Native Selaginella-Section Tetragonostachys Update Pot Culture

16 years ago

I have been growing diffeent species of USA native Selaginella species of the Tetragonostachys section-these are the type that are moss-like in appearance and not the commonly seen members of the Stachygynandrum section plants of S. kraussiana that are sold.

I have constructed two major journals on cultural experiments but without any real time to prepare an update I am adding some relevent info here.

The journal on Repotting can be found here:

click here

On growing media tests Click here

UPDATE:

I have changed my overall treatment of these plants. The main reason why is because of the overwhelming growth of mosses and liverworts that simply choked out some of my test plants.

My current culture is to only spray or water the plants near dusk and to let them dry out during the day without any spraying or watering at all.

I am doing this with all my plants, most of which I have repotted into a new mix November 2009:

2 parts granitic gravel

1 part peat moss

1 part coir

The plants are responding quite well to this culture and

moss growth seems to be curtailed enough for the Selags to

grow well. Photographic documentation will occur sometime in November 2010.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

terrestrial_man
Original Author
16 years ago
This past week, July 15 to July 21, 2010, I did weeding and clean up on the selaginellas, most of which I had repotted last November 2009. My plant bench the plants sit upon is exposed to around 4 hours of light, occasionally more, daily. This sunlight exposure occurs during mid-morning into mid-afternoon.
Currently I am only watering or spraying the plants during the late afternoon or early evening hours before sunset which is occurring around 8PM. I am doing this to help deter the growth of moss and liverworts in the pots of the selaginellas. So far the surviving plants are doing better than I had expected.
The most important observation is that with Selaginella underwoodii. This species appears to do much better in a more shaded spot than in a more exposed spot. I am guessing that just two hours of direct sunlight is as much as the species needs.
Further journals and relevant documentation will follow.
Lynda Waldrep
16 years ago
I like Selaginellas, but I don't think the ones I have are natives. Interesting to know how many natives there are. Thanks for posting.
Related Discussions
Dendrobium kingianum potting advice -- newby
Q
Comments (23)
OK, I get the idea. (Sorry if it has taken me so long). This is the smallest pot I can find, perhaps apart from putting it in an egg-cup! The pot is plastic, drains very well, and less than 3 inches diameter (7 cm) at the top. It now has a few pieces of bark (about half of the contents of the terracotta pot) and some small pebbles. I have tried to make sure it all stays in, pressing it down gently, though the roots are quite springy. I don't think I can go smaller without leaving out all bark and stones completely! I gave the bark a good soaking before repotting. After the traumatic double-repotting should I fertilise or not? And how often should I water it? Just treat it as normal, or with special care? I am very conscious of this plant not liking its roots to be disturbed! Here is a link that might be useful:
...See More
Selaginella-got a favorite?
Q
Comments (18)
Here is a list of the Selaginella species of Georgia: There are two sections: 1. Tetragonostachys 2. Stachygynandrum the first are moss like and the second are like the common Selaginella kraussiana that is sold in many garden centers under a variety of names. 1. tetragonostachys: acanthonota, arenicola, rupestris, tortipila 2. stachygynandrum: apoda, ludoviciana There are several members of stachgynandrum that are of foreign origin that have been naturalized in the state. I have excluded them from the above list. For more info check out my site (link below) On growing Lycopodium: there is some belief that these club mosses have a commensual relationship with certain soil fungi in order to survive. I have no clue but would tend to think that not enough is really known to make such a statement. More information is really needed on the soil characteristics that these plants grow in, including temperatures and the seasonal variations of the characterisitics. I tend to think that for the creeping species that die back is normal on the older stems as the colony advances outward. I would think the easiest member to grow would be the semi aquatic Lycopodiella species. Here is a link that might be useful: The Genus Selaginella
...See More
Any tips on caring for Selaginella uncinata?
Q
Comments (17)
Interesting discussion. Have not grown S.uncinata as an indoor plant, so can't really address the culture requirements necessary in that environment. I have a patch, about 100+ sq.ft., in my garden and I have ignored it for many years. It continues to expand, seemingly at an exponential rate through the years, from the tiny 4" potted plant start. It has crossed a stone path, via runners embedded in the cracks between the stones and tumbled over a stone wall and is now invading my lawn. The soil is red clay, ammended by compost from fallen leaves of a Sweet Gum tree and Pine needles. I haven't tested the soil, but assume it is very acidic. It has been in total shade (summer) for many years, until 2 years ago, when the adjacent property owner cut down a large, healthy Southern Magnolia tree. The part that is exposed, now receives about 3-4 hrs. of direct morning sunlight. There are a number of other herbaceous perrenials. shrubs & bulbs that co-exist with the moss and provide shade, as the moss will readily grow underneath them. With our winter temperatures of often 0Â°F, or less, it is not evergreen and usually goes dormant afer the 1st freeze. I have seldom irrigated that area, until the neighboring tree was removed and the direct sun exposure now necessitates watering of some plants. I have removed many sections and potted up for friends and it recovers so rapidly that within a few weeks, you couldn't determine where it had been removed. I have 6 other species of Selaginella and this one is, by far, the most interesting and easiest to grow, maybe excepting S. stauntoniana, which produces gemmae more prolifically than it's look-alike, S. moellendorffii. I now have some S. uncinata potted, for friends that neglected to come and collect them, but they are overwintering outdoors. Will see how they fare, come spring! Coldest temperature we have experienced so far this winter has been 18Â°F. Rb
...See More
What's Everyone Working On?
Q
Comments (5)
Not all that much of working on the native plants that I grow as well as do cultural research with (Selaginella, Lycopodium, and moss species). Got a variety of native plants in pots and some species in the landscaping in my front yard my time is currently restricted to finishing up on reroofing my home-and this is a slow paced job. My primary objective at this time is to finish up on the web journal of the Tetragonostachys section of the genus Selaginella (the species that are typified by the eastern species S. rupestris) with the last plant that I have yet to confirm an identification of though I am leaning heavily towards S. leucobryoides. These journals are to provide both information and assistance on important characteristics of the species for identification purposes. The link below is to the Selaginella section of the journals I have up at Photobucket. The most interesting project I have had recently is the sowing of seeds of Aquilegia mexicana, a yellow flowered columbine) and their successful germination. They have set out their first set of leaves and when much larger I will be breaking up the flat and repotting into individual pots and possibly planting into the front garden, somewhere?? Here is a link that might be useful: Selaginella web journals
...See More
terrestrial_man
Original Author
16 years ago
Glad to hear from someone who likes Selaginellas. There are three native species in your part of the country.
Click on the name to eflora treatment or USDA image
This is the only member of the Stachygynandrum section:
Selaginella apoda

