Selaginella Or Lymphoid (Selaginella), Species, Conditions Of Detention, Transplantation And Reproduction

2024 Author: Sebastian Paterson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:47

Selaginella or plunok is a beautiful tropical groundcover for indoor conservatories

In recent years, various original indoor plants have appeared on the shelves of flower shops in a wide range. One of these interesting flowers, in my opinion, is selaginella. This cute plant, with proper care, can decorate and diversify any collection of indoor plants.

Selaginella (Selaginella) - a beautiful delicate plant from the tropics, belongs to the Selaginella family. Homeland - South Africa, Mexico, southern USA.

These are low herbaceous branching plants. In appearance, they are very similar to the lymphoids found in our forests. Thin stems are densely covered with very small alternate leaves. About 700 species of Selaginella are known. They have shoots creeping, creeping, lodging, ascending, climbing, almost erect. Shoot length varies depending on growing conditions. Selaginella is used in indoor floriculture as a ground cover plant, some larger species can also be used as ampelous. In older specimens, the shoots are bare at the base, so they need to be updated in a timely manner.

Selaginella are spore plants, so they do not bloom, but they quickly master any warm, damp place, regardless of the composition of the soil and light.

The most popular type of indoor horticulture - Selaginella Martens (Selaginella martensii) with light-green leaves. There is a form with silvery leaf tips. This is a bush up to 30 cm high, but with age, its stems can lie down.

Selaginella round-leaved has dark green rosette shoots.

Hooked Selaginella (Selaginella uncinata) different blue-green leaves, but this color disappears in the sun. It is a highly branching species that can be grown as ampelous.

Selaginella legless (Selaginella apoda) - low plant with yellow leaves forming grass surfaces. In winter, it is kept at 12oC. It propagates best by dividing the bush.

Kraus Selaginella (Selaginella kraussiana) has creeping stems and leaves are yellowish-green with white tips. Very smart look. Can be used as an ampelous plant. In winter, it is also kept at 12 degrees Celsius.

Selaginella Emmelya (Selaginella emmeliana) - small shrub with small leaves, reminiscent of a small fir tree.

Selaginella Lepidophylla (Selaginella lepidophylla) is very different from other species. This is a plant from the desert places of America, it is also called the "Jericho rose". It dries up in the hot desert and grows rapidly during the rainy season. On sale, it is still found in the form of a brown heap of matted stems, which turns into a dense green bush after immersion in water.

Conditions for keeping Selaginella

At first glance, it seems that Selaginella is rather unpretentious. But this is far from the case. She loves warmth and moisture very much, does not tolerate drafts. Already at temperatures below 18 ° C, it slows down growth. Only Selaginella legless and Selaginella Kraus winter in the cool (10 … 12 ° С). The rest of the species - at 16 … 18 ° C. When exposed to direct sunlight, it burns the leaves and can completely dry out. Therefore, you need to keep it in a slightly shaded place with diffused light or on northern windows. It grows well under artificial lighting.

The soil should be moist all the time, it should not even be allowed to dry out for a short time. Selaginella does not like dry air in the room, the leaves begin to die off, its decorative effect is lost. To make this sissy feel comfortable, abundant watering and frequent spraying with soft warm water, preferably boiled, is necessary. To maintain the humidity of the earthy coma and air, the pot with the plant is placed in a tray filled with moist peat. In winter, during the dormant period, watering is reduced to a minimum.

In the period from March to September, selaginella is fed twice a month with a half dose of fertilizer for decorative leafy plants.

Transplant and reproduction

It is better to plant selaginella in a shallow wide container with good drainage and loose soil. When transplanting, you do not need to tamp and compact the earth - it should be as loose as possible. Ready-made soil "Saintpaulia" or "Begonia" will do. You can mix in equal parts peat and turf soil with the addition of a small amount of chopped moss or sand. This option is also suitable: peat, turf soil and sand in a ratio of 2: 1: 1.

A highly overgrown plant can be transplanted into a larger pot using the transfer method. You do not need to deepen, just add the required amount of soil from all sides. After that, selaginella must be watered and covered with foil for several days. This will promote the formation of new roots on the regrown shoots.

Selaginella reproduces quite simply: by dividing a bush or cuttings. The cuttings are placed on loose, moist soil, sprinkled on their base, watered and placed under a film in a warm place away from direct sunlight. It is important to keep the soil constantly moist. You can also root cut cuttings in water. Some species of selaginella, upon contact with the soil, form roots on the stem, then it is enough to simply separate such a rooted part of the plant and plant it in a pot.

Some problems may arise if the containment conditions are violated:

The ends of the stems wrinkle, dry and die off - with very dry indoor air and rare watering of the plant. Pale leaves, elongated stems and poor growth of Selaginella - too dark place or lack of nutrients.

Drying and turning brown stem tips - from exposure to direct sunlight, drying out of the soil. And if leaves and stems turn brown and die, it means that the air temperature is too high - over 19 ° C.

The plant withers, becomes soft to the touch - with too abundant watering and dense soil, the roots suffocate and rot from this.

In general, Selaginella is quite resistant to diseases and is practically not damaged by pests.

Selaginella, planted in an aquarium, looks very original. There are no drafts and it is easier to achieve the necessary microclimate for it. And those who like to create original compositions can plant an arrowroot or a fern on it, add a couple of small pebbles and get a nice mini-landscape that pleases the soul and caresses the eye.