Watering schedule

How often to water Rose of Jericho (Resurrection Plant) (Selaginella lepidophylla) — the schedule

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)

Watering at a glance

Base rhythm	Keep moist; refresh water frequently
Spring / summer	Spring and summer: keep the soil evenly, lightly moist at all times — check every 2-3 days and water before the surface dries.
Autumn	Autumn: growth slows a little, so check every few days rather than daily, but never let the rootball dry out.
Winter	Winter: still keep barely moist — a fern that dries out in a centrally heated room crisps up within a day or two.
Light	Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)

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.

Ideal humidity: Above 50%

Watch for — Mold or rot from stagnant water: 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.

The watering schedule, season by season

Rose of Jericho (Resurrection Plant) is a moisture lover — it never wants to dry out fully, and dry air sheds fronds faster than anything. The base rhythm for rose of jericho (resurrection plant) is keep moist; refresh water frequently, but the real interval moves with the season, the light and the pot — so treat the figures below as a starting point and always confirm with the plant itself.

Spring & summer (active growth): Spring and summer: keep the soil evenly, lightly moist at all times — check every 2-3 days and water before the surface dries.
Autumn (slowing down): Autumn: growth slows a little, so check every few days rather than daily, but never let the rootball dry out.
Winter (rest / dormancy): Winter: still keep barely moist — a fern that dries out in a centrally heated room crisps up within a day or two.

Often grown unrooted in a shallow dish: sit the base in about 1-2 cm of room-temperature water and it unfurls green within hours to a day. Change the water frequently (ideally daily) and give it a dry day each week plus a longer dry spell monthly to prevent rot. If potted, keep the substrate evenly moist but never waterlogged. Cold or hard water slows greening - use filtered, room-temperature water.

Want this turned into a live reminder that adjusts to your home and the weather? The Growli watering calculator takes your pot size, light and season and returns a starting interval for rose of jericho (resurrection plant) in seconds.

How to tell rose of jericho (resurrection plant) needs water

A calendar is the worst way to water rose of jericho (resurrection plant). Check the plant and the soil instead — for this species, look for these signals in order:

The very top of the compost feels dry to the touch (do not wait longer than this).
Fronds start to look slightly limp or lose their fresh sheen.
Frond tips begin to pale or curl before going crispy.

The most reliable single check is the first one on that list. When two signals agree, water; when they disagree, wait a day and look again — under-watering rose of jericho (resurrection plant) for a day is almost always safer than over-watering it.

Overwatering vs underwatering rose of jericho (resurrection plant)

The two failure modes can look alike at a glance, so check the soil weight and wetness before you decide. For rose of jericho (resurrection plant) specifically:

Signs you are overwatering

Yellowing, mushy crowns and a sour-smelling pot — even a moisture lover rots if waterlogged.
Blackened frond bases at soil level.
Fungus gnats thriving in permanently saturated compost.

Signs you are underwatering

Crispy brown frond tips and edges — the classic dry-air / dry-soil fern signal.
Wholesale frond drop after the rootball shrinks away from the pot sides.
A faded, washed-out look across the whole plant.

Letting rose of jericho (resurrection plant) dry out completely even once browns the fronds irreversibly — they do not green back up. Consistency beats volume.

Water quality notes

Use rainwater or filtered water for rose of jericho (resurrection plant) where you can — ferns are sensitive to chlorine and tap-water minerals, which contribute to brown tips.

Seasonal and environmental adjusters

Every figure above shifts with the conditions in your home. For rose of jericho (resurrection plant), the levers that matter most are:

Humidity and watering are linked — at 60%+ humidity the soil stays moist longer and you water less.
A plastic or glazed pot holds moisture better than terracotta, which is an advantage for a thirsty fern.
Bottom-watering or a pebble tray keeps moisture even and avoids wetting the crown.

Pot choice is part of this too — work out the right size with the pot size calculator, since a pot that is too big stays wet long enough to rot the roots of rose of jericho (resurrection plant).

Rose of Jericho (Resurrection Plant) watering — frequently asked questions

How often should I water rose of jericho (resurrection plant)?

Water rose of jericho (resurrection plant) keep moist; refresh water frequently. Spring and summer: keep the soil evenly, lightly moist at all times — check every 2-3 days and water before the surface dries. Winter: still keep barely moist — a fern that dries out in a centrally heated room crisps up within a day or two.

How do I know when rose of jericho (resurrection plant) needs water?

The very top of the compost feels dry to the touch (do not wait longer than this). Fronds start to look slightly limp or lose their fresh sheen. Frond tips begin to pale or curl before going crispy. The single most reliable test for rose of jericho (resurrection plant) is the first signal on that list — checking the soil or the plant directly always beats watering by the calendar.

What does an overwatered rose of jericho (resurrection plant) look like?

Yellowing, mushy crowns and a sour-smelling pot — even a moisture lover rots if waterlogged. Blackened frond bases at soil level. Fungus gnats thriving in permanently saturated compost. Letting rose of jericho (resurrection plant) dry out completely even once browns the fronds irreversibly — they do not green back up. Consistency beats volume.

What are the signs of an underwatered rose of jericho (resurrection plant)?

Crispy brown frond tips and edges — the classic dry-air / dry-soil fern signal. Wholesale frond drop after the rootball shrinks away from the pot sides. A faded, washed-out look across the whole plant.

Can I use tap water on rose of jericho (resurrection plant)?