It is really simple to care for and fascinating to watch as it uncurls.
If you want to attempt an indoor houseplant, this is a fantastic place to start, here is what you should know about them.
What Is A Rose Of Jericho?
When dry or dormant, the Rose of Jericho resembles a tightly curled brown ball.
When watered, the stems begin to uncurl and recover to their original green hue.
Some think it looks like tumbleweed. It can survive without water for years.
They are also known as ‘Resurrection Plants’ due to their ability to dry out and seem dead before reviving again and again.
The Rose of Jericho is said to have therapeutic properties.
Anastatica hierochuntica was thought to aid in the treatment of asthma, the common cold, diabetes, menstrual cramps, arthritic pain, and the induction of childbirth.
Although it has been used for many years, there isn’t any study to support it up.
Few skin care businesses provide products containing Rose of Jericho, making it difficult to get as a skin treatment.
Furthermore, there is no dependable information on producing any at-home skin care solutions.
Types Of Rose Of Jericho
There are actually two kinds of Jericho Roses.
The most popular type is Selaginella lepidophylla, which is also referred to as the false Rose of Jericho.
Selaginella lepidophylla belongs to the spikemoss family.
Anastatica hierochuntica is the other Rose of Jericho. This kind is less widespread and is also known as the True Rose of Jericho.
It is native to the Middle East. It belongs to the Brassicaceae family.
The Selaginella lepidophylla, also known as the false Rose of Jericho, is more frequent, simpler to grow, and more attractive than the Anastatica hierochuntica, also known as the true Rose of Jericho.
The true Rose of Jericho, Anastatica hierochuntica, must establish root in order to be resurrected, however the fake Rose of Jericho can dry up and be revived if water is available.
Caring For A Rose Of Jericho
The guidelines for caring for a Rose of Jericho are simple, although they do require some special attention, mostly in the area of water.
When you receive your plant, it will be wrapped in a dry ball.
You’ll need to find a technique to soak the roots in water without wetting the rest of the plant wet as they are desert plants and they don’t like being wet.
Some individuals immerse their plants in a bowl of water.
You can also get a bowl and put rocks or pebbles in it, then fill it with water until the water line is just over the stones.
The Rose of Jericho is then placed on top. To keep it clean, replace the water every one to two days, regardless of the setup you pick.
Watering
To keep your Rose of Jericho clean, change the water every day. All you have to do is put new water out every night.
Drain the dish and refill it with new water in the morning.
The most important aspect of caring for the Rose of Jericho is to avoid overwatering it.
This is simple since you simply take the plant from the water once a week or so to give it a break.
There’s no guessing about how much water to feed it or how frequently.
It’s content as long as it gets a weekly break from the water dish.
Allow your Rose of Jericho a week with no water once a month to dry out. To make things easier, choose the same week each month.
Simply empty the bowl and leave the plant on the stones, or remove the plant entirely and store it somewhere darker.
Repotting And Pruning
Once a month, take the plant from the water and let it completely dry out.
It will shrivel and look to die, yet this is a natural part of the plant’s life cycle.
Allow the plant to dry before returning it to the container to watch it unroll and spring back to life.
If you like, you can prune the dead tips—Rose of Jericho does not require pruning, however many people choose to clip back dead leaves for aesthetic reasons.
Because you can’t determine when a plant is “dead,” you should awaken it first to identify the dead leaves.
Sunlight
Your Rose of Jericho, like other plants, will require sunshine to grow. In fact, low light causes them to coil up.
These plants like bright, indirect light, but they can also benefit from a few hours of full morning sunshine.
Temperature
Avoid temperature variations in the vicinity of your plant.
Although your plant is quite hardy, it does not withstand sudden temperature fluctuations.
To minimize excessive temperature swings, avoid placing your plant in areas where drafts can enter through windows and doors.
In addition, do not use heaters, air conditioners, or fans in the same room as your plant.
Humidity
The Rose of Jericho flourishes in well-sheltered damp places that are at least 50% humid.
Because of forced-air heating, these conditions are difficult to accomplish indoors, especially in naturally hot places.
You might, however, spray your plants every day or set the potted plants on damp pebbles to increase humidity.
When growing your Rose of Jericho in water, most of the time you don’t even need to worry about humidity.
This is due to the fact that the water in the bowl is sufficient to maintain the environment surrounding your plant as humid as it should be.
Soil
Because it does not need to anchor its roots in a medium, the resurrection plant may thrive without soil.
As a result, they may grow in water or as an epiphyte.
However, if the actual Rose of Jericho is grown in soil, it will grow into a robust, larger plant.
The resurrection plant’s fake counterpart may also be put in soil, but only after it has formed roots in water.
If you opt to grow your plant in this medium, make sure to keep the soil wet.
The Jericho plant does not require any additional nutrition. Just be sure you use lukewarm water and refresh it periodically.
Common Rose Of Jericho Issues
Here are some issues that you may run into when having a Rose of Jericho.
Browning
If you immerse your plant in water for several hours and it still does not open and turn green, it is most likely dead.
Given this, if you purchase the plant in its brown condition, it is possible that it is already dead.
If you believe you have purchased a dead plant, contact the vendor and inquire about their return and replacement policy.
Rot
Your Rose of Jericho can rot due to prolonged immersion in water.
This plant can only stay in the water for a few days at a time before rotting.
The best approach to keep your Rose of Jericho from decaying is to change the water in which you immerse it on a regular basis.
Don’t forget to give your plant occasional watering breaks.
Not Opening Quick Enough
The Jericho plant may take a long time to open in certain situations, but it will finally do so.
The issue develops while using cold water. Use lukewarm water to correct this.
You can also relocate your plant to a warmer location.
Also, make sure there is enough illumination because the Rose of Jericho does not open in low light.
Pests
Slugs and snails can enjoy the Rose of Jericho, albeit this does not happen very often. The pests can be removed by hand.
Alternatively, wrap copper tape around the plant to form a strong barrier against slugs and snails.
This is preferable to utilizing possibly hazardous chemicals.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Does It Take For Rose Of Jericho To Open?
A Rose of Jericho often takes four hours to uncurl. Although it may take a day or two for it to fully expand and take on its green color.
After a full 24 hours, it should be fully expanded and considerably greener in appearance, although most of the uncurling should happen during the first four hours it is in the water.
Can You Make A Rose Of Jericho Turn Green?
It should be as simple as adding water to turn your Rose of Jericho green. If it doesn’t work, it might just be dead or too damaged to properly recover.
If the plant still has some green on it, you might take harsh measures and trim it back to eliminate the dead leaves.
That may be enough to give your Rose a lift.
How To Treat Mold On A Rose Of Jericho?
To begin treating Rose of Jericho mold, remove the plant from the water.
Mold and rot can form if they stay in water for an extended period of time without being removed.
Remove the moldy sections of the plant and allow it to dry for at least a day.
Replace the plant’s water and clean the pot and any stones with a mild bleach solution or another biocide.
When you return the plant to the container, remove it more regularly to allow it to dry out and stay healthy.
Summary
Roses of Jericho are one-of-a-kind plants. They coil up and can withstand years of utter dryness.
They wake up again after being watered, regaining all of their beautiful green leaves.
The term refers to two separate plants that have the same power to resuscitate and the same prerequisites.
The True Rose of Jericho has greyish leaves, whilst the False Rose of Jericho has green foliage.
These are simple to maintain and can tolerate severe water shortages.
Indirect light and perching the plant in a water bowl or regular misting are recommended for Rose of Jericho care.
Importantly, weekly water-free periods must be followed by full drying every couple of weeks.
