How to Grow a Selaginella Bonsai: Cultural Symbolism and Care Guide Explained in Detail

I always thought the Selaginella bonsai belonged to the cypress family, and not many people may know about Selaginella, but perhaps you have heard of its other name, the "nine-death resurrection herb."

It is called the nine-death resurrection herb because after it rains, its originally curled-up branches and leaves stretch out and open. Its flexibility determines its ability to revive after seeming dead. When short of water, it enters a dormant state, and once it receives water and fully absorbs it, it then returns to its original state. From this you can also see that its drought tolerance is very strong, but this does not mean it can survive without water.

Watering it is something we must do. In its natural state, if it grows in the wild, it can survive entirely on rainwater. But since you have turned it into a bonsai, you need to take careful care of it. Spray its leaves with warm water every day.

As for the temperature that suits it best, I think there is no need to say much; the most suitable temperature should be roughly the same as the most comfortable temperature for people. So in summer when it is hot or in winter when it is especially cold, it is better to keep it indoors. This way, it will not be sunburned in summer or damaged by cold in winter if left outdoors.

As for fertilizing it, there is no uniform frequency standard for fertilizing; it needs to be determined by its current growth condition and the external environmental conditions. Under normal circumstances, fertilize it once every half month during its growing season.

Selaginella bonsai is relatively prone to pest and disease problems, especially during its growing season. During this period, we need to pay special attention to its growth condition. Even when it is growing well, you cannot relax your attention to it.

If some small problems appear, such as fallen leaves, remove them promptly, so that pest and disease problems can be avoided later. If pest and disease problems have already appeared, there is no need to worry too much; generally we can choose to apply pesticides to solve them. At the early stage of the disease, deal with it as soon as possible; you can choose Bordeaux mixture.

Now let's talk about its symbolism. It is an excellent gift. You can give it to yourself or to your family. Giving it to yourself is to constantly remind yourself to live tenaciously like it. Giving it to family helps family remove harmful substances such as nicotine. Giving it to a leader expresses respect. Giving it to a friend can be a way of forming an uplifting bond. So many people choose it to give to family, friends and leaders.

So after hearing all this, after hearing about the cultivation techniques for Selaginella bonsai and its cultural symbolism, don't you also want to buy a pot and give it to the people around you, the people you care about? Then rather than just thinking about it, it is better to take action.