Miniature conifers in a planted tank. Pogostemon deccanensis — the Indian Star plant — packs fine needle-like leaves densely around upright stems, giving vertical structure no broad-leaved plant can. This is the sterile Vitro Culture® format: pest-free, algae-free and pesticide-free.
What You’ll Receive
One 4-inch sealed Vitro Culture® bag containing multiple healthy Pogostemon deccanensis plantlets—ready to rinse, acclimate, and plant in your aquarium.
Plant Profile
- Common name — Pogostemon Erectus
- Scientific name — Pogostemon deccanensis
- Also known as — Pogostemon erectus, Indian Star
- Origin — Maharashtra, western India
- Placement — Background, in groups
- Shipped size — Small tissue-cultured plantlets, roughly 1-2 in
- Mature height — 10–20 in
- Suits — 20 gallons and up
- Growth rate — Fast
Care
- Difficulty — Intermediate
- Light — Medium to high. Strong light keeps it compact rather than stretched
- CO₂ — Recommended, not required
- Water — 68–82°F · pH 6.0–7.5
- Substrate — Required. Vigorous rooter — nutrient substrate or root tabs
- Growth habit — Amphibious. Grown emersed it produces violet flower spikes
- Propagation — Cuttings — trim and replant stem tops
Grower’s Notes
- Why two names? The hobby sold this as Pogostemon erectus for years before it was correctly identified as P. deccanensis. Same plant, both labels still in use.
- Divide the portion into small clumps of a few plantlets and plant them an inch apart rather than as one mass. They fill in faster that way.
- Rinse the gel off completely before planting or it clouds water and feeds algae in the first weeks.
- Yellowing or melt in the first weeks is the emersed-to-submerged conversion, not a failure. Keep light and CO₂ steady.
- Also available as fresh-cut and potted Pogostemon Deccanensis, or the rare Albino form.
Want to go deeper? Read our complete Pogostemon Care Guide.
Notes
- Newly introduced Pogostemon deccanensis may take time to adjust to submerged conditions. Yellowing or melt during early stages is common and will improve with stable conditions and light.
- Never release aquarium plants into natural waterways.
At a glance
- Free shipping on orders of $150 or more (after discounts) within the contiguous United States, by USPS.
- Free thermal protection is included with every shipment, all year round.
- Processing: most orders leave us within 1 to 2 business days. Tracking is emailed when your order ships.
- USPS (2 to 5 business days) ships Monday through Saturday.
- UPS 2nd Day Air® ships Monday through Wednesday. Order by Tuesday at 6:00 AM Pacific Time for same-week delivery.
- UPS Next Day Air® ships Monday through Thursday. Order by Wednesday at 6:00 AM Pacific Time for same-week delivery.
- Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and military addresses ship by USPS at a flat rate shown at checkout.
- Weather holds: during extreme heat or cold we may hold live orders until it's safe to ship.
- We ship within the United States only.
Please bring live plants indoors and unpack them the day they arrive. Every live order is covered by our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee.
The complete rules, including lost packages and address issues, are in our Shipping Policy. If anything conflicts, that policy applies.
Every live order is backed by our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee. If a plant arrives dead, we'll make it right.
How it works
- Tell us within 24 hours of the delivery time on your tracking.
- Send photos of the affected items in their original, unopened packaging, plus a photo of the shipping label, to hello@aquariumplantsfactory.com with your order number.
- We'll make it right with a replacement, store credit or refund for the affected item.
Good to know
- Some melting or yellowing as plants adjust from greenhouse to aquarium life is normal. They regrow from healthy roots and rhizomes.
- Please bring your package indoors and unpack it the day it arrives.
- Free promotional items and shipping charges are not covered.
The complete rules, including what's covered and what voids the guarantee, are in our Returns, Refunds & Live Arrival Guarantee. If anything conflicts, that policy applies.
Please review your state's regulations on restricted plants, as we are committed to not shipping plants that are restricted in your area. Do not release any plants into the wild or waterways, as this can harm local ecosystems by introducing invasive species.
Your cooperation in protecting the environment is appreciated. For continuously updated information, refer to the USDA State Noxious Weed list here.
Thank you for your responsible commitment to environmental preservation.
Tissue culture aquarium plant that arrives healthy with strong roots. Customers said "great quality" and "healthy plants." Most report excellent growth after initial rooting period (about a month). Some experienced leaf shedding or browning if not planted quickly. Ships well even in cold weather.
- It took about a month to fully root and start growing but after that it just took off.
- Received healthy plants with roots. Arrived alive even when shipped during a really cold snap
- Great little plants with large root systems ready to go.
C
It took about a month for it to fully root and start growing but after that it just took off. Pics are from about 6 months of growth (a few trimmings in there). Using seachem root tabs and ThriveS fertilizer.
K
Great little plants with large root systems ready to go. Everything I have ordered has come in looking wonderful and grows nicely. I will continue to buy from this company.
V
Hasn't shown any growth yet and is shedding all it's leaves. I planted in Fluval Stratum and gave root tab and Easy Green. Honesty, I don't think it will make it. Mine looks nothing like the pictures below.
Z
Fun little addition to my planted aquarium. I placed it in the emersed section of my aquarium. Received healthy plants with roots. Arrived alive even when shipped during a really cold snap
T
Heathy, a little bit smaller/ shorter clumps than pictured with my order but no browning or melting.
J
I kept the tissue culture in its original packaging for a couple of days after arrival, and it deteriorated pretty quickly. I noticed things were turning brown and planted asap, but it doesn't look like they're going to make it. This one didn't have very good shelf life compared to other tissue cultures I've received. Might be better to buy fresh plants.
B
Nice and healthy potion
M
I received this as a third in a group of four plants that I bought and shipped mid-winter to me in Minnesota, something I typically don't do. I couldn't resist, not only the price but the varieties that were available. Well, I watched the tracking and expected some major damage due to winter travel. But they arrived in perfect condition, gently packed in a well insulated box. And the Pogostemon? The cup was full of plantlets, I mean thick! They were grouped into 5 really nice clumps, from which the original tissue was started. Not much for a root system to speak of, but had the beginnings of them and I wasn't too worried when I examined them. I kept them in the original clumps but divided off a few into smaller clumps so they weren't too crowded together. A week has gone by and they still look really good with a little melting occurring so far. Can't wait to see them get acclimated and start growing. Overall, I am pleased as punch with this purchase and would do it agin in a heartbeat! Thanks APF!
G
Quantity was more than other places. Plants were healthy. Couldn't ask for a better quality. Will definitely buy from here again.
M
Plants arrived surprisingly green and healthy on a 19 degree day!
m
Beautiful plants
K
What you see is what you get. My Pogostemon erectus looked exactly like the photo and all the growth was healthy and fresh. After cleaning it and breaking it apart I got at least 15 little stems to plant (some quite small but substantial enough to plant). Kind of bummed this was the only plant I had ordered from Aquarium Plants Factory for my build. It was just the one last plant I needed. Had I known how good the quality was going to be I would have ordered more and I definitely will in the future.
K
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