Overview

Introduce the captivating beauty of the golden spikemoss live plant, botanically known as Selaginella kraussiana ‘Aurea’, to your indoor plant collection. This unique and primitive plant, often called a fern ally, adds a splash of vibrant, golden-green color and delicate texture to any setting. Though it produces spores, it is not a true fern, but shares similar preferences, making it an excellent choice for those who appreciate lush, moisture-loving foliage. Perfect for creating miniature landscapes, the golden spikemoss live plant is highly sought after for terrariums, fairy gardens, and shaded indoor containers. Its creeping habit forms dense, soft mounds, gracefully sprawling to enhance the natural aesthetic of your botanical displays. This particular variety, ‘Aurea’, stands out with its bright, almost iridescent golden hues, offering a striking contrast to other green plants.

The selaginella kraussiana aurea is a fascinating species from a genus comprising over 700 varieties. It’s known for its scale-like leaves and its ability to create a visually rich groundcover. Whether you’re a seasoned plant enthusiast or a beginner looking for something distinctive, this plant offers both aesthetic appeal and a unique botanical experience. It’s an excellent choice for adding a touch of the wild to your home or office, thriving in conditions that mimic its natural, humid forest floor habitat. With its relatively easy care requirements for those who can provide ample moisture, it’s a rewarding addition to any indoor garden.

Key Benefits

The golden spikemoss live plant offers numerous benefits, making it an excellent choice for various indoor gardening projects. Its unique appearance and growth habit contribute significantly to creating dynamic and visually appealing plantscapes, especially in humid environments where it truly flourishes. This plant is not only beautiful but also quite versatile in its applications.

• Exceptional Aesthetic Appeal: The vibrant golden-green foliage of selaginella kraussiana aurea adds a cheerful and bright accent to any terrarium, fairy garden, or shaded indoor planter, creating a captivating visual display.
• Ideal for High Humidity Environments: This plant thrives in moist, humid conditions, making it perfectly suited for closed terrariums, cloches, or bathrooms where other plants might struggle.
• Natural Groundcover: Its creeping growth habit allows it to form dense, soft carpets, effectively covering soil and adding a lush, natural look to your miniature landscapes, resembling moss but with more intricate foliage.
• Unique Botanical Interest: As a fern ally, it offers a distinct primitive plant form, providing an interesting conversation starter and a unique addition to a diverse plant collection.
• Low Light Tolerance: While it appreciates bright, indirect light, golden spikemoss live plant can tolerate lower light conditions, making it suitable for less illuminated indoor spots.
• Enhances Miniature Gardens: The delicate texture and compact growth of this spikemoss for terrariums integrate seamlessly into small-scale garden designs, providing a sense of scale and depth.
• Air Purifying Qualities: Like many houseplants, Selaginella contributes to a healthier indoor environment by helping to filter airborne toxins, improving overall air quality.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your golden spikemoss live plant is straightforward if you understand its fundamental requirements, which largely mirror those of ferns. The key to success lies in maintaining consistent moisture and high humidity. This plant prefers bright, indirect light. Avoid direct sunlight, which can scorch its delicate leaves and dry out the soil quickly. An east-facing window or a spot several feet away from a south or west-facing window is often ideal. If growing in a terrarium, the enclosed environment will naturally provide the necessary humidity and diffused light.

Watering is crucial for the health of selaginella kraussiana aurea. The soil should be kept consistently moist but never waterlogged. Allow the top layer of soil to just begin to dry out before watering again. Using distilled or rainwater can prevent mineral buildup, which this sensitive plant appreciates. High humidity is non-negotiable; aim for 70% or higher. Misting regularly, placing the pot on a pebble tray with water, or using a humidifier can help. For those interested in optimal golden spikemoss care, a closed terrarium provides the perfect self-sustaining humid environment. The ideal temperature range for this plant is between 60-75°F (15-24°C), avoiding sudden temperature fluctuations. Most well-draining potting mixes will work, but adding peat moss or coco coir can help retain moisture. Fertilize sparingly, if at all, with a diluted liquid fertilizer during the growing season (spring and summer).

Common problems often stem from a lack of humidity or insufficient watering, leading to crispy, browning leaves. If this occurs, increase humidity and check your watering schedule. Pests are rarely an issue for this robust fern ally plant when kept in proper conditions. Ensure good air circulation, especially in terrariums, to prevent fungal issues. Propagation can be done through stem cuttings or by dividing larger clumps. Simply place cuttings on moist soil, and they will typically root quickly given warm, humid conditions. With consistent attention to its moisture and humidity needs, your golden spikemoss live plant will thrive and provide a beautiful, verdant accent to your home.

Size & Details

This offering is for one golden spikemoss live plant, Selaginella kraussiana ‘Aurea’, shipped in a convenient 2.5-inch nursery pot. The plant will arrive healthy and well-rooted, ready for immediate placement in your terrarium, fairy garden, or preferred container. While the exact height and spread will vary slightly with each individual plant, it typically forms a compact, creeping mat, spreading horizontally rather than gaining significant vertical height. Expect your plant to arrive with lush, vibrant golden-green foliage, showcasing its characteristic scale-like leaves.

Golden spikemoss for terrariums is known for its relatively fast growth rate in ideal conditions, quickly forming a dense carpet. It will continue to spread and fill its environment, creating a natural and verdant groundcover. This plant is delivered as a live, established specimen, ensuring a good start for your gardening project. The 2.5-inch pot size is perfect for integrating into small-scale designs or as a starter plant for larger displays, providing ample root structure for successful transplanting and continued growth.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this golden spikemoss live plant get? A: This plant is a low-growing, creeping variety. It typically spreads horizontally, forming a dense mat that can cover several inches or more, rather than growing tall. Its height usually remains under 2-3 inches.
• Q: What size pot does it come in? A: The golden spikemoss live plant is shipped in a 2.5-inch nursery pot, perfectly sized for transplanting into terrariums, fairy gardens, or other small decorative containers.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: While it can be grown outdoors in very specific, consistently humid and shaded climates (like USDA zones 9-11), it is primarily cultivated as an indoor plant due to its high humidity requirements, making it ideal for terrariums and indoor containers.
• Q: How much sunlight does selaginella kraussiana aurea need? A: It thrives in bright, indirect light. Direct sunlight can easily scorch its delicate foliage. A north or east-facing window is often ideal, or a shaded spot in a well-lit room.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: It is considered moderately easy to care for, provided its specific needs for high humidity and consistent moisture are met. Once these conditions are established, golden spikemoss care is quite manageable.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your golden spikemoss live plant will arrive healthy and well-packaged, with its roots established in the 2.5-inch nursery pot, ready for you to introduce it to its new home.
• Q: Is spikemoss for terrariums pet-safe? A: Yes, Selaginella species, including golden spikemoss, are generally considered non-toxic to pets according to various plant toxicity lists, making them a safe choice for homes with animals.
• Q: What is the best soil for this fern ally plant? A: A well-draining potting mix that also retains moisture is best. A mix formulated for ferns or tropical plants, often containing peat moss or coco coir, is highly suitable.
• Q: How often should I water my golden spikemoss live plant? A: Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Water when the top layer of soil just begins to feel dry to the touch, which might be every few days depending on your environment.
• Q: Can I propagate this plant? A: Yes, selaginella kraussiana aurea can be easily propagated from stem cuttings. Simply place a cutting on moist soil in a humid environment, and it should root within a few weeks.