1. What is a 1-2-Grow! cup?
Tropica 1-2-Grow! is a small transparent cup in which the plant has been grown in the laboratory from tissue culture. According to the manufacturer, the plant is grown in a closed cup and is free of snails and algae. That makes cup plants a good fit for someone who does not want to bring other organisms into the aquarium by accident.
A cup plant is usually smaller and denser than a plant sold in a pot. Instead of one large plant you often get a cluster of small ones that can be divided. A plant grown in a pot already has a bigger root mass and a more uniform look. Both options are good; the choice depends on budget and on how much time you want to spend planting.
2. Unpacking and removing the gel
Open the package as soon as the cup arrives and look the plant over. Remove the lid and carefully take the plant out together with its gel. The gel is a nutrient-rich medium the plant grew in; in the aquarium it is only food for algae, so it must be rinsed off thoroughly.
Rinse the plant under lukewarm tap water and separate the roots from the gel gently with your fingers. Do not pull: the leaves and roots of tissue-cultured plants are thin and break easily. If gel remains between the roots, hold the plant in a bowl of water and swish it until the water runs clear.
Then leave the plant for a moment in a bowl of aquarium water so that it gets used to the temperature. This avoids shock when the plant goes from warm tap water straight into the tank. If you see damaged or brown leaves, cut them off with clean scissors so the plant does not waste energy on them.
3. Dividing into smaller pieces
Once the gel is off, you will see that the cup holds several small plants together. Separate them with your fingers or sharp scissors so that each piece keeps a little root. Plants with runners, such as Eleocharis acicularis or Helanthium tenellum 'Green', divide easily into small tufts.
The smaller the pieces, the faster the plant fills in a carpet, but the more carefully you must watch at first that small plants do not float up. For Alternanthera reineckii 'Mini', divide by cutting the stem. Rhizome plants, such as Anubias barteri 'Mini Coin', are cut at the rhizome and each piece should keep at least three leaves.
4. Planting and the first weeks
Plant the small tufts with tweezers about 1–2 cm deep and 2–3 cm apart. For a carpet use more tufts so the plant covers the surface faster. When planting tufts, do not bury the growing point, the place from which the leaves grow. Typical foreground plants are, for example, Littorella uniflora and Eleocharis acicularis.
In the first weeks small plants need a calm environment. Keep the light at about 8 hours a day and check that the plants are anchored. New plants may grow slowly at first while they get used to the new water. If the cup holds a demanding plant, such as Glossostigma, check its light and CO2 demand on the product page.
If you want a denser carpet, do not rush: it is better to plant the tufts closer together than to wait months for a single plant to spread. Once it has grown in, trim the carpet short with scissors so new shoots branch sideways and the lower leaves get light.
5. When to choose a cup and when a pot
A cup suits you if you want a plant cover for the foreground, small plants for a nano tank, or control over what enters the aquarium. A pot suits you if you need a larger plant for the background straight away or a faster result.
If you choose a cup, set aside time for planting: dividing and planting takes longer than simply placing a potted plant. On the other hand, one cup often gives you more plants, and watching them grow brings a calm, step-by-step aquarium.
Examples of cup plants (Tropica 1-2-Grow!)
| Plant | Height | Light / CO2 | Placement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anubias barteri 'Mini Coin' | 3–10 cm | low / low | On rock or wood |
| Cryptocoryne wendtii 'Mi Oya' | 20–30 cm | low / low | Middleground |
| Eleocharis acicularis | 10–15 cm | low / low | Foreground |
| Helanthium tenellum 'Green' | 5–15 cm | low / low | Foreground |
| Littorella uniflora | 3–5 cm | low / low | Foreground |
| Alternanthera reineckii 'Mini' | 5–10 cm | medium / medium | Foreground |
Checklist
- Open the package at once and inspect the plant
- Rinse the gel off thoroughly in lukewarm water
- Do not pull the roots, separate gently
- Divide into small tufts
- Plant with tweezers, growing point above the surface
- Light about 8 hours a day
- Check in the first weeks that plants do not float
- Check the light and CO2 demand on the product page
Products for this guide
| Plant | Height | Light | CO2 | Growth | Difficulty | Placement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anubias barteri 'Mini Coin' | 3–10 cm | low | low | slow | easy | on rock or wood |
| Cryptocoryne wendtii 'Mi Oya' | 20–30 cm | low | low | slow | easy | midground |
| Eleocharis acicularis | 10–15 cm | low | low | medium | easy | foreground |
| Helanthium tenellum 'Green' | 5–15 cm | low | low | slow | easy | foreground |
| Littorella uniflora | 3–5 cm | low | low | slow | easy | foreground |
| Alternanthera reineckii 'Mini' | 5–10 cm | medium | medium | medium | medium | foreground |
Size, light and CO2 demand are manufacturer data; real results depend on your aquarium.
Frequently asked questions
Must the gel be rinsed off?
Yes. The gel is rich in nutrients and would feed algae in the aquarium, so remove it completely before planting.
Do cup plants really come free of snails and algae?
According to the manufacturer, the plant grew in a closed cup and is free of snails and algae. Good husbandry and caution remain the real safeguard for the tank.
How long can the cup wait before I unpack it?
Unpack as soon as possible after delivery. If planting must wait, leave the plant in its cup and keep it somewhere cool with some light.
Do cup plants need CO2?
It depends on the species. The table shows that several cup plants, such as Littorella and Eleocharis acicularis, are listed with low CO2 demand, but check the exact value on the product page.
