Photo: Quartl · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Spikemoss
Selaginella kraussiana
Feathery, fern-like ground cover. One of the few plants that genuinely needs sealed humidity to look its best.
- Terrarium type
- Closed
- Terrarium size
- Small
- Light
- Low to medium
- Care level
- Moderate
- Growth habit
- Carpet
- Pet safety
- Non-toxic to pets
Growing Spikemoss in a terrarium
Where to place it
Use it as a low, feathery ground cover in the shadier parts of a closed terrarium. Low to medium light is plenty; strong light bleaches and crisps the fronds.
Watering & humidity
It genuinely needs sealed, saturated humidity to look its best — keep the substrate damp and the vessel closed. It has no tolerance for drying out.
Watch out for
The fronds crisp up fast if humidity drops, and unlike nerve plant they don't always recover. If it's browning, the terrarium isn't holding enough moisture.
Reference: Selaginella kraussiana on Wikipedia.
Spikemoss FAQ
Can Spikemoss grow in a closed terrarium?+
Yes — Spikemoss (Selaginella kraussiana) thrives in a closed terrarium. The sealed glass traps the constant, high humidity it needs, and it tolerates the lower light inside a covered vessel.
Can Spikemoss grow in an open terrarium?+
It isn't recommended. Spikemoss (Selaginella kraussiana) wants the constant humidity of a sealed, closed terrarium and will quickly dry out and crisp up in an open, airy one.
What size terrarium does Spikemoss need?+
Spikemoss suits a small terrarium — jars & bottles. It has a carpet growth habit, so plan its position with that in mind and trim or divide it if it starts to outgrow the glass.
Is Spikemoss easy to care for?+
Spikemoss is rated moderate to care for in a terrarium. Feathery, fern-like ground cover. One of the few plants that genuinely needs sealed humidity to look its best. The fronds crisp up fast if humidity drops, and unlike nerve plant they don't always recover. If it's browning, the terrarium isn't holding enough moisture.
How much light does Spikemoss need?+
Spikemoss does best in low to medium light. Keep it out of direct sun, which magnifies through glass and scorches leaves. Use it as a low, feathery ground cover in the shadier parts of a closed terrarium. Low to medium light is plenty; strong light bleaches and crisps the fronds.
Is Spikemoss safe for cats and dogs?+
Spikemoss (Selaginella kraussiana) is generally considered non-toxic to cats and dogs; it isn't on the ASPCA toxic-plant list.
