Soil & potting mix
Best soil for Rose of Jericho (Resurrection Plant) (Selaginella lepidophylla)
Also called Rose of Jericho, False Rose of Jericho, Resurrection plant, Resurrection moss, Dinosaur plant, Flower of stone, Doradilla.
More about rose of jericho (resurrection plant)
About Rose of Jericho (Resurrection Plant)
Selaginella lepidophylla · also called Rose of Jericho, False Rose of Jericho · houseplant
The false rose of Jericho is a desert spikemoss (a lycophyte, not a true fern) that curls into a dry brown ball, then unfurls bright green within hours of watering. Give it bright indirect light, frequent fresh water, warmth, and humidity. ASPCA data on the genus indicates it is pet-safe.
Preferred mix: Light, well-draining, slightly acidic mix (or none)
Watch for — Crown or root rot: 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.
Why rose of jericho (resurrection plant) needs this mix
Rose of Jericho (Resurrection Plant) is an easy-going houseplant — it just wants a free-draining general mix that holds some moisture but never stays soggy.
- Rose of Jericho (Resurrection Plant) is adaptable, but like most houseplants it still needs air at the roots — a mix that drains freely while holding a working moisture reserve.
- A little perlite or bark stops ordinary compost compacting into an airless block over time, which is the slow, common cause of decline.
- It is not fussy about pH or special ingredients; getting the air-to-moisture balance right is what matters.
For the full picture on what makes up a good mix, see our guide to the main types of soil and potting media — it explains why each ingredient above behaves the way it does.
What goes wrong with the wrong mix
The wrong soil is one of the most common reasons rose of jericho (resurrection plant) struggles, and the damage often shows up weeks later as a watering problem. For this species specifically:
- Plain garden soil or a cheap, claggy compost compacts in the pot and slowly suffocates rose of jericho (resurrection plant)'s roots.
- A pure peat mix that dries to a hard, water-repelling block is hard to re-wet and stresses the plant.
- No drainage hole turns even a good mix into a stagnant, root-rotting sump.
Reusing tired, compacted old compost or skipping the perlite. A free-draining mix in a pot with a hole solves most "why is it struggling" cases for rose of jericho (resurrection plant).
pH — does it matter for rose of jericho (resurrection plant)?
Rose of Jericho (Resurrection Plant) is not fussy about pH — a slightly acidic to neutral mix (around pH 6.0-7.0), which a standard peat-free compost provides, is perfectly fine. No testing needed.
If you want to check or adjust it, the soil pH guide walks through testing and the safe ways to nudge a mix more acidic or more alkaline.
DIY mix vs a bagged one
A decent bagged houseplant compost works for rose of jericho (resurrection plant) as long as you mix in perlite for air. The simple DIY ratio above is cheap and more reliable than a budget bag alone.
Drainage and the pot
A pot with a drainage hole and a saucer you empty after watering is all rose of jericho (resurrection plant) needs — the free-draining mix does the rest.
Refresh rose of jericho (resurrection plant)'s mix every 18-24 months; even good compost slumps and compacts, and fresh, airy mix is often the simplest fix for a tired plant. When the time comes, our repotting guide for rose of jericho (resurrection plant) covers the timing and technique step by step.
Rose of Jericho (Resurrection Plant) soil — frequently asked questions
What is the best soil mix for rose of jericho (resurrection plant)?
3 parts peat-free houseplant compost : 1 part perlite : 1 part orchid bark or coco chips (optional). Rose of Jericho (Resurrection Plant) is adaptable, but like most houseplants it still needs air at the roots — a mix that drains freely while holding a working moisture reserve.
Can I use normal potting soil for rose of jericho (resurrection plant)?
Plain garden soil or a cheap, claggy compost compacts in the pot and slowly suffocates rose of jericho (resurrection plant)'s roots. A decent bagged houseplant compost works for rose of jericho (resurrection plant) as long as you mix in perlite for air. The simple DIY ratio above is cheap and more reliable than a budget bag alone.
Does rose of jericho (resurrection plant) need a special pH?
Rose of Jericho (Resurrection Plant) is not fussy about pH — a slightly acidic to neutral mix (around pH 6.0-7.0), which a standard peat-free compost provides, is perfectly fine. No testing needed.
Should I buy a bagged mix or make my own for rose of jericho (resurrection plant)?
A decent bagged houseplant compost works for rose of jericho (resurrection plant) as long as you mix in perlite for air. The simple DIY ratio above is cheap and more reliable than a budget bag alone.
How often should I refresh the soil for rose of jericho (resurrection plant)?
Refresh rose of jericho (resurrection plant)'s mix every 18-24 months; even good compost slumps and compacts, and fresh, airy mix is often the simplest fix for a tired plant. A pot with a drainage hole and a saucer you empty after watering is all rose of jericho (resurrection plant) needs — the free-draining mix does the rest.
Keep reading
- Rose of Jericho (Resurrection Plant) care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water rose of jericho (resurrection plant) — the schedule the mix feeds into
- Repotting rose of jericho (resurrection plant) — when and how to refresh the mix
- Soil pH guide — test it and adjust it safely
- Should I water my plant? The simple check first
- Overwatered plant — signs and recovery
- Root rot — how the wrong soil starts it, and how to save the plant
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- All 569 soil and potting-mix guides in the Growli library