Growing tissue culture plants for aquariums and terrariums

[infold]

I'm gonna ask a dumb question from a country boy's perspective. I've never seen 'em before, but I stumbled upon these tissue culture plants in a shop. What in tarnation are they? They looked kinda puny and scrawny to me.

[luminx]

TC plants are basically plants grown in a super clean environment, so you don't gotta worry about any pests, algae, or diseases. They're usually in a cup, and you get a decent amount of plant.

[infold]

No unwanted critters along for the ride then. Thanks, appreciate the clarification.

[luminx]

I'm gonna ask a dumb question from a country boy's perspective. I've never seen 'em before, but I stumbled upon these tissue culture plants in a shop. What in tarnation are they? They looked kinda puny and scrawny to me.

No critters tagging along, just a clean start.

[coltin]

Here's the process behind tissue cultured plants: they find a plant that thrives under specific conditions or has a striking flower. The leaves are cleaned, then cut into tiny segments. These leaf bits are placed in a petri dish filled with agar and a hormone rooting gel to promote root growth. The dish is sealed and put under bright light on a rack in a sterile lab.

In a couple of weeks, the leaf pieces develop roots and are transplanted into a growing medium like perlite. The small plants are allowed to grow some more before being transplanted again.

This results in hundreds of identical plants grown in sterile conditions, essentially cloned from a single original plant. This process allows for hundreds or even thousands of identical plants to be produced.

[oldraider]

I saw those snail-free plants at Petco too, they come in clear tubes.

[kingrise]

I saw those snail-free plants at Petco too, they come in clear tubes.

I'm still wary of those tissue cultured plants. I recall buying an Amazon sword, and lo and behold, my tank was infested with over 20 snails just a week later. They claim to be snail-free, but I've learned you can't always take their word for it.

[infold]

Thanks coltin, I was wondering if they were essentially clones. When did this method of plant production start being used?
oldraider's right, I've had good luck with those plants in clear tubes. kingrise, not sure what tube you got yours from, but next time make sure it's not a porcelain one.

[kingrise]

I'm gonna ask a dumb question from a country boy's perspective. I've never seen 'em before, but I stumbled upon these tissue culture plants in a shop. What in tarnation are they? They looked kinda puny and scrawny to me.

I think it was around 1898 when this whole tissue culture thing started taking off - at least that's what I found out.