Pogostemon helferi

This plant was discovered by aquarists in Thailand, close to the border with Burma. It is called 'Downoi' (little star) in Thailand, and it is easy to see why (5-10 cm tall and wide). Pogostemon helferi is an unusual and distinctive aquatic plant with a compact habit, curly leaves and a strikingly beautiful green colour. With good light conditions and a substrate rich in nutrients Pogostemon helferi forms many side shoots, which develop small roots, and the plant rapidly forms an impressive carpet of foreground vegetation

Name	Pogostemon helferi
Structure	Stem
Difficulty	Intermediate
Light Demand	Medium Light
CO2	CO2 Beneficial
Growth Rate	Moderate Growth
Placement	Foreground, Midground
Height (in)	6-12+
Color	Green

Tissue culture plants are grown in-vitro (literally: in the glass) in a nutrient-rich synthetic growing medium, either liquid or gel, without the presence of any other lifeforms. This guarantees a pest and disease-free specimen, while also providing accuracy throughout the trade.   Loose cuttings are harvested from our aquariums at Aqua Lab. While we try our best to remove snails, we can't guarantee that these plants will be pest or disease-free. It's common for tiny snails or microscopic snail eggs to hitchhike on plants that come from an established aquarium. A single portion of cuttings can vary and depends on the species, but generally, it's about a handful. For stem plants, this is typically a bunch of several stems that are approx. 6"+ in length. If the stems do not have roots, simply plant them and roots will sprout in time. For crown plants like Crypts, it will be a single established plant with roots. For rhizome plants like Anubias, Java Fern, and Bucephelandra, a portion is usually one segment of rhizome with several leaves and roots coming off of it. Please keep in mind that plant and portion sizes can vary as our plants grow and propagate.    

Tissue culture plants should be removed from the cup as soon as possible. All plants grow on some sort of synthetic growing medium, ranging anywhere from liquid to jelly to firm gel. This should be removed and rinsed off. Gently massage the roots between your fingers until the gel dissolves away. Most plants can be broken up into smaller pieces and spread out in your aquarium. Smaller pieces are easier to plant.

We only ship livestock Monday to Wednesday to avoid weekend delays. Please keep in mind the availability of plants can change quickly as they come in and out of our possession or deteriorate in health, so there could be a delay updating the published availability. We will be in touch if the species you order is not available and you will always have the option to wait or take a substitute or refund. We appreciate your patience as we work to deliver healthy plants to you.