That being said, if like me you can’t resist a shiny blue plant, there are other notable iridescent terrarium plants such as the Blue Oil Fern ( Microsorum thailandicum) and the Peacock Begonia ( Begonia pavonina). uncinata to speak of.Īlso, as much as I’d love to find a range of beautiful iridescent Selaginella, I think this is the only one that’s available. There’s a huge amount of variety in the Selaginellagenus , but no other specific varieties of S. It shouldn’t take long to root up and establish like this. Open it up every now and again for some airflow and to check if it needs a spray. I find the most straightforward way is to snip off a decent-sized chunk and pop it in a Tupperware box on some moist sphagnum moss. Good news for your friends and family and local plant swap group! In fact, they naturally root from their tips as part of their creeping growth habit, so cuttings of most descriptions are viable. uncinata is easy to propagate through both stem cuttings and division. PropagationĪs with other Selaginella species, S. The Selaginella will easily grow to cover the space in this terrarium.īut more Selaginella is better, right? And more growth means more to propagate. Given enough time, you can expect it to cover the ground of most terrariums and, in a pot, begin spilling out of the sides – so it will likely need trimming semi-regularly. It spreads like a river flowing across land (helped by its blue sheen, naturally), with beautiful shingled foliage unfurling across your pot or terrarium container. Peacock Spikemoss will generally only reach a few inches in height, but it can grow much wider. It would appreciate tropical highs of 80☏ (26☌) and 90% humidity.īut, as long as you avoid temperatures lower than 55☏ (12☌) and humidity levels lower than 50%, you’ll keep your Selaginella happy. While it will appreciate as much warmth and humidity as you can give it, it’s actually surprisingly hardy and can tolerate a range of temperatures (so it’ll be comfortable in the home too). It is a versatile tropical plant, after all. Honestly, in a terrarium environment, you’re unlikely to run into any problems with the Peacock Fern. I also grow my Selaginella uncinata in a tub of sphagnum moss where it can easily root up and find moisture. Remember to add a natural fertilizer like earthworm castings, and you’re good to go. Horticultural charcoal and vermiculite are great. To balance this, use a high-quality base (like coco coir) and choose substrate supplements that boost drainage and retain moisture. The Peacock Fern will fare well in this mossy tropical terrarium. If you’re popping it in a terrarium, however – since this plant is so moisture loving – you’ll need to make sure you don’t swamp your other plants with water. The only real requirement is that you’ll really need a substrate mix with good water retention, as it has such shallow roots. Thankfully, the Peacock Fern isn’t overly demanding when it comes to substrate choice. Remember it’s much easier to add water than remove it. This textured plant will do best with consistent, regular watering.ĭespite being a thirsty plant, in a terrarium it’s still better to be overly cautious. Like ferns, this plant needs watering more frequently than most of my tropical houseplants, so make sure you test the soil with your finger every couple of days to see if it needs a drink. In fact, it’s pretty hard to overwater. Over-involved plant parents rejoice! Living up to its “fern” namesake, this plant thrives in environments with consistent moisture. And, the good thing is, you can’t overdo it, so expect lots of growth. Its unique frilled texture looks wonderful when highlighted with artificial lighting. It’s a fantastic candidate for some badass terrarium lighting. However, if you live in the Southern hemisphere, then a South-facing window sill is perfect.īut remember, low light doesn’t mean no light, and if you can’t get it enough natural sunlight, then you’ll need to supplement. If you’re in the Northern hemisphere, a North-facing windowsill is the best bet it will only ever receive indirect light there. (I was lucky enough to see this one in real life in Malaysia!) In its native environment, it grows on the forest floor and doesn’t receive much light. It is definitely one to keep out of direct sunlight, though, as its delicate foliage will quickly scorch. Selaginella uncinata is a true low-light plant, and its brilliant blue hue stays vibrant under minimal light conditions.
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