Murdannia Keisak UNS Tissue Culture
Plant Profile
Murdannia Keisak, widely known in the hobby as Marsh Dewflower or Asian Spiderwort, is an uncommon aquatic stem plant native to the tropical wetlands and marshes of Asia. Featuring slender, upright stems with narrow, lance-shaped leaves, this bamboo-like species spreads in an organic, free-flowing growth habit. Unlike the strictly uniform structures of traditional Rotalas or Ludwigias, Murdannia Keisak provides a soft, intentional wildness that mimics natural riverbanks and marshlands. Reaching 2 to 8+ inches in height, it serves as an extraordinary accent for nature-style aquascapes, biotope tanks, and open-top paludariums.
Tissue Culture cups ensure your aquascape gets a super clean starting point. Lab‑grown and fully sterile, it arrives without pests, snails, duckweed, or any unwanted algae. It’s the go‑to option for anyone who wants peace of mind when adding fresh greenery to a carefully maintained setup.
Key Features & Benefits
- Bamboo-like, narrow foliage brings an organic, wild grassy texture to nature aquariums and biotopes.
- Versatile semi-aquatic stem plant that thrives both submerged underwater and emersed in paludariums or bog gardens.
Care & Planting Instructions
- Thoroughly wash away the nutrient gel from the roots with your fingers before parting it out into manageable portions.
- Use fine-tip pinsettes to plant small stem clusters 1 inch apart into aquarium soil.
- Provide medium-to-high lighting and clean water conditions; while adaptable without CO2, supplying pressurized CO2 injection will yield significantly faster growth.
- Maintain stable water parameters and avoid sudden parameter swings to prevent stem melting or rotting.
- Trim stem tops with straight scissors once they reach the desired height to encourage dense side-branching. Read our trimming & propagation guide for details.
Quick Facts
Listed information should be treated as general guidelines only. Team Buce Plant encourages you to do thorough research to ensure healthy growth!
| Attribute | Specification |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Murdannia keisak |
| Common Name(s) | Marsh Dewflower, Asian Spiderwort, Murdannia Keisak |
| Family | Commelinaceae |
| Plant Type / Taxonomy | Stem Plant |
| Care Difficulty | Medium |
| Light Requirement | Medium to High |
| CO2 Requirement | Optional / Recommended (Promotes faster, fuller stem growth) |
| Placement / Usage | Midground / Background Accent & Paludariums |
| Height / Size | 2–8”+ (Cup portion size: 2–3”) |
| Growth Rate | Fast |
| Water Parameters | pH 5.0–7.5 |
| Propagation Method | Cuttings (Cut stem tops or side shoots and replant) |
| Origin | Asia |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why are the lower leaves falling off my stem plants?
Lower leaf loss (leggy stems) usually occurs when lighting cannot reach the bottom of the plant due to overcrowding or shading from larger plants. Spacing individual stems slightly apart during initial planting and maintaining strong light penetration will keep lower leaves healthy.
2. Can I grow Murdannia Keisak without CO2 injection?
Yes, Murdannia Keisak is an adaptable species that can be grown successfully in low-tech aquariums without CO2 injection. However, supplying CO2 along with aquasoil will result in thicker stems, faster growth, and much denser foliage.
3. How do I prepare Murdannia Keisak Tissue Culture before planting?
Carefully remove the gel from the roots by washing the plant in a bowl of room-temperature water or gently rinsing it under a tap. Once the gel is removed, separate the cluster into smaller clumps or individual stems and plant them into substrate using fine pinsettes.