Finding the RIGHT substrate
I first begun trying to grow Selaginella species of the Tetragonostachys in late 2004 with a plant of Selaginella bigelovii. I had no idea on just what was the best media for it though I knew it needed good drainage. Over the course of time since I have tried different kinds of substrates and have met with success with some and failure with others. Unfortunately, failure meant loss of the particular plant I was testing. Tired of shooting in the dark, in 2008 I undertook a concerted effort to try and pin down what might be the preferable substrate for growing these plants.
I had plenty of Selaginella underwoodii, a plant that is native to mountainous areas from Texas across to Arizona and northward through Oklahoma, Colorado, and Utah into western Wyoming, as it had grown exceptionally well for me. I used this as the test subject and used ZipLoc XS bowls, which are some 3.5 inches across and 2 inches high, into which I had punched drainage holes around the bases of the bowls.
To view my experiment please click on the link below. Please note that the first image per page were all taken on June 10, 2008. The follow up images were all taken on Sept. 18, 2009.
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