Frequently Asked Questions

Plant tissue culture is a method of propagating plants by growing small pieces of plant tissue — called explants — in a sterile, controlled environment. Under the right conditions, these tiny pieces can regenerate into complete, healthy plants that are genetically identical to the original. It is not genetic modification: no genes are added, removed, or altered. The resulting plants are true-to-type clones of the parent plant.

Biotechnology simply means using biological systems or living organisms to develop products or processes. Plant tissue culture is biotechnology by definition — it applies scientific understanding of plant biology, cell growth, and sterile technique to propagate plants in ways that traditional methods cannot. It doesn't require genetic modification or anything transgenic. Culturing plant cells in a controlled environment, formulating nutrient media with precise hormone ratios, and managing sterile workflows are all biotechnological practices. The "Biotech" in Plantaera Biotech reflects the actual science behind the work, not a buzzword.

No — plant tissue culture and genetic modification are completely different things. Tissue culture is a propagation method: it uses a plant's own natural ability to regenerate from a small piece of tissue. No genes are added, removed, or altered at any point in the process. The plant's DNA remains entirely unchanged. The resulting plants are true-to-type clones, genetically identical to the original parent plant. Think of it like taking a cutting, but in a sterile lab environment with precise control over nutrients and hormones. Genetic modification (GMO), by contrast, involves deliberately inserting, deleting, or editing specific genes using biotechnology tools. Tissue culture simply provides ideal conditions for a plant to do what it already knows how to do — grow.

In vitro literally means "in glass." When a plant is listed as in vitro, it means the plantlet is still in its sterile culture vessel. These plants need to be deflasked and acclimated to ambient conditions before they can grow like a normal houseplant. This is best suited for experienced growers.

In vitro plants offer several advantages. They arrive sealed in a sterile vessel — free of fungal and bacterial contamination, pests, and soil-borne diseases.* They ship safely year-round because the sealed vessel protects against wilting, drying, and temperature stress. They have a longer shelf life — you can hold them in their vessel for weeks before deflasking. They're also typically more affordable than acclimated plants, since they haven't gone through the labor-intensive hardening process. For experienced growers, deflasking and acclimating your own plants is part of the satisfaction. Many of our plants are available in vitro as a core part of our offering, not just as a secondary option.

*Plantaera Biotech does not test for viral or latent pathogen status. While our cultures are maintained under sterile conditions and are free of fungal and bacterial contamination to the best of our knowledge, viruses or viroids may be present in plant material without visible symptoms and may not become evident until later in a plant's life. Plants are not warranted as virus-free.

An acclimated (also called acclimatized) plant has been removed from its sterile vessel and gradually introduced to normal growing conditions — ambient humidity, natural light, and standard potting media. Both terms refer to the same process; "acclimated" is more common in everyday use, while "acclimatized" is often used in scientific literature. These plants are ready to grow in your home or greenhouse without special equipment.

In vitro plants need to be carefully deflasked, rinsed of any remaining culture media, and planted into a sterile substrate in a high-humidity environment (such as a closed container or humidity dome). Slowly reduce humidity over 4–6 weeks. We include detailed instructions with every in vitro order.

Plantaera operates intentionally as a small-batch lab, not an industrial facility. Working in small batches allows more time, focus, and care for each culture, each plant, and each decision. Some plants move quickly. Others take years. That pace is intentional. Availability will always be limited.

Currently, we only ship within the continental United States. International shipping requires phytosanitary certificates and compliance with import regulations that vary by country. We may offer international shipping in the future.

It depends. Acclimated plants may ship in potting soil, in plugs, or shipped bare-root, wrapped in damp sphagnum moss and secured inside insulated boxes. In vitro plantlets ship in their sealed vessels with cushioning.

Contact us within 48 hours of delivery with photos of the plant and packaging. Unboxing videos are always encouraged. We will work with you to resolve the issue, whether that means a replacement or refund. See our shipping policy for full details.

The Explant Report is our email newsletter. Subscribers get early access to new releases, behind-the-scenes lab updates, and propagation notes. Infrequent, intentional, and always plant-focused. No spam — just plants.

TissueCulture Pro is a specialized lab management application built by Plantaera for plant tissue culture and micropropagation labs. It provides structured tracking of cultures, media recipes, and production workflows — helping labs maintain organization, traceability, and data integrity from explant to acclimation. It is available as a licensed server application, designed for reliable use in real laboratory environments.

Visit TissueCulture Pro