Shmaplex Plant Logo

XPlant Tissue Culture Media Guide

Inspired by proven lab protocols and refined through our own organic methods, this guide outlines 15 core media types that support clean, reliable plant tissue culture. The “best fit box” philosophy lets the plant lead, adapting these recipes across genera and genotypes.

Key Terms to Know

These are the natural building blocks behind our plant tissue culture recipes. Instead of relying on synthetic lab reagents, we emphasize organic and minimally processed inputs wherever possible.

A natural alternative to synthetic MS salts. Made with coconut water, kelp extract, bioferments, and organic amino acids to provide a balanced foundation for plant tissue culture.

A plant hormone blend from fermented coconut water, kelp extracts, and sprouted grain teas. Encourages shoot formation without synthetic BAP.

Hormones from willow bark and alfalfa extracts to stimulate rooting and callus formation naturally, replacing synthetic IBA/NAA.

Amino acids and peptides derived from plant matter—provides organic nitrogen and growth signals.

A natural source of plant hormones and trace minerals that gently boost growth and stress resilience.

A natural polymer derived from fungal cell walls or shells that primes plants’ immune systems and improves rooting.

Citrus-derived citric acid buffers for gentle pH balancing of organic culture media.

Fermentation-derived vitamins (B-complex, inositol, etc.) made from plant and yeast extracts. Simplifies vitamin supplementation for plant tissue culture.

Plant-based agar, carrageenan, or pectin to solidify culture media without synthetic gels.

Sterilized organic cane sugar or beet sugar as an energy source for plantlets.

Some phases deliberately omit hormones to allow natural development during dormancy or hardening.

Gentle, filtered liquid extracts from worm castings and compost that add trace nutrients and biological signals.

01

PhytoBase™ Organic General

Apical Prime

Balanced organic base medium using PhytoBase™ organic agar, coconut water, and natural nutrients. Supports healthy shoot growth with no synthetic chemicals.

Key Ingredients

  • PhytoBase™ Organic Agar
  • Coconut water (10%)
  • PhytoAmino™ Plant Hydrolysate
  • Organic cane sugar (3%)
  • BioBuffer™ Natural pH Kit

Associated Plants

  • Anthurium spp.
  • Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)
  • Philodendron varieties
Products to Purchase
  • PhytoBase™ Organic Agar: Used in almost all media recipes as the primary gelling base. (Replaces: Synthetic agar or gelrite)
  • PhytoAmino™ Plant Hydrolysate: Added to media to improve vigor and nutrient uptake. (Replaces: Synthetic amino acid supplements)
  • BioBuffer™ Natural pH Kit: Keeps pH stable during culture and reduces stress on explants. (Replaces: Chemical pH buffers like MES or citrate)
02

Woody Plant Organic Boost

Hardwood Harmony

Designed for woody plants using natural gelling agents and Seaweed Extract for improved shoot elongation and health.

Key Ingredients

  • PhytoGelzan™ Plant-Based Gelling Agent
  • Seaweed Extract (5%)
  • Organic cane sugar
  • PhytoAmino™ Plant Hydrolysate
  • Coconut water (8%)

Associated Plants

  • Blueberry (Vaccinium spp.)
  • Blackberry (Rubus spp.)
  • Apple and cherry varieties
Products to Purchase
  • PhytoGelzan™ Plant-Based Gelling Agent: Use when a firm gel is needed, especially for woody plant media. (Replaces: Synthetic Gelzan or agar substitutes)
  • PhytoAmino™ Plant Hydrolysate: Added to media to improve vigor and nutrient uptake. (Replaces: Synthetic amino acid supplements)
03

Seedling Starter Organic Mix

Nerd Candy Starter

Clean, contamination-resistant medium with natural agar and gentle nutrients for seed and embryo culture.

Key Ingredients

  • PhytoBase™ Organic Agar
  • Coconut water (12%)
  • PhytoAmino™ Plant Hydrolysate
  • Organic cane sugar (2.5%)
  • BioBuffer™ Natural pH Kit

Associated Plants

  • Orchid seedlings
  • Anthurium seed culture
  • Rare foliage hybrids
Products to Purchase
  • PhytoBase™ Organic Agar: Used in almost all media recipes as the primary gelling base. (Replaces: Synthetic agar or gelrite)
  • PhytoAmino™ Plant Hydrolysate: Added to media to improve vigor and nutrient uptake. (Replaces: Synthetic amino acid supplements)
  • BioBuffer™ Natural pH Kit: Keeps pH stable during culture and reduces stress on explants. (Replaces: Chemical pH buffers like MES or citrate)
04

Shoot Tip Natural Booster

Apical Apex

Optimized for apical shoot tip multiplication with natural biostimulants and organic nutrients.

