Selaginella scaly: home care and main types
Content:
Delicate and whimsical selaginella as a plant is presented in many varieties, has several names. For example, the scum (refers to the ancient group of scones) A distinctive feature is the ability to be dormant for up to several years.
Drying up in the form of a dense ball, it can quickly wake up in the presence of water. It is a desert as well as a spore form of vegetation, first described by botanists in 1830. Representatives grow all over the planet, excluding areas with cold climates.
Main varieties
The Selaginella species includes over 700 subspecies. They are all fern-like or moss-like, found in humid places, preferring shade. Reaching 20 cm when grown at home, in the tropics they stretch up to 2 meters.
Selaginella - an ornamental plant
Liana types can be 20 m in size. Only 25 varieties are grown in the room, then several of them.
Selaginella Martens
Selaginella martensii variety (selaginella martensii) grows in America, USA. The bush with erect stems is 30 cm high. The foliage is green, but there is a variety with silvery plate tips. Selaginella Martens resembles a fern, has aerial roots that go down to the ground. The plant is popular for its decorative qualities, patterned foliage.
Selaginella Kraussa
This representative is native to South Africa, characterized by creeping stems. There are 2 types: with yellow-green and white variegated leaves. The height of the plant selaginella of the Krauss variety is 2 cm, the miniature leaves resemble a fern.
Selaginella Kraussa
The shoots are flexible, the root outgrowths help to form whole carpets.
Selaginella Apoda
Another name is scum. The Selaginella plant of the Apoda variety forms soddy cushions similar to moss. It grows up to 20 cm, belongs to the creeping type. Homeland is Canada, where natural growth occurs.
Selaginella Jory
The plant looks like light green foam, has a spherical crown. The stem stands upright, reaching 20 cm. Selaginella of the Jori variety is also called Yori.
Jory
There are also other options for indoor breeding. For example, pegless selaginella subspecies looks beautiful in a pot.
Home care
Selaginella does not tolerate drafts, wind, drought. It can grow in peat-rich soil, sand and water bodies. Some people use it for planting in an aquarium and decorative ponds.
Planting and care are special in the plant selaginella rose of Jericho. Cycles are composed of sleep and wake time intervals. For the first, you just need to stop moisturizing. What to do if it's time for an instance to wake up:
- Prepare a container for the process.
- Place the plant there, add water, fill it.
- Wait and watch the instance wake up, which happens throughout the day.
According to some reports, such a representative of the flora can remain without water for 100 years. Moreover, a dry period is necessary.Describing the selaginella plant and proper home care, it should be noted: the absence of such a break in hydration leads to death.
The rest 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 variety, dry and green
The selaginella revival flower is used by some families as a symbol. Provide her awakening for the holiday, decorate the table.
Sun protection
Direct sunlight on a plant that is open to them is not tolerated by it. Therefore, the flower is placed in natural light, but taking into account this circumstance. It is allowed to use artificial sources for highlighting. Shady conditions are fine. You will need a stable temperature from 17 to 26 ° C, without drops, otherwise health may be damaged.
Watering and looseness of the soil
Selaginella, whose care is based on changes in humidity and drought, does not need to be planted. It can persist for a long time in the form of a ball without soil, experiencing a period of rest. At the right time, you need to place it in a bowl of water. After a few hours, the plant will come to life. After waking up, you need to water it for 2 weeks. Then let him fall asleep again, depriving him of water for 14 days. This species of flora remains calm even for 50-100 years. This is mainly the case for selaginella lepidophylla.
Selaginella is placed in a terrarium, made part of a desert garden, and provided with a plate. The soil is pebbles, sand, containers with water, which must be replaced regularly if it is standing, otherwise acidification will occur.
In nature, the flower lives in areas with rare rains and is adapted to wait for them indefinitely. With the onset of precipitation, the leaves soon turn green. The rules for watering and keeping in the soil are as follows:
- The Selaginella species of Lepidophyll, 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 humid environment, as well as sprayed.
- The leaves should not get excessively wet, otherwise they will start to deteriorate.
- The water should be left tough without adding chemicals.
- Having decided to keep the plant in the soil, sphagnum moss is added. Selaginella loves high peat content.
Revitalizing in water
If you want to transplant, you need to do the transshipment. Moreover, the procedure should be rare, because this room culture has fragile roots. Such a moment comes when the container is completely filled with plant matter. An aerial root system can also form.
Top dressing
Selaginella does not need fertilization either. 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 feeding in the traditional sense does not exist for him. The fact that Selaginella was deprived of a rest period can lead to death. This representative of the flora is very ancient, is a contemporary of the dinosaurs.
Reproduction methods
Reproduction of selaginella in nature occurs during the rainy season. When they end, the plant once again goes to rest. An old bush may have a phenomenon - exposing the stems. They need to be updated, separated. The fern and the Selaginella plant reproduce in similar ways, that is, by spores, but also by seedlings.
By dividing the bush
Old bushes are divided, thus using 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 with small leaves are used, which are placed in water. The roots will appear after a while.
In conclusion, we can say that the shrub is not susceptible to attack by pests. Although the spider mite needs to be eliminated. This is done with a soapy solution. Selaginella scaly, used in indoor floriculture for decorative purposes, is not a common crop. Reaching 10 cm in height, it contains oils and vitamins that help to resurrect after a complete drought. Highly recommended for aquariums, also cultivated in greenhouses and botanical gardens.
