Looking for a lush, low-maintenance plant to cover bare soil in your indoor pots? Meet Selaginella kraussiana, an easy-care indoor groundcover that brings a carpet of vibrant green to your home. Often called spreading clubmoss or Krauss’s spikemoss, this plant is not a true moss but a primitive, ancient plant with a wonderful texture. It’s perfect for creating a miniature landscape under taller houseplants or in a terrarium.
It thrives in the consistent conditions our homes provide, making it a reliable choice for beginners and experts alike. If you want a touch of the forest floor without any complicated care, this is the plant for you.
Selaginella Kraussiana – Easy-Care Indoor Groundcover
This plant forms a dense mat of tiny, fern-like leaves on delicate, creeping stems. It rarely grows more than a few inches tall, but it can spread quite happily to fill the space you give it. The bright green color can even take on a golden hue in some light conditions, adding to its visual appeal.
It’s a fantastic solution for those awkward, shallow pots or for covering the soil surface of larger plants like fiddle leaf figs or dracaenas. This not only looks attractive but also helps retain soil moisture for the main plant.
Why Choose This Plant for Your Home
There are several compelling reasons to bring Selaginella kraussiana into your indoor garden. First, its growth habit is uniquely suited for coverage. It quickly fills in empty spaces, creating a unified, finished look for your plant displays.
Second, it’s remarkably adaptable to indoor light levels. While it prefers bright, indirect light, it can tolerate lower light situations better than many flowering plants. Finally, it asks for very little in return for its beauty. Consistent moisture and humidity are its main requests, which are easy to provide.
- Visual Texture: Adds a soft, feathery texture that contrasts beautifully with broad-leaved plants.
- Soil Protection: Acts as a living mulch, reducing evaporation and protecting soil from direct air exposure.
- Versatility: Thrives in pots, terrariums, and even as a hanging plant where its trails can spill over edges.
The Ideal Growing Environment
Getting the environment right is the key to success with this groundcover. Think about where it grows in nature: on damp, shaded forest floors. Recreating that atmosphere in your home is simpler than it sounds.
Light Requirements
Selaginella kraussiana prefers bright, indirect light. An east-facing window is often perfect. A north-facing window can also work well. If you only have a south or west window, place the plant a few feet back from the glass or use a sheer curtain to filter the intense sun.
Direct sunlight will scorch its delicate leaves, causing them to turn brown and crispy. In too little light, growth will become very slow and the stems may stretch out weakly. If you notice this, just move it to a brighter spot.
Soil and Potting Needs
The right soil is crucial because it needs to stay evenly moist but never soggy. A standard potting mix is often too heavy and retains to much water. You can easily amend it.
Use a well-draining, peat-based potting mix. A good recipe is to combine two parts regular potting soil with one part perlite and one part peat moss or coco coir. This ensures moisture retention with excellent drainage. The pot must have drainage holes to prevent root rot.
Temperature and Humidity
This plant enjoys the same temperatures you do, ideally between 60°F and 75°F (15°C – 24°C). Protect it from cold drafts from windows or doors in winter, and from direct blasts from heating or air conditioning vents.
Humidity is where this plant shows its tropical side. Average home humidity is often to low, especially in winter. Browning leaf tips are a common sign of dry air.
- Group plants together to create a humid microclimate.
- Place the pot on a pebble tray filled with water (ensure the pot sits above the water line).
- Use a room humidifier nearby, which is the most effective method.
- Frequent, fine misting can help, but it’s a temporary solution.
Your Care Routine Made Simple
A simple, consistent routine is all this plant asks for. Once you understand its rhythm, care becomes second nature.
Watering Your Selaginella
The goal is to keep the soil consistently damp, like a well-wrung sponge. It should never dry out completely, nor should it sit in water. Check the soil surface every couple of days with your finger.
