This fernlike plant grows best in a terrarium with lots of humidity.
These plants are best suited for morehumid indoor locations like bathroomsandgrowing in terrariums.
Besides needing relatively high humidity, spike moss will thrive with very little maintenance.
Credit:Imagenavi / Getty Images
Due to their shallow root systems, a deep pot or container is not necessary.
ensure roots are covered, and water well after planting.
Soil and Water
Plant spike moss inlight, loamy soil with good water retentionand excellent drainage.
While these plants can handle periods of dryness, they do best when their soil is kept moist.
Dry, hot temperatures should also be avoided, and high humidity is crucial to good growth.
Fertilizer
Very little fertilizer is necessary when growing spikemoss in soils rich in organic matter like compost.
While humidity should remain high, plants should never sit with their roots in water.
How to Propagate Spike Moss
The easiest way to propagate spike moss is tothrough cuttings.
Move cuttings into a new pot and lightly cover the roots in moist potting soil.
These plants lack the normal amount of chlorophyll found in the species and can be somewhat less hardy.
Give these plants very bright, but indirect light to provide enough energy for growth while avoidingburning them.
Another common variety is Brownii, which produces thicker, mounding masses that spread much slower than other varieties.
Companion Plants for Spike Moss
Spike moss is somewhat slow-growing and remains low to the soil level.
Grow them with less aggressiveterrarium plantsto avoid drowning them out.
Smaller ferns such as tropicalmaidenhairs (e.g.Adiantum tenerum)and carnivorous plants likepitcher plants (Nepenthesspp.
)work well because these plants also need high humidity and lots of moisture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Spike moss is not poisonous for humans or other animals.
In some environments, this plant can grow out of control.
For example, it is listed as invasive in New Zealand.
There are hundreds of species in the genusSelaginellathough only a few are cultivated, usually as houseplants.
