Ranunculus inundatus – ADA Tissue Culture

Ranunculus inundatus is a unique and striking aquatic plant, known for its attractive, clover-like leaves and vibrant green color. Its delicate, umbrella-shaped leaves and compact growth make it an excellent choice for aquascaping, particularly as a foreground or midground plant. This plant is versatile and can grow both submerged and emersed, making it perfect for a variety of setups such as aquariums and paludariums. Packaged in a sterile ADA Tissue Culture, this product ensures that you receive a healthy, pest-free plant that is free from algae, snails, and other contaminants.

Detailed Care Guide:

Tank Requirements:

• Lighting: Ranunculus inundatus thrives in moderate to high lighting. Strong lighting will encourage compact and dense growth, ensuring that the plant forms a lush carpet or small bushy cluster. Under low light, the plant may become leggy and lose its characteristic compact form.

• CO2: CO2 supplementation is highly recommended to achieve healthy growth and maintain vibrant colors. While the plant can survive without CO2, the leaves will grow more lush and compact with its addition, especially in high-tech aquascapes.

• Substrate: Ranunculus inundatus benefits from a nutrient-rich substrate such as ADA Aqua Soil, which promotes strong root development and healthy leaf growth. Without a rich substrate, growth may slow, and the plant’s overall health could deteriorate.

• Water Parameters:

  • Temperature: 68°F – 78°F (20°C – 26°C)
  • pH: 5.5 – 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
  • Hardness: Soft to moderately hard water (2 – 12 dGH)

Tissue Culture Preparation and Planting:

1. Opening the Tissue Culture Container:

   • Carefully open the ADA Tissue Culture container. Ranunculus inundatus is stored in a sterile gel that protects the plant during shipping and ensures it remains pest-free.

2. Rinsing the Plant:

   • Gently remove the plant from the container and rinse the gel off under lukewarm water. Take care to wash away all traces of the gel, as leaving it on the plant may lead to issues with water quality or algae growth in your aquarium.

3. Dividing the Plant:

   • Tissue cultures often contain multiple plantlets. You can divide the plant into smaller clusters or individual plantlets to allow for even spacing across the substrate. This will also encourage better growth and faster coverage of the planted area.

4. Planting:

   • Use tweezers to gently plant the Ranunculus inundatus clusters into the substrate. Ensure that the roots are fully buried but avoid pushing the plant too deep to prevent damage.
   • Spacing: Leave around 1–2 inches between each plantlet to give the roots room to grow and prevent overcrowding, which could lead to light blockage.

Growth and Maintenance:

• Growth Rate: Ranunculus inundatus has a moderate growth rate. With good lighting, CO2, and nutrient supplementation, it will form a compact, low-growing carpet or small bushes that enhance the natural aesthetic of your aquascape.

• Trimming: Regular trimming is essential to maintain the plant’s compact shape. Trim older or larger leaves that begin to overshadow the smaller ones to encourage new growth. Replant any trimmed pieces to propagate more clusters.

• Fertilization: This plant thrives when provided with liquid fertilizers containing micronutrients, especially iron. A regular dosing schedule will ensure lush growth and vibrant green leaves.

• Pruning: Ranunculus inundatus grows outward from its base, so occasional pruning of the outer leaves will prevent the plant from overtaking nearby plants. Prune away dead or yellowing leaves to maintain the overall health of the plant.

Special Considerations:

• Compact Growth: For the best results in forming a compact carpet, strong light and CO2 supplementation are crucial. Without sufficient light, the plant may grow taller and leggy, detracting from its aesthetic appeal.

• Emersed Growth: Ranunculus inundatus can also be grown emersed in paludariums, where it will maintain its clover-like leaves and develop an even denser form. If growing emersed, ensure high humidity levels and moist substrate conditions.

• Ideal Placement: This plant is excellent for the foreground of an aquascape or as a unique addition to midground layouts. Its umbrella-like leaves create a striking visual contrast to other fine-leaved plants.

Propagation:

Ranunculus inundatus is easy to propagate by division. As the plant grows, it will naturally send out runners, forming new plants. You can trim these runners and replant them in different areas of the tank to encourage spreading and create a more even carpet.

Summary:

Ranunculus inundatus is a distinctive and elegant plant perfect for foreground or midground placement in aquascapes. Its unique, clover-like leaves bring a special visual texture to any layout, whether you want a compact carpet or small bushy clusters. Packaged in ADA Tissue Culture, this plant is free of pests, algae, and contaminants, making it a clean and safe choice for your aquarium.

Tissue Culture Quick Tips:

• Rinse the plant thoroughly to remove all gel.
• Divide into smaller portions for easier planting.
• Plant in nutrient-rich substrate and provide moderate to high lighting for optimal growth.
• Regularly trim to maintain its compact, lush form and ensure healthy propagation.