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Species library › Selaginella › Selaginella bigelowii
Terrarium Little published: much of this is inferred from related species

Selaginella bigelowii

Bigelow's spikemoss

The accepted spelling is Selaginella bigelovii (Bigelow's spikemoss). It is a drought-tolerant resurrection spikemoss of California and Baja California. It forms tufts of stiff, scale-leaved stems on rocky slopes in chaparral and coastal sage scrub, curling up and going dormant when dry and greening again after rain. It needs sun, sharp drainage and a dry summer, not a humid terrarium.

At home, aim for
Day Cool-growingTargets in Plantistry
Night Close to the dayTargets in Plantistry
Humidity Dry airBand in Plantistry
Light Bright, filtered lightDLI and PPFD in Plantistry
Expects a seasonal restGrows on rock (lithophyte)

Where it grows wild

Rock outcrops and rocky or gravelly slopes in chaparral and coastal sage scrub, often in partial shade of shrubs or on north-facing rock. It is desiccation-tolerant: stems curl tightly in the dry season and reopen after rain.

Mainly foothills and low mountains, from near sea level to about 1500–1700 m; not measured here.

CaliforniaBaja California

🔒 Growing it like that

The wild conditions above, turned into targets for a shelf, a tent or a greenhouse. The full profile has:

✓ Day and night temperature targets, and the limits it tolerates
✓ Humidity band, and how to hold it
✓ Light as DLI and PPFD for a grow light
✓ Wet and dry seasons, and whether to rest it
✓ Substrate and airflow
✓ A step-by-step setup to grow it like the wild

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Profiles are drafts built from measured range and climate and from published sources; each section carries its own confidence in the app.