When the top feels just slightly dry to the touch, it’s time to water. Water thoroughly until it runs out the drainage holes, then empty the saucer after 15 minutes. In lower light or cooler temperatures, you will water less frequently. The plant will tell you if it’s thirsty; the stems and leaves will start to look limp and dull.
Feeding for Lush Growth
This plant is not a heavy feeder. During its active growing season (spring and summer), you can feed it once a month with a balanced, liquid houseplant fertilizer. Dilute the fertilizer to half the strength recommended on the label.
Over-fertilizing can damage the fine roots and cause brown leaf tips. In fall and winter, stop feeding altogether as growth naturally slows down. The plant is essentially resting during these months.
Pruning and Propagation
Pruning is easy and mostly for aesthetics. You can trim back any overly long or straggly stems with clean, sharp scissors to maintain a compact, dense mat. This trimming also encourages bushier growth from the base.
The best part? Those trimmings can become new plants. Propagation is incredibly straightforward.
- Snip a healthy stem section that’s a few inches long.
- Press the cut end gently into moist potting mix in a new small pot.
- Cover the pot with a clear plastic bag to create a mini greenhouse.
- Place it in warm, bright, indirect light and keep the soil moist.
- In a few weeks, you should see new growth, indicating roots have formed.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Even with easy-care plants, occasional problems can arise. Here’s how to identify and fix them quickly.
Brown or Crispy Leaves
This is the most common issue and usually points to a humidity problem. Dry air from heating systems is a frequent culprit. Increase humidity using the methods described earlier. Crispy leaves can also mean too much direct sun or underwatering. Assess your conditions and adjust accordingly.
Yellowing or Limp Stems
If the stems are yellowing and feel mushy, you are likely overwatering. This can lead to root rot. Allow the soil surface to dry out a bit more between waterings. If the problem is severe, you may need to repot the plant into fresh, dry mix after cutting away any black, rotten roots.
Slow or No Growth
In winter, slow growth is normal. But if it persists into spring, the plant might need more light or a slight nutrient boost. Move it to a brighter location and consider a very diluted feeding. Also, check if the plant is root-bound; if roots are circling the pot, it’s time to move it to a slightly larger container.
Creative Display Ideas
Beyond just covering pot soil, Selaginella kraussiana can be used in many creative ways. Its trailing nature makes it perfect for hanging baskets where it can form a green curtain. In a shallow, wide dish (like a bonsai pot or bowl), it can become a standalone centerpiece resembling a tiny meadow.
It’s a classic choice for closed terrariums, where the high humidity creates an ideal jungle environment. You can even let it grow over small decorative stones or driftwood in a terrarium for a natural effect. Pair it with other humidity-loving plants like small ferns or Fittonia for a stunning, textured display.
FAQ Section
Is Selaginella kraussiana safe for pets?
Yes, it is generally considered non-toxic to cats and dogs according to the ASPCA. It’s a pet-friendly choice for homes with curious animals.
How fast does this groundcover spread?
In ideal conditions with good light and humidity, it can spread several inches in a growing season. Growth is moderate but steady, filling in spaces reliably without being invasive indoors.
Can I grow it in a bathroom?
A bathroom with a window providing natural light is an excellent spot. The steam from showers provides the perfect humid environment it loves.
Why are the stems getting long and leggy?
This is usually a sign of insufficient light. The plant is stretching to find a brighter source. Try moving it to a location with more indirect sunlight to encourage tighter, denser growth.
Do I need to repot it often?
Not frequently. You might repot every 2-3 years to refresh the soil or if the mat has completely filled the pot and you want it to spread further. It actually likes being a bit snug in its container.
Selaginella kraussiana proves that you don’t need a green thumb to enjoy a luxuriant indoor garden. By providing consistent moisture, decent humidity, and protected light, you’ll be rewarded with a beautiful, living carpet. It’s a humble plant that adds a sophisticated touch of nature’s detail to any room. Give it a try and see how it tranforms your plant collection.