Selaginella

Selaginella (Selaginella) is cultivated indoors as a ground cover, it looks very original and impressive. Scientists have found out the fact that this vegetation appeared at a time when dinosaurs still existed on the planet, namely, three hundred million years ago. Selaginella survived the dinosaurs, the global cold, and the time when a civilized society emerged. But still, at home, the plant often does not live so easily.

Selaginella: plant description

Fern Selaginella: plant photo

The Selaginella plant loves to grow in the lower tiers of the dense forests of the tropics, which are located in the South African and American territories. It is also found in the east of Asia, where it is an adornment of hard-to-reach rock ledges. In addition, two varieties grow in German and Swiss forests.

In the eighteenth century, a Swedish biologist K. Linnaeus gave a descriptive description of Selaginella. He also determined that the appearance of Selaginella resembles moss, fern, but it has nothing to do with these varieties. She belongs to the group of clubroons, the most ancient group on Earth. In addition, this plant belongs to the higher spore plants, or rather, to the Selaginellaceae family.

Salaginella is a herbaceous groundcover perennial. Stems slightly raised above the surface soil layer or creeping. They are decorated with a large number of very small leaves (needles). The popular name is "Carpet fern". The shoots are thin, carved, very original and spectacular.

At home, they reach no more than ten cm in length, but in wild vegetation they are very elongated (up to twenty meters). Growing wild, this plant often grows in moist areas. It can stay in water for a long time, and it does not rot or die. It can also often be found in the shade. There are varieties that resemble epiphytes - they are able to climb to a good height along the trunks of large trees.

Selaginella stems on the inside have a large number of root outgrowths, the so-called adventitious roots. They are required to absorb nutrients and water directly from the air. Varieties that creep along the surface soil layer, with the help of adventitious roots, are able to take root in a short time. Therefore, they simply spread and cover vast areas. They create a dense evergreen rug on the surface soil layer, which looks very impressive.

The Selaginella fern is the queen of carpet vegetation cultivated at home, because it has original patterns, delicate color and unusual leaf shape. The leaves are soft, flattened, only five mm long, can have both a matte finish and a glossy one. Leaves can be of different shapes, for example, in the form of a needle, a circle or a spiral. The leaves grow in two rows, overlapping each other, this resembles shingles and fish scales.

That is why selaginella resembles a part of conifers and a fern. The color of the leaves is also interesting. In some varieties, the leaves are light green in color, in others - dark green with an original pattern of white or yellow colors. But there are also such varieties, the leaves of which have an almost black color with a sheen of metal.

Some of the stems at the top have small spikelets with different types of sporangia.Many small or several large spores mature in them. The stems form nodules, nodules or bulbs, depending on the variety. These fragments are used by gardeners to propagate the plant. The root system is located at the surface. Throughout the year, Selaginella grows equally, it does not have a pronounced dormant stage or a growing season.

Selaginella: home care

Selaginella: photo of a houseplant

The house plant Selaginella is quite capricious, this must be taken into account if you want it to become a decoration of your room. Although Selaginella has existed for more than a million years, when cultivated at home, it can be harmed by the direct scorching sun or very low humidity. For the effectiveness of this culture, it is required to competently care for it.

Illumination level

Although some wild varieties grow in the desert, when cultivating this vegetation at home, it is unacceptable that the leaves are exposed to the direct sun. This is because her leaves are too delicate, they can be burned by the sun's rays.

Therefore, it is better not to put selaginella on the south window. The western and eastern windowsill are suitable for her, since the illumination there is not so bright and more diffused. If the north window is not so dark, then you can put a plant on it. But it is worth considering that with a lack of illumination, all the spectacular color will be lost, and the decorative appearance will be lost.

The plant will grow fairly well in an artificial light environment because it does not need sun. This is because it grows wild in shaded places, and the sun's rays do not reach such areas so often, or may not reach at all. The culture has perfectly adapted to the changes in the brightness of the light; in the winter season, it does not need to be additionally illuminated.

When choosing a suitable room for growing Selaginella, keep in mind that it responds very negatively to draft and direct sunlight. For this reason, a quiet place is chosen for this plant, which is located in partial shade in the back of the room.

