Meadow Spike Moss | Selaginella apoda | 130mm Nursery Pot

Product Description

A little patch of lush, green magic! Meadow Spike Moss is a wonderfully delicate-looking plant that brings the beauty of a miniature forest floor straight into your home. With its vibrant green colouring and incredibly fine, feathery foliage, it's like having your very own tiny meadow.

Despite its name, Selaginella apoda isn't actually a true moss. It belongs to an ancient group of plants known as spikemosses, which have been around for millions of years. Its tiny, overlapping leaves grow along slender, branching stems, gradually forming a soft, dense cushion of greenery that's full of texture and character.

Perfect for terrariums, humid indoor spaces and plant collections that appreciate something a little different, Meadow Spike Moss is all about creating that lush, woodland atmosphere. Its low-growing, spreading habit makes it particularly lovely for filling the foreground of a terrarium or adding a beautiful carpet of green to a decorative planter.

Why You'll Love It

• Beautiful, vibrant green foliage with an incredibly fine, feathery texture.
• Naturally low-growing and spreading, creating a lush, cushion-like appearance.
• A wonderful choice for humid terrariums and miniature indoor landscapes.
• Adds a soft, woodland-inspired touch to your indoor plant collection.
• An ancient and fascinating plant that's quite different from your everyday houseplant.

The Details

• Botanical Name: Selaginella apoda
• Common Name: Meadow Spike Moss, Meadow Spikemoss
• Pot Size: 130mm Nursery Pot
• Plant Type: Evergreen, low-growing spikemoss (lycophyte)

Light

Prefers medium to bright, indirect light, similar to the filtered light it would naturally receive beneath larger plants in a woodland environment. A position away from direct sunlight is ideal for keeping its delicate foliage looking fresh and vibrant.

It can tolerate lower light conditions, although growth may become slower and less dense. Avoid direct sunlight, particularly during the warmer parts of the day, as its fine foliage can dry out and scorch surprisingly quickly.

Watering

Meadow Spike Moss loves consistent moisture and should never be allowed to dry out completely. Keep the potting mix evenly moist, checking regularly to ensure the surface doesn't become dry.

Water gently and thoroughly, allowing excess moisture to drain away. Although it appreciates damp conditions, it doesn't want to sit in stagnant, waterlogged soil, which can encourage root and stem problems.

Because of its delicate foliage and relatively shallow root system, this plant can dry out much faster than many other indoor plants. A terrarium or naturally humid environment can make maintaining consistent moisture considerably easier.

Feeding

Feed year-round with a very diluted, balanced liquid fertiliser to support healthy growth, but only occasionally. Meadow Spike Moss has relatively low nutrient requirements and can be sensitive to excessive fertiliser.

Adjust feeding according to its growth rate, reducing applications during cooler periods when growth naturally slows. A gentle approach is best, as strong fertiliser solutions can damage its delicate roots and foliage.

Growing

Meadow Spike Moss has a naturally creeping, spreading growth habit, forming a dense carpet of tiny, overlapping leaves. Rather than growing tall, it gradually expands outwards, creating a beautiful cushion of fine greenery.

It thrives in consistently warm, humid conditions and is particularly well suited to enclosed or partially enclosed terrariums where moisture levels remain relatively stable.

Grow in a fine-textured, moisture-retentive but well-draining potting mix. Avoid excessively chunky substrates that dry unevenly around its shallow roots.

Protect it from cold draughts, heaters, air conditioners and other sources of dry air. While it enjoys high humidity, some gentle air circulation is still beneficial, particularly in enclosed growing environments.

Pet Friendly?

Selaginella apoda is generally considered non-toxic to cats and dogs, making it a lovely option for pet-friendly plant collections.

As with any houseplant, it's still best to discourage curious pets from eating the foliage, as consuming plant material can occasionally cause mild digestive upset.

Good to Know

Despite its common name, Meadow Spike Moss isn't a true moss or a fern. It's a lycophyte, belonging to an ancient lineage of vascular plants that reproduce using spores rather than flowers or seeds.

One of the most important things to understand about this plant is its sensitivity to drying out. Unlike many common houseplants, Meadow Spike Moss doesn't bounce back particularly well after becoming severely dehydrated. Once its delicate foliage has dried and turned crispy, those sections generally won't recover.

Its love of humidity and consistent moisture makes it an excellent candidate for terrariums, especially those designed to recreate a lush, tropical or woodland environment. Just ensure the growing medium remains moist without becoming stagnant.

As it grows, you may notice the plant gradually spreading beyond its original mound. This is completely natural and part of its charm. You can gently trim back excessive growth to maintain a neat shape or allow it to spread into a beautiful miniature green landscape.

• We photograph as many of our plants as possible; however, some listings may occasionally use supplier images.

• As plants are living things, every plant is unique and natural variations in size, colour and fullness should be expected.

• The plant you receive may not be the exact one pictured, but we'll always hand-pick a beautiful, healthy plant we'd happily display in our own home.

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