Secrets of the successful cultivation of selaginella at home

A common plant in tropical countries - Selaginella (Selaginella), is the oldest plant on Earth and the only genus of spore plants.

At a favorable time, when it does not need moisture, this is an evergreen plant that looks like a fern.

Types of Selaginella for indoor floriculture

The numerous genus of selaginella includes about 700 different species, but only a few have been able to adapt to room conditions. The most common are:

Selaginela Jory. Variety of plants with modest small size. Laconic bushes with standing shoots, painted in light green color with a golden edging. Selaginela Martens. Low-growth species, carpets the ground with a fluffy carpet, something like moss. Stems stand straight, can reach 20 cm.It grows well in diffused light and abundant moisture, used to create small greenhouses. Selaginella scaly. Thanks to an unusual form resembling a flower, it got its second name - the Rose of Jericho. The shoots have a length of 10-15 cm, when dry, they begin to twist together with the leaves inside, forming a shape in the form of a coil.

It can often be found on sale in the form of a ball of crooked dry grass, completely dead in appearance. When it gets into the water, the flower “in the eyes of” comes to life, during the day it blooms with fluffy sprigs, acquires a rich green color.

Selaginella bezpuzhkovoy. It looks like a decorative grass with short stems, densely covered with tiny tender leaves. With proper watering and air humidity, it forms a soft fluffy carpet on the soil.

Optimum conditions for growing at home

Selaginella has very short roots, therefore, when growing this crop, a wide and flat container should be preferred. If the conditions for the life of the plant are favorable, it will quickly begin to grow.

Location and lighting

The flower is very fond of warm and damp places. It needs diffused light or shadow to grow. Selaginella is the perfect solution for landscaping windows facing north or for rooms with artificial lighting.

Temperature conditions

Selaginella does not like temperature extremes, she needs constant air temperature throughout the year +20 C.

Peculiarities of home care

Selaginella does not bloom, but it is valued for its unique forms and unusual leaves, and in order to contemplate this unique beauty for a longer time, you must follow the rules of caring for the plant.

Watering and humidity

As a representative of tropical culture, selaginella needs special care at home. The cultivated flower feels great in conditions of high humidity. If it is not possible to spray selaginella several times throughout the day, then you can put a container with a flower in a pan with water.

The flower likes abundant watering, because it does not have a state of rest, then it is watered the same way, both in summer and in winter.

Water for irrigation of selaginella should be well settled, soft, room temperature. Do not allow the soil mixture to dry in a pot, it should be wet all the time.

Soil and fertilizer

For the well-being of selaginella, it needs a moisture-absorbing and nutritious mixture consisting of chopped sphagnum, sand and soddy earth. The reaction of the soil is slightly acidic or neutral.

Top dressing of a flower is made every two-three weeks throughout the spring - autumn period. For the fertilizer Selaginella, you can use an orchid feed or use nutrient mixtures for ornamental deciduous plants, halving the recommended dose.

Transplant rules

A flower is transplanted once every few years in the spring. Pot for plants need to pick shallow, almost flat and wide shape. At the bottom of the tank lay out the drainage layer, the post-earthen mixture. Selaginella feels great in special aquariums.

Reproduction of selaginella at home

In its natural environment, this species multiplies using spores, but at home it is very troublesome, it is much easier to propagate it by dividing the bush into several parts: the part of the plant with shoots that root in several pieces in small containers filled with nutritious soil is separated from the rhizome.

For better rooting, the flower creates conditions close to the greenhouse. The containers are covered with a plastic bottle or plastic wrap and ensure that the high humidity is maintained under it. Some species of seaginella grow roots on the stem, in which case they separate the rooted part of the flower.

Diseases and pests of selaginella

Pay attention to the appearance of selaginella, she will tell you where to look for a solution to the problem:

• the leaves are sluggish and soft — there is no air access to the root system, since the soil in the pot is heavily flooded. Adjust the watering or transplant the flower to a new land. Before transplanting, carefully inspect the plant, remove the rotted roots, treat the remaining ones with the fungicide solution.The treated plant must be planted and covered with a plastic bag to create greenhouse conditions;
• leaves are drawn out and have an unhealthy pale look — lack of lighting or watering is done with too hard water. For irrigation, it is better to use separated water if the state of the flower does not change - apply top dressing with iron chelate or ferrovit;
• discoloration and dying off of leaves — high temperature of the air affects the flower, it is necessary to increase the humidity of the air in the room;
• leaflets roll up — cold drafts affect a plant or high air temperature indoors;
• the growth of the flower decreases; there are no nutrients in the soil of the plant; additional feeding is necessary.

Selaginella does not tolerate drafts and reacts sharply to them. It practically does not get sick and very rarely is affected by pests, but when the microclimate is too dry, spider mites may attack the flower. To get rid of them, it is necessary to prepare a soap solution and treat them with a plant.

Selaginella is a capricious plant, and in case of inadequate care, it will not be long to please with its decorative beauty. But your efforts will quickly pay off, because this flower looks so original and combines well with other plants, it can be used as a ground cover when creating winter gardens, florariums, and a garden in a bottle.