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Soleirolia is a genus of creeping plants that has 3 species, the most popular of which is the Soleirolia soleirolii, commonly called bridal mattress, angel tears, mother of a thousand or bridal bed moss. It is a very useful plant for upholstering surfaces due to its rapid growth and although it is not very demanding with its care, we cannot place it anywhere.
If you want to learn how to care for a soleirolia, what are its characteristics and how to reproduce it, join us in this Green Ecologist article in which you will see a Complete guide to soleirolia care.
Soleirolia characteristics
These are the main characteristics of the soleirolia plant:
- It is a small plant, with small stems that rarely exceed 10 cm in height. If you like plants like this, here you can see 16 small plants: names, characteristics and photos.
- It is native to the Mediterranean area, where it grows naturally in shady and humid areas.
- Decoratively, the plant is highly valued for its small, bright green leaves that form very beautiful compact tapestries, recalling its appearance to that of moss. For this reason, it is used as an alternative to grass on occasions, although soleirolia cannot be located in areas that are going to be stepped on, since it cannot support it and dies.
- Its flowers are small and very inconspicuous, so they do not have a great impact on its value as an ornamental plant.
- Its care is not difficult or too demanding, but the plant does not tolerate certain conditions that must be taken into account.
Climate for soleirolia
This creeping or upholstery plant is of mild Mediterranean climate and it does not tolerate high temperatures or strong frosts. It can withstand occasional light frosts, although prolonged or intense frosts will kill the aerial part of the plant. Of course, it is most likely that it will re-sprout without problems the following spring.
Indoors, the ideal is to keep it in an area with a stable temperature above 5 ºC. If you want plants that are more resistant to low temperatures and that serve to cover surfaces, read this other article in which we collect several cold-resistant upholstery plants.
Soleirolia light and location
The bridal mattress does not tolerate direct sun exposure. Therefore, it is important to locate it somewhere bright place but protected from direct exposure. For example, shady or semi-shaded gardens They are a very suitable option, as well as bright rooms but in which the light does not enter directly through their windows. If the soleirolia is exposed to intense sun, its leaves and stems are most likely to burn and blacken, its aerial part dying immediately as in the case of frost.
If it is planted indoors, the plant needs pots or containers without drainage holes, which help it to maintain humidity. If these are not available, place a plate under the pot that collects water and moisture. Outdoors, remember to find a secluded area that will not be stepped on, as it does not have the resistance of grass.
Irrigation of soleirolia
Along with its location in the shade or semi-shade, watering is the most important care for this beautiful upholstery plant. Soleirolia is very demanding with humidity and watering, and it is that you need your soil or substrate to be always moist.
If you have it in a pot with drainage holes and a plate underneath, directly water the dish, allowing the soil to absorb moisture naturally and allow it to reach the plant. If you have used a container without drainage, water over it without problems, trying to moisten the soil abundantly, but never water it. The plant responds much better to irrigations with water without lime.
Here you can learn more about when to water the plants.
Soil and compost of soleirolia
As its roots are very shallow, the plant is not demanding at all with the organic matter in its soil. Any land or well loose substrate, that offer good drainage. You can use universal substrate and add a quarter of coarse sand to it so that the soil aerates and drains better.
Regarding the fertilizer, it will be enough to apply mineral fertilizer every 15 days in warm months, or else add some worm castings to the soil in those months.
How to reproduce soleirolia
Reproduce the soleirolia It is very simple thanks to its superficial root system and the fast growth of the plant.
- Remove a section of the plant with its soil carefully, and you will see that the roots are short and take very little substrate with them. You can separate it with the same hands, trying to damage the plant very little.
- Divide the removed patch into as many fractions as you want to multiply your plant.
- Prepare small pots without drainage with properly hollowed universal substrate and with the addition of coarse sand.
- Place the separate pieces of soleirolia on the new substrate, and press it lightly on it so that the roots come into contact with their new soil.
- Store abundantly and place the containers in shade or semi-shade, where they will quickly root and begin to grow. For example, the windows of bathrooms and kitchens where the sun does not shine are a very typical location for soleirolias.
If you want to read more articles similar to Soleirolia care, we recommend that you enter our category of Cultivation and care of plants.
