Gratiola viscidula - NatureHolic InVitro

Rarely found in aquaristics, the graceful Sticky Gracewort Gratiola viscidula from North America is striking for its poster formation. The relatively thick, short stems bear rigid light green leaves that end in a point. This gives the plant a somewhat spiky appearance, which can provide exciting, breaking up contrasts in an aquascape or planted aquarium with more rounded, flowing forms. This low-growing stem plant only grows to about 10-20 cm tall, making it ideal as a shrub in the foreground or for the middle ground in a larger planted tank or for the background in a nano aquarium.

Gratiola viscidula prefers rather medium to strong light, then it grows very compact and bushy. Under less light, it will go up more and appear spiller-like. By pruning frequently, you can grow the plant into a low carpet-like cushion. This is aided by the fact that the plant spreads via rhizomes. Fertilizing with CO2 is not essential, but can somewhat speed up the rather slow growth.

Gratiola viscidula can be kept in good shape by regular pruning and can then even be used as ground cover. Sticky gnatweed is easy to propagate by cuttings: Simply stick the shoots cut off with sharp scissors into the substrate. It can also be used to rejuvenate over-aged plants: cut off the top, recycle the bottom, and stick the top into the substrate.

The Sticky Gratuary can also grow emersed - it thus fits very nicely in a waterfall aquarium or on the terrestrial part of a paludarium.

This Gratiola viscidula was grown InVitro in a beaker in the lab. This method of rearing allows us to guarantee that the plants have not been in contact with pesticides, harmful animal organisms or algae. You don't need to quarantine them, you can immediately plant the Sticky Gracewort in your aquarium. Please carefully swing the transparent nutrient substrate off the roots beforehand, then the plant is ready to be inserted.

Our recommendation: For a splendid plant growth we recommend the use of the NatureHolic fertilizer series and for new plants the Premium Nutrient Substrate NatureHolic GroundBooster.