Question
my wife and I have been growing several Sensitive or Mimos Pudica plants and didnt know that you could trim or prune them. We try realy hard NOT to touch them too much and DE-sensitize them. they are about 3 1/2 feet tall AND are growing taller every day! can we prune them back now or is it to late? If we can is there a special way or place on the plant to prune back to? We started growing them last September and are hoping to see blooms this summer. thank you for any information you can provide to us.  

Answer
Hi there,

Your sensitive plant can be pruned back at any time, although they grow better if they are pruned back regularly to encourage branching and to keep them full and to prevent legginess.

Any stem can be pruned back to any point just above a stem node. New growth will emerge just below the point where you make the cut. You decide how you want the plant to look and where to make the cuts.

For flowering, provide lots of light and keep it very potbound.

This is not a particularly hardy plant. It grows quickly from seed, but it loses its sensitivity and doesn't seem to last for more than a year or so.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.
   
Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

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