Jacaranda and Mimosa - Beginner Questions

[bl-bonsai]

Hi everyone,
I started my bonsai journey about six months ago and got some Jacaranda Mimosifolia, Mimosa Pudica, and Tamarindus Indica seeds. I got a nice collection of young seedlings and three sets of questions regarding the Jacaranda and Mimosa. Both are kept indoors (Germany) at around 22°C and get 10-12h of direct light from Secret Jardin full-spectrum lights.

1. Jacaranda: The 2 Jacarands started great for the first weeks. Now, they haven't changed much over the last four weeks—is that normal, or are there signs of deficits? One of them also got brown leaves (highlighted with red marker)
2. Mimosa: I am happy with their progress but noticed some yellow leaves on some of the plants - too much light, not enough water, too little nutrients, or any other mistakes. The Mimosa in the green pot also looks depressed - the same soil as the others, and during daytime, the leaves go up, but at night they fall to the ground in contrast to all the other Mimosa - any tipps? And last Mimosa question - they get big quickly and become unstable (risk of tipping over) - any tips?
3. Both (Mimosa + Jacaranda): How long can they stay in those pots? Do you have any other tips regarding problems you might detect?

Thank you!

 

[jamesdd]

Hi everyone,
I started my bonsai journey about six months ago and got some Jacaranda Mimosifolia, Mimosa Pudica, and Tamarindus Indica seeds. I got a nice collection of young seedlings and three sets of questions regarding the Jacaranda and Mimosa. Both are kept indoors (Germany) at around 22°C and get 10-12h of direct light from Secret Jardin full-spectrum lights.

1. Jacaranda: The 2 Jacarands started great for the first weeks. Now, they haven't changed much over the last four weeks—is that normal, or are there signs of deficits? One of them also got brown leaves (highlighted with red marker)
2. Mimosa: I am happy with their progress but noticed some yellow leaves on some of the plants - too much light, not enough water, too little nutrients, or any other mistakes. The Mimosa in the green pot also looks depressed - the same soil as the others, and during daytime, the leaves go up, but at night they fall to the ground in contrast to all the other Mimosa - any tipps? And last Mimosa question - they get big quickly and become unstable (risk of tipping over) - any tips?
3. Both (Mimosa + Jacaranda): How long can they stay in those pots? Do you have any other tips regarding problems you might detect?

During this process, I got oddly curious about which elements are liquid at room temperature—fun rabbit hole while waiting for seedlings to grow. Consistent conditions and patience seem to help most with these species.
Thank you!

I started with Jacaranda and Mimosa around the same time as you, and the slowdown you’re seeing with Jacaranda seems common—they usually put energy into root development before new growth appears. Brown leaves on mine happened when humidity dipped or watering was uneven. For Mimosa, yellowing leaves can mean stress—sometimes nutrient imbalance, especially nitrogen, rather than light alone. The nighttime drooping is normal for many Mimosa species. I also noticed they grow tall fast; gentle pruning and slightly deeper pots helped stabilize mine. They can stay in small pots for months but watch for roots circling.

 

[Maurice2u]

My wife apparently tossed a mimosa seedling into a rather large pot last fall. I never paid any attention to it. This summer it became a monster! I've cut it back multiple times. In the repotting season it will go into bonsai training. This gets only a few hours of direct sun, and maybe a few of dappled by the large yard tree each day. Albuquerque weather. So the dry heat is a concern, but this guy seems to be very happy. Might need a bit more organic in the soil mix for the first go around.

They are the "sensitive tree". So yeah, it droops every evening, or when you touch it. When the sun come out it perks right back up. What an odd little fellow. Should be fun