For a resurrection plant, first confirm the label says Selaginella lepidophylla: the common name “Rose of Jericho” can also refer to a different species. This desert spikemoss naturally curls and turns brown when dry, then opens when rehydrated. For a simple indoor setup, use bright indirect light and either a shallow pebble dish or a well-draining sandy mix; avoid leaving it submerged. Exact home watering schedules and methods for sustained vigorous growth are not firmly established by the botanical sources available.
Identify the plant before choosing a care routine
Selaginella lepidophylla is a spikemoss—a vascular plant, not a true moss—and a dryland species native to the Chihuahuan Desert region of the United States and Mexico. Its habitat includes dry, rocky or limestone-talus areas. Most species in the much larger Selaginella genus prefer moist, shaded forest conditions, so generic spikemoss advice may not suit this one. See the PteridoPortal species account and the University of Oxford genus profile.
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“Rose of Jericho” is an ambiguous common name. Selaginella lepidophylla is not the same plant as Anastatica hierochuntica, sometimes called the true rose of Jericho. Check the botanical name on the plant listing or label; the Royal Horticultural Society profile lists common names for S. lepidophylla, while PteridoPortal clarifies the distinction between the species.
Choose a display or growing setup
A commercial care guide describes two options: a shallow dish with pebbles and water for display, or a well-draining sandy mix. These are recommendations, not experimentally ranked methods, and the institutional botanical sources do not establish a complete long-term indoor growing protocol.
#1 Best Overall
- HOME DECOR: The closed dried scales of these Rose of Jericho plants will unfold into a lush fern-like shape after absorbing water, adding a touch of natural beauty and charm to your home decor
- Spiritual Symbolism: The Rose of Jericho, also known as the resurrection plant, is a spiritual symbol of rebirth, renewal and cleansing of stale energies in Feng Shui practice and is filled with powerful spiritual energy
- Natural Purification: These dried Rose of Jericho plants are believed to absorb negative energy and purify a space through their ability to "revitalize"
- Easy to activate: Place Rose of Jericho in a deep dish, add water to completely cover the roots, exposing the fronds, then watch in fascination as the dried scales unfold into a fern shape and then re-close as they dry
- 4-PACK: This set of 4 Rose of Jericho plants Size 3-4in allows you to activate and display them in your home or office to gain the benefits of natural purification, and can be used over and over again to keep the space fresh and vibrant
| Setup | What it offers | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Pebble dish | A simple display that lets the plant open when hydrated. | Do not leave it permanently submerged or sodden; the care guide warns that prolonged wetness may cause rot. |
| Well-draining sandy mix | A planted setup with more control over the growing medium and drainage. | Use a medium that drains freely. A species-specific institutional watering schedule is not stated. |
Both options come from Gardenia.net’s care guide. Neither should be treated as proof that repeated bowl hydration will maintain vigorous continuous growth.
Provide light and manage hydration
Light
Gardenia.net recommends bright, indirect light and advises against harsh, prolonged midday sun indoors. The consulted institutional sources describe the plant’s habitat and dry-state biology, but do not provide a detailed indoor light prescription.
Rank #2
- 🌱 Watch the Magic Unfold! – Place your dried Rosa de Jericó in water and see it "come back to life" within hours, transforming from a dry ball to a lush green plant right before your eyes.
- 💫 Symbol of Prosperity & Abundance – Throughout history, the Rosa de Jericó has been cherished for attracting good fortune, abundance, and success into homes, making it perfect for manifesting your desires.
- 🏡 Perfect for Home Decor – Not only is this plant spiritually significant, but it also makes a beautiful addition to your home or office. Its natural, earthy look complements any space!
- 🧘 Spiritual Healing Companion – Use the Resurrection Plant in your meditation or healing rituals to promote peace, clarity, and emotional renewal. It’s a powerful symbol of resilience and rebirth.
- 💧 Easy to Care For – This low-maintenance plant only needs a little water to rehydrate and "awaken." You can leave it dry for months, and it will still revive when you’re ready.
Hydration
When water returns, the curled branches unfold. If you hydrate the plant in a dish, let excess water drain away rather than keeping it submerged. Gardenia.net suggests dry intervals, including a water-free day each week and complete drying every couple of weeks; treat that cadence as one commercial guide’s suggestion, not a proven universal schedule. The botanical sources do not establish how often a household specimen should be hydrated.
