Selaginella is a spore plant of the Selaginella family from the ancient group of clowns. Homeland - America, Mexico, Africa. In total, more than 300 species differing in the appearance of the leaves. The plant grows rapidly in a humid warm climate, is not afraid of torrential rains, is able to live without the sun, is in the water and does not rot.
Description of Selaginella
Selaginella (Selaginella) - a branching ground cover plant. Epiphytes and lithophytes are found - curly, mossy, climbing. They are located on rocks, tree crowns, swamps, stones. Plaunas grow up to three meters in the hot tropics, their shoots are elevated or creeping. Selaginella, similar to vines, reach a length of 20 m. The leaves (about 5 mm) look like coniferous needles, but very soft, grow densely in a row, partially covering each other like tiles. They differ in shape, patterns and shades of green.
Types of selaginella for the home
Florists grow more than 20 species of indoor plunders. Plants do not bloom, but delight with unusual foliage. The most common:
- Selaginella Scaly (Jericho rose) or Selaginella Lepidophylla - adapted to drought. Lepidophyllus from the American Desert. The "resurrecting plant" in the form of a round dried lump comes to life in water for a day - leaves similar to scales are revealed, shoots are straightened up to 5 cm, resembling a feather. This is called cryptobiosis, when a plant survives without rain, in a drought. At the top of the leaves is a tongue for collecting water.
- Vildenova is a branchy bush with flat green shoots 10 cm long and thin oval leaves of a blue hue.
- Jory (Yori) - a tropical plant, characterized by a straight stem up to 20 cm in height and a crown like a ball. Its shoots are light green with a fringe resembling foam.
- Beznoschkovy or Apoda is a creeping plant with pads similar to moss. The stems are short, not more than 20 cm, shoots are smooth, flat. A sheet of emerald color with a yellowish tint, serrated at the base, with additional roots. Homeland - North America, Canada. In nature it is able to winter under the snow. Indoors grows like an ampel plant in hanging planters.
- Martens - a decorative flower with unusual lace leaves resembling a fern. It grows up to 30 cm, has aerial roots. The stems are straight, lower as they grow. Leaves have different shades of green, glossy or matte. In some species, the tips are colored yellow or silver.
- Krauss - shoots long up to 30 cm are able to take root quickly and create a beautiful carpet. Leaves are small yellow, there are variegated species.
Allocate:
- Hooked - blue-colored leaves, very close to each other, reminiscent of needles.
- Swiss - found in the Caucasus, the Far East. It differs in light leaves, which are perpendicular to the shoots. Likes partial shade and moist soils that do not hold water.
Basic rules for caring for selaginella at home
Caring for selaginella is difficult due to lack of moisture at home, it is necessary to observe the location, temperature, humidity, watering, top dressing, planting in suitable soil, transplanting according to the rules.
| Parameters | Recommendations |
| Location and lighting | Diffused light is optional, grows in the shade, and tolerates artificial lighting. Place near western or northern windows. |
| Temperature | + 12 ... +22 ° С depending on the season. |
| Humidity and watering | Frequent watering with soft water, immediately after drying. Regularly watered under a bush and in a tray, where the plant absorbs moisture. Provide high humidity, frequent spraying. They put humidifiers. |
| The soil | A mixture of peat, hardwood, sand in one piece. |
| Top dressing | From March to September, once every two weeks they are fertilized with special liquid top dressing for hardwood. The dosage is taken half as much as indicated in the instructions. |
| Transfer | By the method of transshipment (the integrity of the earthen coma is not violated), in the spring they are transplanted once every two years into wide, shallow dishes with a drainage system. |
Temperature, humidity
| Parameters | Summer | Spring, fall | Winter |
| Temperature | + 20 ... +24 ° С. | + 18 ... +21 ° С. | + 15 ... +21 ° С. |
| Humidity, spraying per day | High - 60-70%. 2-3 times. | From 50-60%. 2 times. | From 50-60%. 1 time. |
| Watering | Once in two days. | Two or three times a week. | Twice in seven days. |
Reproduction, pruning
Representatives of the pluniformes breed in nature by spores, at home vegetatively - by dividing the bush and rooting cuttings.
Division
Rhizomes up to 5 cm with shoots are separated from the plant. Planted in wet peat, sprinkle the lower ends, three pieces each. Cover with a transparent film or glass, maintain high humidity at a temperature of +20 ° C for a week. Shoots appear after a month.
Rooting
Select shoots with a length of 4 cm with additional roots, deepen into the ground, cover with a film. Two weeks sprayed with warm water. Capacity is prepared for continuous growth.
The substrate for planting is prepared from peat, sheet soil and sand in equal quantities. Suitable purchased soil for senpolia, begonia. Capacity choose ceramic or clay. The plant is sprinkled with earth, not deeply buried.
Cut in the spring - neatly trim the overgrown foliage, not briefly. Dry, damaged leaves are cut.
Mistakes in the care of selaginella, diseases, pests and their elimination
The plant is not exposed to viral diseases and pests, you should only follow the parameters of care.
| Pest / Disease / Mistakes | Signs on leaves and other parts of the plant | Elimination method |
| Spider mite | Turn yellow, a thin web appears. | Appears due to low humidity. Treat with laundry soap or Actellic. |
| Heat | Darken and dry. | Relocate to a cool room. |
| Bad light | They turn pale, the stems stretch. | Put in a bright place, away from direct sunlight. |
| Lack of oxygen in the earth | Wilder and soft. | Transplant into light soil, pour drainage. |
| Nutrient deficiency | The flower does not grow. | To feed. |
| Dry air | The tips of the stem dry out. | More often spray, put a humidifier. |
| Draft or hot air | Collapse. | Rearrange away from drafts, ventilate the room. |
| Bright light | Discolored. | Shade or rearrange. |
| Stagnant water | Mold on the soil, pale stems. | Do not water for several days, remove dry leaves, replace the soil with lighter. |
Methods for growing selaginella
Selaginella is grown as a groundcover in greenhouses, warm conservatories, palladiums, an aquarium method - where high humidity is created.
Flower florarium is an ecosystem with regulation of temperature and humidity. Use an old aquarium or other container made of transparent, not very thin glass, plastic. They plant selanginella and other plants (fittonia, fern, calathea), creating a floral mix. Florarium is covered. Water rarely.
Mr. Summer resident tells: useful properties of selaginella
Selaginella is not toxic, does not pose a danger to others.
When dry, it is stored in cabinets to deter moths.
Used as a remedy in China, India - for diseases of the liver, genitourinary system, female ailments, jaundice, malignant tumors. The plant improves after sunstroke.