Temperature conditions

Do not forget that suitable temperature conditions depend on the type of crop. Some of the varieties are cultivated all year round at temperatures ranging from eighteen to twenty degrees. Other varieties can thrive in temperatures ranging from twelve to twenty-one degrees. Excessively elevated temperatures can kill any species.

For this reason, the bush begins to darken, the leaves begin to fly around. When cultivating Scale-like Selaginella, do not forget that with prolonged heat indoors and with a lack of water, it can fall into cryptobiosis (twigs will curl up, the bush will resemble a glomerulus). Even if the temperature conditions are raised or lowered for a short time, the appearance of the bush can be spoiled.

How to water Selaginella

Watering the Selaginella flower is carried out regularly and in large quantities, both in the summer season and in the winter. For this purpose, bottom watering (in the sump) or conventional (watering on the surface soil layer) is used. Before applying bottom watering, make sure the bottom of the pot has drainage holes.

Selaginella: photo of a houseplant

Water for irrigation should be well-settled and lukewarm. Mains water is not used. Otherwise, the surface of the shoots will be covered with rust, stains and lime. This can no longer be corrected, because decorativeness will be completely lost. Therefore, the best option is rain or filtered water. If you only have water from the water supply, then watering is carried out after it has been well settled for two days.

It is worth making sure that the potting soil does not dry out, especially its middle layer. It is required to systematically loosen the surface layer to improve breathability. At times, this procedure is carried out - instead of watering, the pot with a bush is immersed in a container with water above room temperature conditions.

In addition, liquid fertilizers are added to the water. The plant will absorb the amount of water and nutrients it needs. After a certain period of time, the ground cover is pulled out of the container, you need to wait until the water drains. Next, the bush is again placed in its place.

Although wild plants can easily adapt to wetlands and dry soil, domestic selaginella cannot tolerate this. They respond very poorly to stagnation of water in the roots and to the drying out of the soil mixture.

Humidity of air

For the reason that this vegetation is native to the tropics, it requires high humidity. You can increase moisture content in different ways. For example, wet expanded clay or moss is poured into a pallet, a container with a plant is placed on it. You can also spray the leaves more than once a day with clean and warm water. If possible, you can buy a humidifier.

The best indicator of air humidity is sixty-five to eighty-five percent. To increase moisture, an aquarium, terrarium or flowerpot is used. Moss and small stones are laid on their bottom. They are poured with such a volume of liquid so that they are well saturated. Then the excess water is drained, a container with selaginella is placed inside.

This method increases the moisture content of the air from twenty to thirty percent. If necessary, you should add liquid to the container; do not forget that the moss must be constantly moistened. If you are going to grow a plant in a terrarium, then the air must be well ventilated in it. Place pebbles in a tray under the pot.

Required capacity

The Selaginella root system is located at the soil surface, while its roots are short. For this reason, the capacity should not be very high. The pot is selected wide enough, because the bush is very dense, the greenery should not be crowded. It is preferable to take a pot made of ceramic or clay. There should be drain holes at the bottom of the pot.

Before planting, a drainage layer is laid on the bottom, its thickness is twenty to thirty mm, pebbles, expanded clay or broken brick are used as drainage. There must also be a pallet, and high enough. Raw moss is placed in it, and a pot with a plant is placed on top.

In addition to pots for growing Selaginella, a bonsai, flower pots, a tropical bottle, a glass vessel, and a terrarium are used. In a special store, you can purchase specialized containers designed for the cultivation of ground cover vegetation. Containers can be of various unusual types.

Soil mix

Selaginella requires a loose and light soil substrate, well moisture and air permeable. In addition, the soil mixture should be fertile, slightly acidic or neutral. The optimal soil substrate contains turf or garden soil and peat in a 1: 1 ratio.

You can add some charcoal and finely chopped moss for looseness. Before using the substrate, it is disinfected using a steaming or calcining method. For the cultivation of selaginella, you can use ready-made soil for begonia or saintpaulia.

How to transplant Selaginella

Selaginella responds very badly to too frequent transplantation. The transplant is carried out, if necessary, once every two years. The transplantation tolerance is best seen in the spring, but, if necessary, it can be done both in the summer and in the autumn. In frequent cases, transplanting is carried out for the reason that there is little space for the roots in the container.

