Rose of Jericho (Resurrection Plant) problems — and how to fix them

A musty smell or fuzzy growth on the base means standing water has gone stale. Change the dish water frequently (ideally daily), give it dry days, and keep good airflow; remove affected parts and let it dry out fully before rehydrating.

Slow or no greening usually means water that is too cold or poor quality, or not enough light. Use room-temperature filtered water and give it bright, indirect light - it can take up to a day or two to fully open and colour.

Dry indoor air and harsh direct sun crisp the fine fronds. Raise humidity above 50% with a pebble tray or humid room, and move it out of direct sunlight into bright indirect light.

Leaving it permanently submerged or in soggy soil rots the crown. If unrooted, only the base should touch water; if potted, set it over pebbles and let the surface dry slightly between waterings.

This is the 'false' rose of Jericho, a desert spikemoss - care differs from the unrelated 'true' rose of Jericho (Anastatica hierochuntica, a mustard-family plant), which revives only after rooting rather than from water alone.