Rotala Rotundifolia Green

Description

Rotala Rotundifolia is an easy red plant to grow in the aquarium. While it will grow in medium light, this plant really needs bright light to show its true colors. When lit well, the plant will grow at an angle over the substrate instead of straight up. To encourage red coloration, R. rotundifolia should be kept well lit (2.5 watts per gallon or more) with no shading. Lean nitrate levels (~5 ppm), high phosphate levels (~1.5-2 ppm), and heavy iron/micronutrients dosing will help produce intense colors out of this plant. By varying these conditions, one is able to bring out various shades from pink to yellow.

To propagate, simply snip off a healthy stem and replant into the substrate. Pruning off the top portions of this plant and leaving the rooted portions in the substrate promotes very bushy growth as the plant should produce a multitude of side shoots. Pruning can also be done by discarding the rooted portions and planting the top portions into the substrate. If allowed to grow on the surface, the plant will also produce many side shoots from each node along the stem.

Difficulty: Very Easy
Lighting Requirement: Medium
Growth Rate: High
Tank Placement: Midground – Background

Note:

The displayed image is for illustration purposes only and is of submersed grown plants in aquariums under optimum plant growing conditions.

Depending on the variety, plants sent are grown in an aquarium in emersed or submersed conditions. Hence, plant/leaf structures may vary from those shown in pictures. When they are grown in an aquarium under optimum growing conditions as required by the plant (light, co2, and nutrients), they will get the appearance as shown in pictures.

All aquatic plants are priced on the basis of the individual stems.