Selaginella: photo of a houseplant

Inspect the container - when the roots look out of the drainage holes or get out on the surface soil layer, the plant needs to be urgently transplanted. You also need to transplant a plant that has a large number of branches that hang along the edges of the container. Then a container of a larger size is used for transplantation. Also, a bush that has grown a lot can be divided into parts, planted in separate containers.

Top dressing

Top dressing is applied from March to September days. In the first year, Selaginella is fed once every twenty to thirty days. For this purpose, a mixture in liquid form is used for home decorative deciduous vegetation, it is important that there is a lot of nitrogen in it.

The next year, if the plant has not been transplanted into a new soil mixture, the amount of feeding increases to two or three times every thirty days. This is because in this situation, the substrate in the container may be depleted and the bush will need to be fed more than usual. The dose should be two to three times less than that indicated on the package. When you have finished feeding, loosen the topsoil in the pot.

Circumcision procedure

Only old specimens that have practically lost their attractiveness are subjected to pruning. Pruning is usually done one year after planting. All stems are shortened by more than half. In this situation, the bush will transform, because new side shoots from dormant buds will actively grow. In some situations, flower growers give the plant an original shape.

How to propagate Selaginella?

Selaginella: photo of a houseplant

Selaginella is propagated by dividing the bush, cuttings, seeds (spores).

Method of dividing the bush

In frequent cases, reproduction is carried out by dividing the bush, because it is very quick and easy. You need to take an adult bush that has grown well, divide it into several fragments. Each division, even a small one, can easily take root after planting in an individual container.

Propagation by cuttings

Cuttings are prepared first. For this purpose, a part of the shoot is cut from the bush, more than thirty mm in length. To root it, you need to take a container with a lid filled with a wet mixture containing peat and sand. Place the cutting on a surface soil layer, sprinkle one end with a little potting mix and cover the container with a lid.

Remove the container in warmth and shade. After growing small roots from the cutting, it is planted in an individual container of small size. For the showiness and density of the bush, not one stalk is planted in one container, but several, for example, five. When planting, it is worth making sure that there is no contact between their slices.

You can use a glass of water to root the cuttings. A specialized preparation for root formation is added to it, for example, "Zircon" or "Kornevin". The container is closed on top with polyethylene, and then it is placed in the shade and warmth. With the correct execution of this procedure, after a while roots will appear, the cuttings can be planted in pots.

What is Selaginella sick with?

Indoor plants have a strong immunity to a large number of diseases of exotic tropical vegetation. Selaginella is resistant to various fungal infections and viruses.

Selaginella: photo of a houseplant

To understand if a healthy plant is in front of you, look at its leaves. Juicy, strong and thick leaves will make it clear that Selaginella is healthy and grown in favorable conditions for her.

If it is illiterate to look after Selaginella, then difficulties can occur.

• The surface of the soil mixture was covered with mold, the shoots lost their elasticity and their fading. It is worth inspecting the pallet and potting mix. This can happen for the reason that the substrate is constantly observed stagnation water.For a while, it is worth stopping watering, and cutting off dried or unattractive fragments. If it does not help, then transplanting the plant into a fresh soil mixture is necessary; at the time of transplanting, all the roots that have rotted are cut out. It is necessary to ensure that in the future the soil mixture does not become waterlogged.
• Yellowing and flying around the leaves. It's connected with lack of water. It is worth adjusting the frequency of watering.
• The surface of the leaves is covered with dark spots. Their appearance occurs when elevated temperature in room. You need to lower it. To this end, you can spray the bush and air with warm water two to three times a day.
• Loss of decorative appearance by the leaves. For a very bright illumination the leaves begin to fade, and due to the action of the direct sun, they can completely burn out. It is imperative to make a shade from the sun's rays.
• The bush grows slowly, its lethargy. This problem occurs due to lack of batteries. You need to add top dressing, if required. In some situations, to save the flower, it is transplanted into a fresh substrate filled with nutrients.
• Elongation of the stems, their thinning, loss of their decorative appearance by the leaves. Lack of light. You need to put the bush where it is lighter or additionally illuminate it.
• Curling and drying of the leaves. Reduced air humidity; drafts; violation of temperature conditions.
• Fading leaves. Watering soft water... Suitable water is discussed above.

