Rotala Rotundifolia Care Guide – Planting, Growing, and Propagation

Rotala Rotundifolia Guide

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The Rotala Rotundifolia is a genus of aquatic plants that has more than 100 species that belong to the family Lythraceae. They are plants that grow both emerged and submerged, some of which are used in aquariums.

Plantedin the aquarium the shape of its leaves changes to a lanceolate and somewhat rounded shape at the tip, they do not exceed 1.5 centimeters in length.

When growing in the aquarium the rotala acquires an intense green or olive green color which can make pinkish or even intense pink in its upper parts if we use good lighting.

In its emerged form it receives the name of rotala rotundifolia since the denomination of rotundifolia means of rounded leaves. It is a plant that in its wild state thrives in hot climates and does not tolerate low temperatures.

Common Name	Rotala Rotundifolia
Other Names	The dwarf rotala, Round-leaf toothcup, Pink sprites
Scientific Name	Rotála rotundifólia
Difficulty	Easy to Medium
Lighting	Medium to High
Optimal pH	6.0 – 8.0
Optimal GH	2 – 12 (1 – 30)
Optimal Temperature	20 – 28 C (68 – 82 F)
Substrate	Needed
Growth Form	Stem
Growth Rate	Moderate to fast
Placement in Tank	Mid-ground or background
Height	up 5 – 30+ cm (2 – 12+ inches)
Fertilizers	Not needed to low
CO2	Not needed to low
Propagation	Head Cuttings or Runners

Rotala Care

The rotala is capable of withstanding a temperature range between 20 degrees and 32 degrees although the ideal range is between 23 and 26 degrees.

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Although it tolerates pH ranges between 5 and 8 and cache ranges between 1 and 8, it develops better in acidic waters and with a KH between 4 dGH and 6dGH.

As is the case of all plants of its species, the rota requires high illumination close to watt / l and if it is also has an adequate spectrum the plant will take on spectacular red, purple and even violet colors.

Its leaves in the shade usually lose a little color and if it is for a long time they can fall off leaving their leaves of the lower stem peeled.

In your case it is not entirely necessary to have a nutritious substrate, but it is quite grateful to provide fertilizers at the root level. We will see a healthier plant with spectacular colors, it will also have a better shape and the plant will be stronger. If it does not receive enough nutrients in the substrate, the rotala will go on to get them in the water column by taking out adventitious roots to benefit from them.

It is a plant of medium demands therefore its maintenance is of medium difficulty. If the lighting conditions we provide are not correct, the leaves will become greener. And if your subscriber is not the right one, it will show its deficiencies in an obvious way and we will notice it uglier.

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Like all red plants, it appreciates a good supply of nutrients and CO2 will remain a healthy appearance although the main factor for them to turn their red or bright pink colors seems to come from the correct lighting.

It is considered a fast-growing to very fast plant, and is one of those that are recommended to start and stabilize an aquarium planted in its beginnings because it is a large consumer of excess nutrients.

Rotala Rotundifolia Care

The main thing we must take into account with this plant is to avoid putting it in the shade of other plants or that it shades itself, it needs as we have said before good lighting and a correct fertilizer since it comes to stop its growth easily.

Rotala is usually planted in groups with several stems since it is widely used for the creation of massifs through pruning. It is usually used as visual foci in planted aquariums because if I got an intense coloration it attracts attention easily.

In landscaping or aquascaping it is planted in the backs of small aquariums or in rear stockings in Somewhat larger Aquarius, this is due to the size of its leaves and the height they can reach.

Rotala Wallichii

The rotala wallichi is a more demanding variety of slow medium growth, it can reach 30 cm in height and 2 to 6 cm in width, if we provide good lighting we will get needle-shaped leaves with a coloration that goes from pink to gold, orange or red. It is a plant with which we will get a note of color in the aquarium.

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Its most striking effect can be achieved by planting a good massif of stems in a group. The Wallichi rotala is ideal as a bottom or half-bottom plant, we even recommend it for small aquariums, for its ease when pruning it if it grows too much. Yes we contribute a good amount of CO2 increase growth considerably. It also prefers a soft, slightly acidic water.