Micropropagation – Borneo Exotics

Contract Micropropagation Services

Trusted propagation for the plants that set you apart.

One of our micropropagation lab’s growth rooms.

You’ve Developed Something Special. We’ll Help You Scale It — Safely, Reliably, and On Time.

Protect Your Investment: Scale Without Compromise

When you’ve invested in a promising new cultivar, the next step is critical: scaling it up for commercial use, without risking your intellectual property, missing delivery deadlines, or compromising on plant quality.

Experts in Micropropagating the Most Challenging Plants

At Borneo Exotics, we understand exactly what’s at stake, because we’ve been in your shoes. As breeders of rare plants ourselves, we know the value of unique genetics and what it takes to protect them.

With over 25 years of hands-on micropropagation experience, we’ve perfected the process with Nepenthes — a genus particularly difficult to initiate into sterile culture.

That challenge has become our greatest teacher. For the past decade, the advanced techniques we continuously develop and refine have been applied successfully across a wide range of rare and commercially valuable plant genera.

Now, you can benefit from this expertise to scale your own cultivars with confidence and reliability. Trusted propagation for the plants that set you apart.

For a deeper look at our methods and how we work, take a look at our Micropropagation 101 guide.

World-Class Quality with Competitive Prices

Our lab is based in Sri Lanka, which means you gain first-world quality and expertise, at developing-world costs. That’s how we offer best-in-class plantlets at a price that keeps your margins strong.

Global Trust, Even Under Pressure

We’ve earned the trust of clients around the world by delivering uniform, healthy plantlets on schedule. Even during the COVID lockdowns, we met every international deadline without fail.

A Strategic Advantage: A Supply Chain You Can Rely On

Our Sri Lanka location offers a resilient supply chain with fast air freight to the US, Europe, and beyond. Combined with strong IP protection and clear communication, it gives you the confidence to scale without disruption.

Your Trusted Micropropagation Partner

If you need a reliable partner who respects your IP, delivers on time, and helps you scale at a competitive price, we’re here to help.

Our Simple 3-Step Process:

1. Share Your Requirements

First, we listen. Tell us about your production goals and unique cultivars. If needed, we’ll sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) to ensure all conversations remain confidential. We are also happy to offer exclusivity agreements upon request.

You remain in control from the very beginning.

2. Start Small and Evaluate

Send us your plant material. We’ll initiate it into our lab and grow a small test batch — typically a few hundred to a few thousand plantlets. Once ready, we’ll ship them to you so you can evaluate quality, consistency, and vigor before scaling up.

3. Scale Up With Confidence

After you approve the test batch, start placing your main orders. We offer tiered pricing for larger orders, making it even more cost-effective to scale production once your plants are established in our lab.

We’ll provide progress updates throughout the production cycle and deliver your plantlets on the timeline you choose — healthy, uniform, and ready for transplanting.

Ready to start growing with us?

Don’t Risk Your Cultivar’s Future in the Wrong Hands

Choosing the wrong lab could result in delays, inconsistent plantlets, and — even worse — the loss of your intellectual property. Imagine discovering your special cultivar is being sold by another nursery. We know this from experience — it’s happened to us.

Missed deadlines can derail your entire production schedule, costing you both sales and credibility.

A Safer Way Forward

When you partner with Borneo Exotics, you’re not just getting a propagation service — you’re gaining a trusted partner who safeguards your cultivars. With decades of experience and a proven track record, we deliver healthy, uniform plantlets on time, every time.

This reliability comes from strict quality control throughout the growth cycle. Every jar is tracked by a unique code, with thorough final checks at packing and shipment, ensuring you receive the world-class quality you expect.

Most importantly, we give you peace of mind. Your intellectual property is protected with the same integrity we apply to our own Plant Breeder’s Rights (PBR), US patent-protected cultivars, and RHS Gold Medal-winning hybrids.

We understand how much time and innovation goes into creating a unique cultivar. When you go to scale, IP theft should never be a concern.

Join the breeders who trust Borneo Exotics to scale their cultivars safely — and bring exceptional plants to market without the risk.

