🌿 All About Gratiola viscidula – Growow TC Plant

Gratiola viscidula is a unique and eye-catching foreground to midground plant, loved for its spiky, moss-like texture and compact growth. Though relatively uncommon, it’s gaining popularity among aquascapers for creating miniature bush-like structures or dense green mats. As a Growow Tissue Culture (TC) Plant, it arrives sterile and ready for healthy growth without pests or algae.

🔍 Quick Overview

• Scientific Name: Gratiola viscidula

• Common Name: None widely used

• Family: Plantaginaceae

• Origin: North America

• Growth Type: Creeping/bushing

🌱 Plant Characteristics

• Height: 3–6 cm

• Leaf Shape: Tiny, sharply pointed leaves, giving a "spiky" moss-like appearance

• Color: Bright to dark green

• Growth Rate: Medium

• Growth Habit: Creeping, dense, slightly upright

💧 Tank Requirements

• Lighting: Medium to high (helps with compact, dense form)

• CO₂: Strongly recommended for lush, healthy growth

• Substrate: Nutrient-rich soil or aquasoil

• Water Parameters:

  • pH: 5.5–7.5

  • Temperature: 20–28°C

  • Hardness: Soft to medium

• Placement: Foreground to midground, or as accent bush in nano layouts

🧪 Growow Tissue Culture (TC) Benefits

• Sterile and free from algae, snails, or parasites

• Comes in a nutrient gel – simply rinse and portion before planting

• Establishes quickly with proper lighting and CO₂

• Great for aquascaping precision due to its clean, pest-free nature

🌟 Why Choose Gratiola viscidula?

• Unique, textured look unlike most aquarium plants

• Excellent contrast when planted alongside smoother plants like Hemianthus micranthemoides or Monte Carlo

• Forms tidy bushes with trimming, ideal for nano tanks and detail-heavy layouts

• Can be grown emersed or submerged (though slower emersed)

🧩 Aquascaping Tips

• Plant in small bunches spaced a few cm apart

• Regular trimming promotes side shoots and bushy form

• Great for "wild" or "nature" style aquascapes

• Use in front of hardscape for a natural, overgrown look

🔔 Pro Tip: It grows slower than most carpet plants, but with time and care, it becomes a striking feature in any tank layout.