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In dry conditions, the lateral branches curl inward into a ball-like form. After rehydration, they uncurl and the plant can resume growth, even after years dry, according to PteridoPortal. “Resurrection” is shorthand for recovery from desiccation: water allows metabolism to resume; it does not mean the plant literally died and came back to life.
Rank #3
- Natural Energy Cleanser: Our 7 Pack of Rosa de Jerico, also known as Rose of Jericho, offers a natural method to cleanse and rejuvenate your environment. These dried plants are believed to absorb negative energy and purify spaces with their unique ability to "resurrect" with water
- Symbol of Renewal: Known as the Resurrection Plant, Rose of Jericho symbolizes rebirth, renewal, and the elimination of stagnant energy. Ideal for Feng Shui practices, these plants add a spiritual dimension to any space
- Intriguing Home Accent: Add a touch of natural beauty to your home decor with Rosa de Jerico. The closed, dried scales of these Rose of Jericho plants unfold into a lush, fern-like form when hydrated, creating a captivating display
- Simple Activation Process: Experience the wonder of the Rose of Jericho with minimal effort. Just add few water to the dried Rosa de Jerico plants and watch them unfurl and transform, then turn to their original state as they dry
- Versatile 7 Pack: This set of 7 dried Rose of Jericho plants Size 2.5-3.5in allows you to enjoy their purifying benefits and stunning transformations in multiple locations. Perfect for spreading natural energy cleansing throughout your home or office
Washington State University’s Marion Ownbey Herbarium reports that the plant may lose 97% of its internal moisture during dormancy. Walter Fertig’s herbarium note, dated 5 April 2026, explains: “Although they may have lost 97% of their internal moisture, Selaginella leaf cells suffer little permanent damage during their prolonged period of dormancy.” That figure describes the species’ reported dormant response; it is not a target for drying a household plant. The WSU herbarium account describes recovery after rain: respiration resumes, stored reserves help rebuild chloroplasts and photosynthetic enzymes, and photosynthesis starts again. Heat and drying can return the plant to dormancy.
What to do if it stays brown
Brown, curled branches can indicate dormancy, but color alone cannot establish whether a specimen is healthy or irreversibly damaged. The consulted sources do not provide a definitive home diagnostic protocol. If it remains brown after hydration, avoid assuming either that it is dead or that more water will fix the problem; the evidence available does not support a confident diagnosis from appearance alone.
Rank #4
- MIRACLE: A plant that lays dormant waiting for the reviving effects of water to show its beauty.
- THE MAGIC: Each plant sold in a dried, compact ball. Soak in water and watch it come to life.
- SIZE: Each desert rose plants measures between 3” to 4” inch Jericho that awaits your loving waters.
- ROSES OF JERICHO: A beautiful and sacred rose. Water is a gift, filled with potent spiritual energy.
- CARE: Let your Rose Jericho plant rest between watering. This allows it to dry out and refresh.
Set realistic expectations for ongoing growth
A dormant specimen may open and green after hydration, but that response is not the same as evidence of a reliable method for continuous, vigorous indoor growth. The available institutional sources explain the plant’s habitat and desiccation biology, not a complete home cultivation regimen. They also do not establish an authoritative watering frequency or a species-specific home propagation method. Avoid promises of rapid growth or easy propagation based on care instructions for other Selaginella species.
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Quick Recap
Best Value
- 12 Pack: the box contains rose of jericho 12 large (about 2-3 inches outside the box, about 4 inches after absorbing water)
- Amazing Resurrection Plant: jericho rose, also known as jericho false rose, will curl into a small ball when dehydrated; When rehydrated, the plant will stretch out and the stem will change from brown to green, with a beautiful and unique shape
- Care: place the dried jericho rose plant in a shallow dish or bowl and add enough water to cover the roots; The jericho rose resurrection plant will begin to unfurl in about 4 hours and reach full branches within a few days; Change the water every day or every 2 days
- Home Decor: the natural fern prayer plant will unfurl into a lush fern shape after absorbing water, adding a touch of natural beauty and charm to your home decor
- Gift: this is a good gift for those who want to keep plants but don't have a green thumb; It doesn't require any additional care other than regular watering; It is also a joy to watch the selaginella resurrection grass come back to life from its dry and curled state
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