This was created to help make known acceptable Carnivorous Plant Tissue Culture Media & sterilization techniques for Carnivorous Plants & people just getting started with their tissue culture kits. Follow the kits instructions for adding agar and detailed steps on tissue culture, I am just filling in some blanks and variables with formulas that should produce results the first try.

We have put in a basic tissue culture section to help those that do not have a kit, but a kit is highly recommended. Carols kit only costs slightly more than you can get the supplies for yourself and you get the manual which is invaluable. Plus she is a great source to get supplies to re-stock with making TC very cheap once the initial supplies are had. For the most recent info please take a look in the forum tissue culture section.

If you have not ordered a basic carnivorous plant tissue culture kit I highly recommend you do so. I only recommend the place I got mine from because it is the only tissue culture kit I have purchased. It gave me everything I needed to get started along with an instruction book that is invaluable. From this point on it will be assumed you have purchased a tissue culture kit from somewhere and have a basic idea of what's going on.

On the links page you will find a link to Kitchen Culture Kits which is where I got my carnivorous plant tissue culture kit from. Forum members can purchase it for a discount!

1/2 teaspoon MS to 4 cups water = 50% MS, roughly, and 1/4 tsp = 25% MS Almost all of the media I use is MS with micro/macro nutrients and vitamins already added. Soon I will update the tc media pages. I will label the MS as above and add grams, liters and milliliters as appropriate. 25 - 50% MS works on almost everything.

I give all my MS measurements in teaspoons because I work with bulk media. If you are using the media that came with your kit simply make 25 - 50% MS as directed in your instruction book. It is important that you do not dilute the sugar. Even though you are making 50% MS you still use all the sugar per quart. Same with 25%, etc.

BAP, IBA, NAA, etc are all 1mg/ml concentrations.

As it is assumed you have received a reputable carnivorous plant tissue culture kit it is also assumed you have autoclave lids for baby food jars and quart/pint jars and know how to mix/sterilize media & carnivorous plant parts. As such the media instructions simply tell how much of what to make a 1 quart jar of media. Measure into baby food jars and add agar as described in your manual that came with the kit.

Unless noted otherwise use a 16 hr light period with 2 - 4' cool white fluorescent bulbs suspended 4 - 6 inches above the top of the jars. Any economical shop light does fine, just make sure to get the cool white light bulbs. Spend $5 - $10 and get a timer to turn it on and off so they are provided with a regular schedule.