Rotala Macrandra

The benchmark red stem plant — intense ruby-red to deep magenta when grown correctly. Brittle leaves shed easily during transport and re-planting, so handle with patience. Demands strong light, CO₂, and a lean nitrate/heavy iron regime to hold colour against the green of the rest of the tank.

Rotala Macrandra (Rotala macrandra) is a stem aquatic plant for the background of a planted tank. It reaches 20–50 cm under good conditions and grows at a medium rate. Light: high. CO₂: required. Target 22–28 °C, pH 5.5–7.0, and 2–10 dGH. Substrate: Aquasoil + heavy iron and micronutrient dosing. Propagate via top cuttings.