Intro to Plant Tissue Cultures

Plant tissue cultures, also nicknamed TCs, are a type of plant that is grown with a special process that makes rare plants more affordable and available to enthusiasts. If you’ve begun to see TCs mentioned and sold more often, it’s because everyone is catching on to how amazing tissue cultures can be.

If you already know about TCs and you're ready to shop, download the Palmstreet app to get started. Or keep reading to learn more about the exciting world of TC plants!

What is a Tissue Culture?

Tissue culture is a growing method that was created to help save endangered species of plants that produce little or no seeds. To create a TC, a small piece of the parent plant is grown in a sterile base material that contains a mix of nutrients, minerals, and plant hormones. No soil or seeds are involved. The name tissue culture comes from the process - tissue from the parent plant is cultured or cloned instead of seed grown.

Tissue culture, or micropropagation, is an important and pioneering field in plant conservation. The good news is you don’t have to be a conservationist to enjoy the benefits of tissue cultures. Hobbyists and plant sellers have discovered that tissue cultures can help give plant lovers access to rare plants while also providing other benefits.

What Do Tissue Cultures Look Like?

Keep in mind that tissue culture plantlets do not look anything like the parent plant until they mature, which can take 1 to 3 months. A TC plantlet is small and delicate with fine, hair-like roots, a weak stem, and soft, thin leaves. You’ll often see TCs shipped in clear baggies or small tubes with no soil included. The roots may still have some clear jelly (called agar) attached. This material is the gelled nutrient base that provides a sterile environment for the plantlet to grow.

Top Reasons to Buy a Plant Tissue Culture

Purchasing tissue cultures can be a great way to expand your plant collection. These are some of the top benefits of working with TCs:

1. Exact clone of the parent plant
2. Disease-free when produced correctly
3. Uniform growth and predictable traits
4. Ships better when young and small
5. Easy access to rare or variegated plants

How to Care for a Plant Tissue Culture

TCs require special care and an acclimation period. These plantlets are fragile and haven’t been exposed to open air or dry conditions. If you care for them properly, you will see them grow into healthy mature plants. Keep these tips in mind when you receive your TCs:

• Place plants in high humidity right away (humidity dome, clear container, or bag)
• Gentle light only, keep TCs out of direct sun at first
• Carefully rinse roots with lukewarm water to remove gel
• Do not scrub or pull hard on the delicate roots
• Avoid heavy soil or fertilizer
• Use a substrate like sphagnum moss, seedling mix, or coco coir + perlite

Do not be alarmed if old leaves die off. This is normal for the leaves grown in the gel mixture. Once new growth appears, the plant is adapting successfully.

What buyers should NOT expect from TCs

• ❌ Immediate mature traits (like variegation)
• ❌ A plant that is ready for instant display
• ❌ Zero-effort care

What buyers SHOULD expect from TCs

• ✅ A healthy, clean genetic clone
• ✅ Strong long-term growth
• ✅ A short “baby phase” with extra care

Where to Buy Plant Tissue Cultures

It’s recommended to buy TCs from reputable plant sellers who can provide specific care instructions for your new plantlets. The great thing about buying TCs on Palmstreet is that you can communicate with our plant sellers in real time and ask for tips and guidance. Look for sellers who advertise TCs in their live show titles and descriptions, or browse shop listings within the Palmstreet marketplace to find your next tissue culture purchase. Download the app to start shopping today!