Why Choose Borneo Exotics?

25+ years of experience: advanced expertise, refined by working with challenging Nepenthes.

Proven track record: delivering healthy, uniform plantlets on schedule, even during global disruptions.

Peace of mind: the integrity to protect your hard work and IP, with an NDA available on request.

Low-risk trial process: start with a small batch to evaluate quality before placing your first full order.

Protecting your profits: first-world lab quality at developing-world prices.

Built-in resilience: our Sri Lanka location provides a globally connected supply chain you can count on.

Learn how decades of hard-earned expertise have become a resource for growers like you — on our About Us page.

Ready to start growing with us?

Frequently Asked Questions

Below you’ll find answers to some of the most commonly asked questions.

If you don’t see what you’re looking for, feel free to contact us and we’ll be happy to help.

What types of plants do you micropropagate?

Our expertise is based on nearly 35 years of working with Nepenthes, which are particularly difficult to propagate. The advanced techniques we’ve developed for successfully micropropagating this challenging genus are fully transferable to other plant types.

For the past 10 years we have offer contract micropropagation services for genera beyond Nepenthes. These have included: Carex, Cyperus, Dionaea, Geranium, Heliamphora, Musa, Pinguicula, Sarracenia, and Zingiber.

What makes micropropagation different from other propagation methods?

The key benefits are:

Fast scaling from a single seed or plantlet
100% disease-free from the start
Faster growth and greater uniformity
Consistent size and appearance across batches
Reliable expression of key traits

You can find more information in our Micropropagation 101 guide.

Why is your experience with Nepenthes relevant to other genera?

Most genera are much easier and faster to propagate than Nepenthes.

By mastering the art of micropropagation with one of the world’s most challenging genera, you can benefit from 25+ years of advanced expertise — including the ability to initiate plants into sterile lab conditions.

This experience is fully transferable to a wide range of commercially valuable, rare, or endangered plant genera.

Do you only work with carnivorous plants?

No. While it’s true that we’re experienced Nepenthes breeders, we also propagate a variety of non-carnivorous plants, especially those with commercial or conservation value.

Is your pricing competitive with other Asian countries?

Yes. Our pricing is comparable to the low costs typically found in the region, while maintaining high quality, thanks to three key factors:

Lower labour costs: Significantly lower salaries compared with first-world countries.
Energy efficiency: Our highland climate offers year-round temperatures similar to internal lab conditions, reducing energy costs.
Tax exemptions: Borneo Exotics benefits from an unusual import tax exemption that lowers operational costs.

We also offer tiered pricing for larger orders, making it even more cost-effective to scale production once your plant is established in our lab.

Can I start with a small batch?

Yes. As part of our onboarding process for a new plant, we’ll grow a small test batch for you to assess quality before placing your first full order.

The minimum size of your main order will depend on the plant type, and we’ll discuss this with you after you submit your initial enquiry.

What does the onboarding process look like?

We use a simple three-step process:

Share Your Requirements: We can sign an NDA if you wish.
Start Small and Evaluate: We’ll initiate your plant into the lab and grow a small batch for you to check quality.
Scale Up with Confidence: Once you approve the quality, place your first main order.

You can learn more here.

How long does it take to initiate a new cultivar into the lab?

The timeline depends on the specific plant variety and its propagation characteristics. Some cultivars establish quickly, while others require more time.

We’ll discuss expected timelines during our initial conversation, so you have a clear understanding before we begin.

Where do you ship to?

We regularly ship plants worldwide, including: North America, Europe, and Asia.

All shipments are sent via air freight for fast delivery.

How are plantlets packaged and shipped?

We ship plantlets in sterile polypropylene bags, typically in batches of 20. The bags are sealed and embedded in a soft nutrient medium to support the plants during transit. These are then packed into either cardboard or polystyrene boxes (for temperature control) and shipped via air freight.

Do you provide documentation for customs and plant health?

Yes. We provide all necessary export documentation.

Endangered plants regulated under CITES Appendix II can be supplied in sterile culture without the need for CITES permits.