Key Ingredients

  • PhytoBase™ Organic Agar
  • Coconut water (10%)
  • PhytoAmino™ Plant Hydrolysate
  • Beet sugar (3%)
  • Seaweed Extract (3%)

Associated Plants

  • Hybrid Spathiphyllum
  • Variegated Thai cultivars
  • Specialty fruit breeding lines
Products to Purchase
  • PhytoBase™ Organic Agar: Used in almost all media recipes as the primary gelling base. (Replaces: Synthetic agar or gelrite)
  • PhytoAmino™ Plant Hydrolysate: Added to media to improve vigor and nutrient uptake. (Replaces: Synthetic amino acid supplements)
05

Acclimation Organic Medium

Gentle Start

Low nutrient, gentle medium to help cultures adapt to in vitro conditions and prevent stress.

Key Ingredients

  • PhytoBase™ Organic Agar
  • Reduced coconut water (5%)
  • Low PhytoAmino™ Plant Hydrolysate
  • Organic cane sugar (1.5%)
  • Seaweed Extract (2%)

Associated Plants

  • Mother block plants
  • Sensitive foliage
  • New breeding introductions
Products to Purchase
  • PhytoBase™ Organic Agar: Used in almost all media recipes as the primary gelling base. (Replaces: Synthetic agar or gelrite)
  • PhytoAmino™ Plant Hydrolysate: Added to media to improve vigor and nutrient uptake. (Replaces: Synthetic amino acid supplements)
06

Shoot Multiplication Organic

Shoot First

Promotes shoot multiplication using natural hormones derived from Seaweed Extract and amino acids.

Key Ingredients

  • PhytoBase™ Organic Agar
  • Seaweed Extract (8%)
  • PhytoAmino™ Plant Hydrolysate
  • Organic cane sugar (2.5%)
  • Coconut water (7%)

Associated Plants

  • Rapid growing hardwoods
  • Foliage cultivars
Products to Purchase
  • PhytoBase™ Organic Agar: Used in almost all media recipes as the primary gelling base. (Replaces: Synthetic agar or gelrite)
  • PhytoAmino™ Plant Hydrolysate: Added to media to improve vigor and nutrient uptake. (Replaces: Synthetic amino acid supplements)
07

Cold Storage Organic Mix

Winter Chill

Minimal nutrients and firm PhytoBase™ organic agar for long-term culture dormancy at low temperatures.

Key Ingredients

  • PhytoBase™ Organic Agar (higher concentration)
  • Low coconut water (2%)
  • Organic cane sugar (1%)

Associated Plants

  • Blueberry clones
  • Blackberry genotypes
  • Specialty hardwoods
Products to Purchase
  • PhytoBase™ Organic Agar: Used in almost all media recipes as the primary gelling base. (Replaces: Synthetic agar or gelrite)
08

Micropropagation Trial Organic

Trial Blend

Balanced medium with natural growth boosters for screening breeding lines.

Key Ingredients

  • PhytoBase™ Organic Agar
  • Coconut water (8%)
  • PhytoAmino™ Plant Hydrolysate
  • Beet sugar (2.5%)
  • BioTone™ Additive

Associated Plants

  • Breeding program lines
  • Experimental hybrids
Products to Purchase
  • PhytoBase™ Organic Agar: Used in almost all media recipes as the primary gelling base. (Replaces: Synthetic agar or gelrite)
  • PhytoAmino™ Plant Hydrolysate: Added to media to improve vigor and nutrient uptake. (Replaces: Synthetic amino acid supplements)
  • BioTone™: For overall balance and nutrient supplementation. (Replaces: Chemical pH adjusters and micronutrient mixes)
09

Endophyte Cleanse Organic

Clean Sweep

Minimal nutrient medium to support explants post vacuum treatment for endophyte removal.

Key Ingredients

  • PhytoBase™ Organic Agar
  • Diluted coconut water (3%)
  • Organic cane sugar (1.5%)
  • BioBuffer™ Natural pH Kit

Associated Plants

  • Anthurium seeds
  • Rare tropical foliage
Products to Purchase
  • PhytoBase™ Organic Agar: Used in almost all media recipes as the primary gelling base. (Replaces: Synthetic agar or gelrite)
  • BioBuffer™ Natural pH Kit: Keeps pH stable during culture and reduces stress on explants. (Replaces: Chemical pH buffers like MES or citrate)
10

High Multiplication Organic Boost

Growth Surge

Maximizes shoot proliferation using Seaweed Extract and organic amino acid supplements.

