Inside TiCi Nature Lab (Kolkata): Rainforests Indoors, Dutch Aquascapes, and a New Way to Green Our Cities

A field visit with founder Amartya Ghosh—from science-driven planted tanks to hydroponic vertical forests and “mini phytospheres” that turn any room into a slice of nature.

By Amar, Editor — The Weekend AquaristEstimated read time: 7–9 minutes

“City of Joy,” slab of rainforest

I’ve tracked TiCi Nature Lab on Instagram for months, but stepping into Amartya’s gallery in Harua, Kolkata is different. The first thing that stops you: a waterfall-washed rock wall—not plastic, but a meticulously textured artificial rockface layered with real plants, moss, and wood. Think rainforest, indoors.

“We can’t haul mountain boulders into living rooms—so we engineer the rock and let real plants do the rest.” — Amartya Ghosh

The philosophy: science × engineering × art

A former PhD student in plant biotechnology, Amartya pivoted to entrepreneurship when he realised his sweet spot sits at the intersection of plant science, environmental engineering, and design. TiCi’s builds are loved because they’re honest ecosystems first, aesthetics second.

“Get three things right—light, temperature, humidity—and plants reward you. Then dial in nutrition.”

Rock that isn’t rock (and why that matters)

The vertical wall’s “stone” is engineered on purpose: rough texture, deliberate crevices, and moisture-holding geometry so moss and begonias can anchor naturally. The result is organic growth on an inorganic scaffold—exactly how cliff plants behave in the wild.

• Why not plastic pots? Heat soak, uneven watering, maintenance pain, and massive soil weight on façades.

• TiCi’s alternative: a double-layer geofabric (made from recycled PET), constantly wetted with nutrient solution. Roots grow between layers, like in a mountain moss mat—without soil.

“We replaced pots and soil with recycled geofabric + hydroponics. Lighter, cleaner, kinder to roots—and kinder to buildings.”

Vertical gardens for Indian cities (and why glass façades fail us)

Glass façades bounce heat back into the city. We add ACs, pushing that heat outdoors, worsening urban microclimates. TiCi’s hydroponic green façades absorb heat, humidify air, and bring living systems into buildings—without the maintenance nightmare of legacy “pocketed” walls.

• Less weight (no soil), less heat, smarter irrigation, serviceable panels.

• Suitable for architects, societies, offices, homes, and scalable.

Dutch aquascaping: a masterclass in trimming & control

Amartya’s first love is the Dutch-style tank—no hardscape required, but discipline in plant growth is non-negotiable.

• Start trimming in Week 2.

• Respect apical dominance: regular topping removes hormonal bias and triggers bushy side shoots.

• Depth design: aim for 2 ft front-to-back so you can layer “streets” and hedges cleanly.

• Replant tops strategically early on; once mature, match heights or use another tank to stage cuttings.

“Trim without fear. You’re not losing beauty—you’re unlocking it.”

From Aquasphere to TiCi: products built in India

Back in 2015–18, Amartya launched fertilisers and substrates (then Aquasphere, now TiCi) tailored to Indian water profiles—from low-tech to pro systems, with customisation on request.

• All-in-one for newcomers.

• Modular lines for advanced users (shrimp, high-demand stems, etc.).

• Custom formulations for large or special-purpose tanks.

“Indigenous, cost-sensible, and effective—we build for Indian conditions.”

Training & careers: TiCi × LSeT

TiCi isn’t just building; it’s building people. With LSeT (Life Science Education Trust), TiCi runs bootcamps (3 months) and 1-year programs that open paths in animal care, aquatics, terrariums, and vertical garden operations. Trainees contribute to studio builds and client projects across India.

In the gallery, a shelf of trainee-made “mini phytospheres” (terrariums) showcased thoughtful planting, mosswork, and composition. Low-maintenance, high-delight—and a brilliant gateway to keeping nature at home.

Gallery tour: big tanks, nanos, and the living wall

The studio packs 7-ft display aquariums, compact training setups, terrariums, and a hydroponic living wall with water features, cardinals, and tiger barbs cruising beneath rockwork that will green over with monsoon. It’s equal parts lab, workshop, and art studio.

“We test everything here—rock textures, binders, plant lists, irrigation rhythms—so client installs behave predictably.”

The hard years—and the calling

The early leap from academia meant family concerns, financial risk, and unknowns. But as projects matured and clients grew beyond Kolkata, the vision sharpened: R&D-led, Indian-built solutions that make aquascaping and urban greening smarter, affordable, and scalable.

“This is my way of living—to research, build, and share so more Indians can keep nature, well, natural.”

Takeaways for hobbyists, architects & LFS owners

• Engineer the environment first: light, temp, humidity—then feed intelligently.

• Soilless verticals beat plastic pockets: lighter, cooler, cleaner, recyclable.

• Trim early, trim often: Dutch tanks teach plant control like nothing else.

• Build local, think global: Indian conditions deserve Indian formulations.

• Train the next generation: skilled hands make sustainable ecosystems possible.

Watch & read the full story

Watch the full on-site podcast: Tour TiCi’s gallery—rainforest wall, Dutch tanks, trainee builds, and the methods behind them.

👉 Watch on YouTube — TiCi Nature Lab (Full Interview)

Read the complete feature in our June issue: 👉 Read it in The Weekend Aquarist Magazine

Questions for Amartya? Want TiCi to spec a vertical rainforest for your space? Comment on YouTube or write to us at editor@weekendaquarist.com.