Selaginella umbrosa – The Shimmering Fern Ally

If you’re searching for lush greenery to carpet your terrarium floor, Selaginella umbrosa is a winner. Sometimes called a “spikemoss,” this plant isn’t a true moss or a fern, but a relative of both, giving it a unique, almost prehistoric look. Its delicate fronds shimmer with a green-golden glow when light hits them, adding depth and texture to any terrarium or bioactive setup.

Why Selaginella umbrosa Shines in a Terrarium

This plant naturally creeps and spreads, forming dense mats of foliage that make a terrarium feel like a miniature rainforest. It thrives in low light and loves the constant humidity of enclosed environments. Over time, it can fill in bare patches of substrate, creating a vibrant green carpet effect that pairs beautifully with jewel plants, ferns, or mosses.

Perfect for High-Humidity Terrariums

Selaginella umbrosa absolutely loves humid, warm, and stable conditions. In fact, it’s difficult to grow well outside of a terrarium because dry air will quickly cause it to crisp. Place it in a closed terrarium, plant cabinet, or bioactive reptile enclosure, and it will reward you with vigorous, spreading growth.

Pet & Reptile Safety

• Pets (cats & dogs): Selaginella species are generally regarded as non-toxic, making them safe choices around cats and dogs.

• Reptiles: With no known toxicity and a long history of use in bioactive setups, Selaginella umbrosa is considered reptile safe. It provides excellent ground cover for tropical reptiles and amphibians, helping to maintain humidity and offering natural hiding spots.

Care Tips at a Glance

• Light: Low to medium indirect light; avoid direct sun.

• Watering: Keep substrate evenly moist at all times; never allow it to dry out completely.

• Humidity: Needs very high humidity (above 70–80%).

• Temperature: Warm tropical conditions, around 20–26°C.

Why Add Selaginella umbrosa?

Few plants capture the look of a rainforest floor quite like Selaginella umbrosa. Safe for pets, reptile friendly, and thriving in the high-humidity conditions of terrariums, it’s a natural choice for anyone creating a lush, living miniature ecosystem.