine, Acacia decoctions are used as an astringent. Acacia oil relieves irritation and inflammation on the skin.
Mimosa is a very beautiful plant with a wonderful aroma, however, planting and caring for it are associated with some difficulties associated with one significant feature.
Acacia does not tolerate frost, it is very warm and light-requiring. Therefore, you are very lucky if the climate in your latitudes allows you to acquire this beauty in the country. Otherwise, try growing it in a pot. Care at home will not be difficult.