Key Ingredients

  • PhytoBase™ Organic Agar
  • Seaweed Extract (10%)
  • PhytoAmino™ Plant Hydrolysate
  • Beet sugar (3%)
  • Coconut water (8%)

Associated Plants

  • Commercial Spathiphyllum
  • High yield foliage plants
Products to Purchase
  • PhytoBase™ Organic Agar: Used in almost all media recipes as the primary gelling base. (Replaces: Synthetic agar or gelrite)
  • PhytoAmino™ Plant Hydrolysate: Added to media to improve vigor and nutrient uptake. (Replaces: Synthetic amino acid supplements)
11

Low Sugar Sensitive Media

Lean & Clean

Reduced sugar content to limit contamination and hyperhydricity in sensitive species.

Key Ingredients

  • PhytoBase™ Organic Agar
  • Coconut water (7%)
  • Low PhytoAmino™ Plant Hydrolysate
  • Organic cane sugar (1.5%)

Associated Plants

  • Delicate foliage
  • New cultures
Products to Purchase
  • PhytoBase™ Organic Agar: Used in almost all media recipes as the primary gelling base. (Replaces: Synthetic agar or gelrite)
  • PhytoAmino™ Plant Hydrolysate: Added to media to improve vigor and nutrient uptake. (Replaces: Synthetic amino acid supplements)
12

Plant Defense Organic Blend

Immunity Shield

Boosts immunity with Seaweed Extract and natural chitosan derived from crustaceans.

Key Ingredients

  • PhytoBase™ Organic Agar
  • Seaweed Extract
  • ChitoShield™ Chitosan Solution
  • PhytoAmino™ Plant Hydrolysate

Associated Plants

  • Plants prone to fungal infections
  • High value breeding lines
Products to Purchase
  • PhytoBase™ Organic Agar: Used in almost all media recipes as the primary gelling base. (Replaces: Synthetic agar or gelrite)
  • PhytoAmino™ Plant Hydrolysate: Added to media to improve vigor and nutrient uptake. (Replaces: Synthetic amino acid supplements)
13

pH Balanced Organic Mix

Balance Buffer

Maintains stable pH using natural buffers such as citric acid and lime powder.

Key Ingredients

  • PhytoBase™ Organic Agar
  • Coconut water
  • BioBuffer™ Natural pH Kit
  • Lime powder

Associated Plants

  • Sensitive species requiring precise pH
Products to Purchase
  • PhytoBase™ Organic Agar: Used in almost all media recipes as the primary gelling base. (Replaces: Synthetic agar or gelrite)
  • BioBuffer™ Natural pH Kit: Keeps pH stable during culture and reduces stress on explants. (Replaces: Chemical pH buffers like MES or citrate)
14

Carbohydrate Variation Organic

Sweet Choice

Experiments with cane sugar and beet sugar sources to find ideal carbohydrate nutrition.

Key Ingredients

  • PhytoBase™ Organic Agar
  • Coconut water
  • Organic cane sugar or beet sugar

Associated Plants

  • Diverse foliage
  • Experimental lines
Products to Purchase
  • PhytoBase™ Organic Agar: Used in almost all media recipes as the primary gelling base. (Replaces: Synthetic agar or gelrite)
15

Vitamin Enhanced Organic

VitaGrow

Media enriched with fermentation-derived vitamins and natural amino acids for slow growers.

Key Ingredients

  • PhytoBase™ Organic Agar
  • Coconut water
  • VitaBurst™ Organic Vitamin Complex
  • PhytoAmino™ Plant Hydrolysate

Associated Plants

  • Slow growers
  • Hard to culture species
Products to Purchase
  • PhytoBase™ Organic Agar: Used in almost all media recipes as the primary gelling base. (Replaces: Synthetic agar or gelrite)
  • PhytoAmino™ Plant Hydrolysate: Added to media to improve vigor and nutrient uptake. (Replaces: Synthetic amino acid supplements)
  • VitaBurst™ Organic Vitamin Complex: Add to vitamin-deficient media formulations to enhance slow growers. (Replaces: Synthetic vitamin mixes (thiamine, nicotinic acid, etc.))