Have national or global events ever caused you to miss a shipment?

No. Even during COVID lockdowns, we met every international deadline without fail.

Sri Lanka recognises the importance of its export industries, and Borneo Exotics is officially classified as an Essential Service. This allowed us to continue operations and travel during lockdowns to meet critical shipping deadlines.

What are the supply chain advantages of using Sri Lanka compared with other Asian countries?

Sri Lanka offers several unique advantages that make it an ideal supply chain partner:

Strong trade access: Preferential trade agreements, including tariff reductions under the EU GSP+ programme.
IP protection: Sri Lanka is a member of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), and its IP laws are aligned with international standards. This ensures stronger protections than in many other countries in the region.
High-quality at lower cost: Skilled labour and first-world lab standards at excellent value.
Strategic air freight location: Sri Lanka’s central location along major air routes enables fast, reliable shipping to the US, Europe, and beyond.
English fluency: Clear, professional communication in English across scientific, business, and regulatory contexts.
Political non-alignment: Sri Lanka maintains a non-aligned foreign policy and cooperative relationships with a broad range of countries, supporting reliable trade with minimal geopolitical disruption.

For companies seeking a dependable, cost-effective, and globally connected micropropagation partner, Sri Lanka offers a compelling advantage.

Will my proprietary cultivar and intellectual property (IP) be protected?

Absolutely. As breeders of rare species with our own Plant Breeders Rights (PBR)-protected cultivars, we take IP protection extremely seriously. We’re happy to sign an NDA upon first contact, covering both your plant and any proprietary propagation methods.

We understand how much time and innovation goes into creating a unique cultivar — and when you go to scale, IP theft should never be a concern.

In addition to our own strict internal safeguards, Sri Lanka is a member of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), and its IP laws are aligned with international standards. This ensures stronger protections than in many other countries in the region, giving you greater confidence and peace of mind when entrusting us with your valuable cultivars and proprietary material.

Do you offer exclusivity clauses for clients with proprietary cultivars?

Yes. If you’re working with a proprietary or commercially sensitive cultivar, we’re happy to offer exclusivity agreements upon request. These clauses ensure that your plant material is propagated solely for you and is not made available to any other client.

Exclusivity can be tailored to your needs and may depend on factors such as order volume, contract duration, and geographic scope. We’ll discuss the details during the onboarding process to ensure your investment and IP are fully protected.

Can you assist with Plant Variety Protection (PVP) documentation?

Yes. We’ve supported clients with PVP applications both in-house and through experienced legal firms. Whether you’re applying for Plant Breeders’ Rights (PBR) or another form of variety protection, we can guide you through the documentation process and ensure your application is supported by accurate, lab-based records.

What kind of plant material do I need to send you?

We can start from seed. However, if a genetically identical output is required, providing in-vitro plants already growing in sterile conditions is ideal. We can also initiate plants via tissue culture using cuttings from a larger parent specimen.

Do you work with monocots as well as dicots?

Yes. We have experience with both, including genera such as Carex and Cyperus.

How long have you been offering contract micropropagation services?

We began contract growing Nepenthes over 20 years ago, and for the past 10 years have expanded to work with other genera.

Who are your typical clients?

Our clients are typically commercial breeders and nurseries located in either Europe or the US, looking to scale a special cultivar or valuable variety.

Many come to us with concerns about IP protection or plant quality, and choose us as their trusted propagation partner.

We also dedicate part of our work to rare and endangered species.

What makes Borneo Exotics different from other labs?

When you grow with us, you benefit from:

25+ years of experience: Advanced expertise, refined through working with challenging Nepenthes.
Peace of mind: The integrity to protect your IP and hard work, with NDAs available on request.
Protecting your profits: First-world lab quality at developing-world prices.
Proven track record: Consistently delivering healthy, uniform plantlets on time — even during global disruptions.
Low-risk trial process: Start with a small batch to assess quality before scaling.
Built-in resilience: A reliable, globally connected supply chain based in Sri Lanka.