Tender and whimsical selaginella as a plant is presented in many varieties, has several names. For example, a plug (refers to an ancient group of plugs). A distinctive feature is the ability to be in a sleeping state for several years.
Drying in the form of a dense ball, it can quickly wake up in the presence of water. This is a desert as well as a spore form of vegetation, first described by botanists in 1830. Representatives grow throughout the world, excluding areas with a cold climate.
Main varieties
Selaginella species includes over 700 subspecies. They all look like ferns or moss; they are found in moist places, preferring shade. Reaching 20 cm for home cultivation, in the tropics stretch up to 2 meters.
Selaginella - ornamental plant
Lianoid types can be 20 m in size. Only 25 varieties are grown in the room, followed by a few of them.
Selaginella Martens
Selaginella species Martens (selaginella martensii) grows in America, USA. The bush with the stems standing straight has a height of 30 cm. The foliage is green, but there is a variety with silver ends of the plates. Selaginella Martens resembles a fern, has aerial roots descending down to the ground. The plant is popular because of decorative qualities, patterned foliage.
Selaginella Krauss
This representative is originally from South Africa, characterized by creeping stems. There are 2 types: with yellow-green and white variegated leaves. The height of the plant selaginella species Krauss - 2 cm, miniature leaves resemble ferns.
Selaginella Krauss
Shoots are flexible, root outgrowths help to form whole carpets.
Selaginella Apoda
Another name is the plug. The selaginella plant of the Apoda variety forms sod cushions similar to moss. It grows up to 20 cm, belongs to the creeping type. The birthplace is Canada, where natural growth occurs.
Selaginella Jory
The plant is similar to light green foam, has a spherical crown. The stalk stands straight, reaching 20 cm. The selaginella of the Jory variety is also called Yori.
Jory
There are also other options for indoor breeding. For example, selaginella subspecies without legless looks beautiful in a pot.
Home Care
Selaginella does not tolerate drafts, wind, drought. It can grow in peat-rich soil, sand and ponds. Some use it for planting in an aquarium and decorative ponds.
Interesting. Other names are Jericho's Selaginella Rose, "Resurrecting Plant." The name is due to the fact that many take the plant for a miracle. The culture experiences long dry periods, twisting the branches into a ball, brown in color. Green color is restored in about a day when water appears.
Of particular interest in the plant selaginella rose Jericho are planting and care. Cycles consist of time intervals of falling asleep and waking up. For the first, you just need to stop hydration. What to do if it is time for the instance to wake up:
- Prepare a container for the process.
- Place a plant there, add water, fill it.
- Wait and watch how the instance wakes up, what happens throughout the day.
According to some reports, such a representative of the flora can remain without water for 100 years. Moreover, a period of drought is necessary. Describing the selaginella plant and proper care at home, it should be noted: the absence of such a break in hydration leads to death.
Peace lasts about 2 weeks. During this time, the flow of moisture stops, the specimen turns into a brown ball, and when watering resumes, it resurrects again.
Scaly, dry and green
Some families use the selaginella revival flower as a symbol. Provide her awakening to the holiday, decorate the table.
Sun protection
Direct sunlight on a plant open to them is not tolerated by them. Therefore, the flower is placed in natural light, but subject to this circumstance. It is allowed to use artificial sources for highlighting. Shady conditions are quite suitable. A stable temperature of 17 to 26 ° C will be required, without drops, otherwise health may be damaged.
Watering and soil friability
Selaginella care for which is based on a change in humidity and drought, does not need to be planted. It can be stored for a long time in the form of a ball without soil, experiencing a period of rest. At the right time, place it in a bowl of water. After a few hours, the plant comes to life. After waking up, you need to water it for 2 weeks. Then let it fall asleep again, depriving it of water for 14 days. This species of flora remains calm even for 50-100 years. This mainly applies to selaginella lepidophylla.
Selaginella is placed in a terrarium, make it part of a deserted garden and provide her with a plate. The soil is pebbles, sand, water containers, which must be replaced regularly if it is standing, otherwise acidification will occur.
Note! It is possible to plant this culture in ordinary soil, but for some types it does not make sense.
In nature, the flower lives in areas with rare rains and is adapted to wait for them for an arbitrarily long time. When precipitation occurs, the leaves soon become green. The rules for watering and keeping in the soil are as follows:
- Selaginella species of Lepidophyllum, like the Jericho type, any other, needs watering often, abundantly, the water should be at room temperature. The flower must be kept in a constantly moist environment, as well as sprayed.
- Leaves should not get too wet, otherwise they will begin to deteriorate.
- Water must be left stiff without adding chemicals.
- Having decided to keep the plant in the soil, sphagnum moss is added. Selaginella loves the high content of peat.
Water revitalization
If you want to transplant, you need to do transshipment. Moreover, the procedure should be rare, because this room culture has brittle roots. This moment occurs when the container is completely filled with plant mass. An aerial root system may also form.
Top dressing
Selaginella does not require fertilizer. It turns out that this plant is a combination of two organisms (symbiosis) and grows as a result of their mutual influence. Since he does not need fertile soil, then fertilizing in the traditional sense does not exist for him. The fact that selaginella was deprived of a period of rest can lead to death. This representative of the flora is very ancient, is a contemporary of dinosaurs.
Breeding methods
Reproduction of selaginella in nature occurs during the rainy season. When they end, the plant once again goes to rest. In the old bush, a phenomenon can be observed - bare stems. They need to be updated, shared. Fern and selaginella plant reproduce in a similar way, that is, spores, but also seedlings.
Dividing the bush
Old bushes are divided, thus applying for propagation. That is, they are divided into several parts, which are seated separately. This plant tends to grow rapidly and multiplies easily.
Cuttings
Stem segments are used with small leaves that are placed in water. The roots will appear after a while.
In conclusion, we can say that the bush is not susceptible to attack by pests. Although the spider mite must be eliminated. This is done with a soap solution. Selaginella scaly, used in indoor floriculture for decorative purposes, is not a common culture. Reaching 10 cm in height, it contains oils and vitamins that help to resurrect after a complete drought. It is highly recommended for aquariums, it is also cultivated in greenhouses and botanical gardens.
