Rotala wallichii
Wispy, needle-leaved stems that flush hot pink at the top under high light. Demands CO₂, soft water, and consistent dosing, neglect any of the three and you get a leggy, transparent disaster. When it works, it is one of the most ethereal-looking stems in the hobby. Top-and-replant is the only reliable trimming method.
Rotala Wallichii (Rotala wallichii) is a stem aquatic plant for the midground to background of a planted tank. It reaches 20–40 cm under good conditions and grows at a medium to fast rate. Light: high. CO₂: required. Target 22–28 °C, pH 5.0–7.0, and 1–8 dGH. Substrate: Nutrient-rich substrate + full liquid dosing. Propagate via stem cuttings (top-and-replant).
Care at a glance
Wispy, needle-leaved stems that flush hot pink at the top under high light. Demands CO₂, soft water, and consistent dosing, neglect any of the three and you get a leggy, transparent disaster. When it works, it is one of the most ethereal-looking stems in the hobby. Top-and-replant is the only reliable trimming method.
By Mike ElmiraUpdated 1 min read
Part of our complete guide to the planted aquarium.
The parameters that decide whether rotala wallichii fits in your tank.
Lythraceae
Stem
Midground to Background
Nutrient-rich substrate + full liquid dosing
Stem cuttings (top-and-replant)
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Tank-mate safety and the species this one is documented to thrive (or fail) alongside.
Direct answers to the questions search engines and AI assistants surface most often about this species.
CO₂ requirement: required. Light requirement: high. Under stable injected CO₂ the plant grows at a medium to fast rate.
Rotala Wallichii (Rotala wallichii) needs high light. Run a photoperiod of 6–8 hours; longer photoperiods invite algae unless CO₂ and dosing are dialled in.
Position: midground to background. Substrate: Nutrient-rich substrate + full liquid dosing It typically reaches 20–40 cm.
Propagation method: Stem cuttings (top-and-replant). Rotala Wallichii is a stem plant.
Target 22–28 °C, pH 5.0–7.0, and 1–8 dGH. Flow tolerance: medium.
Difficulty: 4/5. Advanced, demands dialled-in CO₂/dosing or precise water chemistry.
A planted tank is a system. Pair this plant with one entry from each other pillar to plan the whole scape.
