Homalomena sp. “Sekadua South”

Homalomena sp. “Sekadua South” is a variety reportedly discovered in Borneo according to one source, and is available here in tissue culture containing several small plantlets! Reportedly grows only to 4″ in height, although leaves may be longer than that!. Not much else is readily available about this plant and its origins.

Plants from the genus Homalomena are making their way into the aquarium and vivarium trade. These are aroids, and many can be grown either terrestrially or aquatically; I actually grow a couple of unnamed/NOID forms in my office vivariums with Ranitomeya dart frogs, rooted right into the ABG-type substrate! Some varieties are even grown as houseplants. Ultimately highly versatile, Homalomena are undemanding in terms of light and somewhat slower growing, similar to Anubias and Bucephalandra, which may be more familiar to aquarists and vivarium keepers at this point in time!

About Tissue Cultured Plants

In-vitro or tissue culture methodologies are used to create genetic clones of countless forms of plant life from orchids to hostas and yes, more recently aquarium plants. Tissue cultures are free of algae and pests, grown in a lab from clean, micro propagated plant material. Tissue cultures are “matured” when offered for sale, and should be used upon arrival if possible…wait too long and they’ll decline. While aquarium and aquascaping applications are the main target of tissue culture offerings, many of the plants available via tissue culture can also be used in emersed or even paludarium and vivarium-type conditions.

To use your tissue culture, simply rinse all the culture media from the plants. You can divide up the culture into many smaller pieces, or in the case of some types, individual small plants are readily apparent and can be utilized individually.