Last Updated on June 7, 2022 by Marco C.
How to grow a mimosa tree from a cutting is easy as the germination happens faster than when starting from seeds.
Mimosa trees are a species of flowering plant in the legume family Fabaceae, native to southern Africa, but also found in tropical regions of Asia and Australia. Mimosas are commonly grown for their decorative blooms and foliage. Their flowers can be white or pink, depending on the species. The mimosa flower has become a symbol of friendship, love, and even mourning.
In South Africa, the flower is known as the “flower of the nation”, and was the emblem of the South African Native National Congress (ANC) from 1908 until the party was banned by the apartheid regime.
How To Grow A Mimosa Tree From A Cutting
Choose your cutting. Choose a healthy, vigorous cutting and trim off the roots with sharp pruners. Make sure the cutting is free of any disease or damage. Pour 2-3 cups of water into a bucket and place the cutting in the bucket. Do not put the cutting directly in the bucket. Allow the cutting to sit for one day. The longer you wait, the more the cutting will absorb water and the more easily it will root.
Learn more about: How To Grow A Willow Tree From A Cutting
Prepare the cutting for rooting. After one day, remove the cutting from the bucket and shake off excess water. Prepare your rooting medium – this can be either a peat-based potting soil or a mix of vermiculite and perlite.
Place the cutting in the rooting medium. Make sure there is enough space between the cutting and the sides of the pot. Add a small amount of fertilizer to the rooting medium. You can use a half-strength fertilizer every two weeks. You can use any fertilizer you like, but make sure it does not contain urea.
Place the container in a sunny location. Be careful not to let it get too hot or cold. Check daily for the first two weeks. The roots will grow slowly at first and then quickly once they have been established. Water only when the soil dries out.
Fertilize your cutting. When the first true leaves start to appear, fertilize with half-strength fertilizer. If the cutting has been rooted successfully, it should be able to grow into a full plant. Keep an eye on the pot, as it may start to show signs of stress after a few months. It may need a bit more fertilizer. Once the plant is well established, you can place it in a larger pot or garden bed. It should grow to be about 4’ tall and spread to about 3’ wide.
Water the cutting daily. If you are using peat-based soil, keep the soil moist at all times. Monitor the cutting. Watch the growing tip closely for signs of root development. You may see small roots growing out of the top of the cutting. This is normal. Do not worry if you do not see roots until later. When roots appear, remove the cutting from the rooting medium and place it in a larger container or the garden.
Allow the cutting to keep growing as you provide all the necessary growing conditions. For example, if you have planted a cutting outdoors in a pot, it will need more sun than one that is growing in a window. In addition, the pot should be watered more often than the window.
As your cutting grows, it will begin to take up more space in the pot. If you do not water it frequently enough, the cutting will dry out. Once you notice that the top of the cutting is turning brown, you have probably grown too big for the pot. It is time to move the cutting to a larger container or the garden.
In general, a 3-inch-diameter cutting will grow into a 2-foot-tall plant within 6 months. A 4-inch-diameter cutting will grow into a 3-foot-tall plant in approximately 1 year. The size of the cutting you buy will determine how fast the plant grows. For example, a large cutting may take several years to reach maturity. If your cutting is growing slowly, it may be because of improper growing conditions.
Read more about: How To Grow A Mimosa Tree Indoors?
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get seeds from a mimosa tree?
Mimosas are grown from seed. Seeds may be collected when the pods are dry and mature. In some countries, mimosas are propagated vegetatively (by division) by using cuttings taken from the growing tips of established trees.
How long does it take for a mimosa tree to mature?
It takes about 10 years for a mimosa tree to mature. Seeds of mimosa trees are sometimes sold commercially as ornamental trees or in garden centres. If you wish to grow mimosas at home, it is advisable to buy the seeds directly from a reliable supplier who has been selling them for many years. The most common source of commercial seeds is a nursery.
Are mimosa trees easy to grow?
Mimosa trees are relatively easy to grow and are suitable for most garden types. They have a slow growth rate, but are very tolerant of adverse conditions. Mimosa trees are excellent trees for all sorts of gardens. In warm areas of the world, they can be grown in full sun. In colder areas, they will tolerate a degree of shade.
Do mimosa trees have deep roots?
No, mimosa trees have shallow roots. They are able to grow well in sandy soils and do not require a lot of deep rooting.
Take Home
This is a complete guide on how to grow a mimosa tree from a cutting and you can use it to grow your own tree.
We have also included a video tutorial above for those who don’t know how to cut or prune a mimosa. Growing a Mimosa Tree To grow a mimosa tree from a cutting requires that you have a cutting of at least 2 years old. You should use good quality potting soil that has been mixed with good quality peat for the best results.