Selaginella: species with names and photos

Today there are almost seven hundred varieties of Selaginella. But only twenty-five varieties are cultivated indoors. The following are the characteristics of those that are most popular with gardeners.

Selaginella martensii

This variety of Selaginella is the most popular among gardeners. Compared to other varieties, this vegetation is quite large in size, growing up to thirty cm. The stems are decorated with dense, saturated small leaves. The leaves make original patterns on the shoots.

Selaginella Martens: Photo of the variety

This species of Selaginella grows rapidly, loves moisture, a place with moderate illumination is selected for it. Root outgrowths appear on vertical shoots over the years, the shoots become drooping to the surface soil layer, after a certain period of time they take root.

Selaginella uncinata

In appearance, the plant resembles a large snowflake. The stems are tightly pressed against each other, their surface is pubescent, decorated with small leaves-needles of a light blue color.

Selaginella Kryuchkovataya: Photo of the variety

Selaginella kraussiana

This variety of Selaginella is grown as ampelous vegetation. Shoots grow up to thirty cm. They are fast-growing and hang beautifully on the sides of the container.

Selaginella Kraussa: Photo of the variety

Selaginella apoda

This type of low stature. Homeland - the North American continent. The stem is almost invisible. Only leaves are visible, creeping along the surface soil layer, thereby creating a soft and dense rug.

Selaginella Bezlegkovaya: Photo of the variety

In appearance, this vegetation resembles moss. Already in the 20th century, such an undemanding and decorative variety has become a very famous home vegetation. It is cultivated indoors as an ampelous flower. Loves moisture.

Selaginella Helvetica

This vegetation is widespread in the mountains of the Caucasian, European and Far Eastern territories. It differs from other varieties in snake-shaped stems.Greenish leaves are located in a perpendicular plane, thanks to them you can see the original patterns.

Selaginella Swiss: Photo of the variety

Selaginella willdenowii

This variety differs from others in the form of a bush. The stems are highly branched. They are decorated with lush foliage, consisting of a large number of very small leaves that are attached to the branches in two rows, reminiscent of shingles. In appearance, the variety looks like small branches of an ephedra. The plant can be grown in pots as ampelous.

Selaginella Vildenova: Photo of the variety

Selaginella lepidophylla

This variety differs from others in its originality. She comes from the Mexican deserts of Chihuahua. In wild plants, when there is drought and heat for a long time, life processes stop, the bush curls up into a ball. In a ball, a bush can be for a very long time, up to a hundred years, with the formation of positive conditions, it comes to life. Because of this sign, the flower was called the "Rose of Jericho" and "The Resurrection Flower".

Selaginella Scale-leaved: Photo of the variety

When dried, this plant is stored in a wardrobe, because it can scare away various pests, for example, moths. In the dried form, the flower is stored for 100 years. This original flower can be purchased in a special store in the form of a dry glomerulus (cryptobiosis).

After immersing the bush together with the container in water, it will instantly come to life. The transformation will be quick, in one hour the branches will straighten and turn green. In a day, the dried glomerulus will turn into a spectacular lush plant. Shoots will cover bunches of dissected small leaves.

How is Selaginella beneficial?

Since ancient times, Hindus and Chinese have used different fragments of Selaginella to cure various diseases. Selaginella lowers fever, cleanses the body. It was used to cure diseases of the urinary system and liver, to improve the well-being of a person who suffered from sunstroke.

Selaginella: photo of a houseplant

In a number of countries, official medicine uses spores as a powder for bedsores. Today, experiments show that in the composition of the varieties of this culture there are substances that are curative for the treatment of malignant tumors.

There are no poisons in Selaginella, so it can be used to decorate rooms where children and pets live. Before decorating your apartment with this plant, keep in mind that it is spore, so it will not bloom. But even without flowers, the culture looks very decorative, since it has openwork leaves of a bright green color. If you take proper care of Selaginella, then outwardly she will be very attractive all year round.