You are ready to plant your tank. The shop offers two options: a pot with a ball of rockwool, or a small cup of gel holding a tiny clump of green. Which is better? The answer depends on your tank, your budget and how patient you are.
What Are They?
Tissue culture (TC) plants are grown in a sterile lab from tiny cuttings, in cups of nutrient gel. Because they never meet soil or open water, they arrive free of snails, pests, algae and pesticide residue.
Potted plants are grown on farms and nurseries, often above water (emersed) in rockwool or soil. They are larger and cheaper per pot, but can carry snails, pest eggs, algae and traces of pesticide or fertiliser.
Side-by-Side Comparison
|
|
Tissue culture |
Potted |
|---|---|---|
|
Cleanliness |
Pest, snail and algae-free |
May carry snails, pests or residue |
|
Starting size |
Small clumps that fill in over time |
Larger, gives an instant look |
|
Value |
One cup divides into many portions |
Fewer portions per pot |
|
Adjustment |
Usually adapts smoothly, though some melt |
Emersed leaves usually melt, then regrow underwater |
|
Preparation |
Rinse off gel, divide, plant |
Remove rockwool, trim roots, quarantine, plant |
|
Best for |
Shrimp tanks, new tanks, carpets |
Large background plants, instant scapes |
How to Prepare Tissue Culture Plants
- Remove the plant from the cup.
- Rinse off all the gel thoroughly, because leftover gel feeds algae and bacteria.
- Separate it into small portions with tweezers.
- Plant in small groups and give it time to spread.
How to Prepare Potted Plants
- Remove the plant from its pot and pull off the rockwool.
- Trim long roots to a couple of centimetres and rinse well.
- Keep the plant in a separate container for about a week to watch for snails or pests before it goes in your tank.
- Plant it, and expect some leaves to melt as it adjusts. Trim dead leaves and wait for new growth.
Which Should You Buy?
- Shrimp or sensitive tank: tissue culture, to avoid pests and pesticide residue.
- Carpets such as dwarf hairgrass or monte carlo: tissue culture, because you need many small portions.
- Large centrepiece plants such as swords: potted, for size and immediate impact.
- New tank still cycling: either works, but TC is the cleaner start.
- Best of both: use potted plants for background height and TC for the foreground.
Give your plants the right base and light. See Part 1 of our Planted Tank Series on substrate and Part 2 on lighting.
👉 Shop Tissue Culture Plants | Shop The Plants Right Series | Shop Sunken Garden Fertilizers
Contact this number for further inqueries: +91 91360 03735.
