BEMUSED aquarists may have noticed the proliferation of small plastic pots containing live aquarium plants in stores recently, as the popularity of tissue culture, also known as ‘in-vitro’, plants continues to rise.
These plants are grown in a laboratory using the latest tissue culture technologies, and grown under sterile conditions using a nutrient-rich gel or liquid, producing a unique, high-quality product that is guaranteed to be free from snails, pests, algae, and pesticides.
This makes them perfect for anyone wishing to grow live plants in their aquarium, and although a single pot may cost slightly more than a standard bunched plant, you actually get a lot more plant for your money in terms of quantity.
After purchasing these plants, they should be removed from their packaging and any gel washed away, then separated into several smaller portions before being planted.
The plants also tend to grow quicker and more densely than those grown in a nursery, although some of the more specialised varieties still require the correct dosages of CO2 and fertilisers to thrive in the long-term.