{{gwi:1064707}}

I currently grow apoda outside and I consider it to be a weed species as I have found it coming up in other moss pots! I cannot believe that it can handle our winters as it looks so delicate.
There are two members of the Tetragonostachys section in the Carolinas:
Selaginella rupestris

{{gwi:599025}}
The USDA did not have an image so I am using my own. I am currently growing this in two different pots. It is hanging on. In one the selaginella was really a nice population but it got overran by mosses and liverworts-reason why I changed my culture to only spraying or watering in the evening daily (maybe depending on weather). But a few days ago I made images of all the pots of selaginella on the bench and noticed in the image of this particular pot that rupestris had survived and there were strobili poking out of the mass of mosses and liverworts!! (Will share images later.)
AND the other species is:
Selaginella tortipila

image of S. tortipila

This species is unknown to me. It only occurs in the Carolinas down into Georgia but apparently is fairly common and is found in rocky places.
All three of these species should be fairly easy to grow in pots.
Lynda Waldrep
16 years ago
I will be hiking in the mts. next week and will look for them. I am also slated for a hike the first weekend in Oct., so perhaps with some of the other forbs gone, I will have a chance to see some. Thanks for the information.
terrestrial_man
Original Author
16 years ago
Nrescue,
Hope you have a digital camera! Please do take plenty of pics especially of the S. tortipila, if you run across it, as there are almost no images of it on the net.
Habitat images are also needed for almost all of the native Selaginellas. Alot of my culture experiments are based upon second hand info from the net on what I believe the environmental conditions are that many species are found under during the course of an entire year.
Your best bet for finding apoda is in low lying pockets by streamlets or where you would find moisture, mosses, and ferns. For rupestris and tortipila look for clearings with rocky outcrops or screes of decomposing rocks, gravels that may be exposed to some sun during the day. Once you see one in its habitat then you will know what to watch for. There is a definite relationship between the type of habitat and the presence of the selags.

Native Selaginella-Section Tetragonostachys Update Pot Culture

Comments (5)

terrestrial_man
Original Author

Lynda Waldrep

Related Discussions

terrestrial_man
Original Author

Lynda Waldrep

terrestrial_man
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Native Selaginella-Section Tetragonostachys Update Pot Culture

Comments (5)

terrestrial_manOriginal Author

Lynda Waldrep

Related Discussions

terrestrial_manOriginal Author

Lynda Waldrep

terrestrial_manOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

terrestrial_man
Original Author

terrestrial_man
Original Author

terrestrial_man
Original Author