Tissue Culture Plants

Tissue culture aquatic plants are a newer form that has come into the scene within the past few years. Invitro plants are grown out in specialized labs to ensure no nuisance pests are introduced into your new aquascape, allowing them to receive all the nutrients they need to grow fast and healthy in a nutrient dense jelly. In a single pot, you can receive, in my opinion, tenfold what you would receive in a traditional potted or aquatic stem lead bunch of aquatic plants. Tissue culture aquatic plants may be a little more pricy, but the benefits truly outweigh the small difference. Starting clean from the start is the optimal goal, which is why I choose to spend a little more on in-vitro aquatic plants. 

Invitro aquatic plants seem intimidating at first look, but jumping into using this style of aquatic plants is much easier than you may think. The first thing you will want to get ready is a shallow dish filled with some water. Be sure not to fill the container too much since it may spill out in the next step.

Next, you’ll want to uncap the potted tub you received your tissue cultured aquatic plant in and with two fingers grasp a small portion in the middle. Pull lightly in order to separate the aquatic plant bunch from the cup. Lastly, take the portion of tissue cultured aquatic plant and rinse off the bottom jelly in the water you prepared earlier. From there, you can separate the bunch of aquatic plants into smaller portions to allow for easy planting.

Planting is the last step and the most fun part of this process. You may have seen some people out there separate their aquatic plants into small portions and lay them out onto a tray. While this is a possible way of doing things, I choose to take another route. Ill rip half of the clump away, allow the other half to float in the dish so it does not dry out, take some Ultum Nature Systems pinsettes and strategically plant small portions I rip off throughout the layout as I go.

Sticking the aquatic plants into the soil calls for a technique you'll get down in no time. Take your pinsettes and pinch the lower root portion of your tissue culture's clump, dig the fragment of plant straight into the soil until it is buried halfway into the aquatic soil, turn your pinsettes down a few degrees, all while you slowly release tension and then slowly pull out from the soil. You can, by all means, stick the portions straight in and then pull out the same way, yet I have found that it causes plants to come out with the pinsettes more than coming out at an angle. From coming out at an angle you will see some of the soil pushed out from the side, simply use your tool to push the soil back.

Aquatic plant placement throughout your aquarium is not only its own subject in itself but also personal preference. This is what attracts me to this hobby. Freedom to scape, plant and follow whatever judgment you believe is right. What guideline I follow is, shorter plants up front and taller aquatic stem plants towards the back. Midground aquatic plants like dwarf hair grass, Hydrocotyle Tripartita, and smaller Cryptocoryne species make for a well-balanced view in your planted aquarium.

Tell us - Was this article helpful? Please leave a comment below!

If you have any questions regarding this article, please DM us on Instagram, Facebook, or email support@buceplant.com so we can assist you - @buceplant