(set of 3 stems)
Round-leaved Rotala (Rotala rotundifolia): the chameleon of the aquarium
Round-leaved Rotala (Rotala rotundifolia) is an essential and fascinating stem plant. Its name is almost misleading: although its leaves are indeed round when it grows out of water, they become longer and narrower as soon as it is submerged!
But its real asset is its color. Under medium lighting, it offers a beautiful soft green. Give it slightly more intense light, and its tips will take on magnificent pink, orange, or even red hues. It is the ideal touch of color to energize a natural-looking layout.
Why choose Round-leaved Rotala?
- 🎨 A festival of colors: it brings warm shades (pink, red, orange) to your aquarium without the maintenance challenges of highly demanding red plants.
- 🚀 Fast growth: it is an excellent nutrient-absorbing plant. By growing quickly, it absorbs a maximum of nitrates and phosphates, thereby starving algae.
- 🦐 A protective thicket: when trimmed regularly, it forms very dense clusters, perfect for sheltering fry and providing a playground for your water lice and snails.
- 🔄 Amazing adaptability: very comfortable growing emersed in a paludarium or summer outdoor tub, it will form its famous small round leaves and lovely pink flower spikes.
Planting and growing tips
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Light: medium to high. The more generous the lighting, the redder and more compact the plant will remain.
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Substrate and nutrition: ordinary sand is sufficient. This plant feeds mainly through its leaves from the water column.
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Maintenance: very simple: just cut off the upper part of the stem and replant it in the sand to create new shoots and thicken the cluster.
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Temperature: 15 to 28°C. Very tolerant, it accepts unheated tanks and time spent outdoors during the warmer season.
⭐ Tip: do not plant your stems in one large, tightly packed bundle. Space each stem one or two centimeters apart so that light reaches the base properly, preventing the lower part of the plant from losing its leaves.
Possible uses
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Low-tech aquarium: perfect in the background for hiding the back of the tank and absorbing excess nutrients.
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Aquascaping: it is the ideal plant for creating large, colorful bushes at the back of natural-looking layouts.
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Paludarium and outdoor tub: in summer, let it grow out of the water! Its stems will creep across the surface, allowing you to enjoy its original terrestrial form.
FAQ - Round-leaved Rotala (Rotala rotundifolia)
Why is my Rotala staying green?
The pink or red color depends directly on light intensity. If your lighting is weak, the plant will remain green, which is just as natural and healthy for it.
Do I need to add CO2?
No, it is not required. Without CO2 supplementation, its growth will simply be a little less explosive and its red colors slightly less pronounced, but it will grow very well in a natural setup.
Why aren't its leaves round?
As explained above, this is a natural adaptation. The "round" shape only appears when the stem grows in open air, outside the water. Underwater, the leaves become narrower to capture light more effectively and reduce resistance to the current.
Additional information
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Scientific name: Rotala rotundifolia
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Origin: Southeast Asia
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Plant type: fast-growing stem plant
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Light: medium to high
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Temperature: 15 to 28°C
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Height: 20 to 50 cm (and more if not trimmed)
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Packaging: set of 3 stems
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Guarantee: without rock wool or any artificial substrate of any kind.
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Recommendation: as a precaution, please never release this plant into the wild. Our wild aquatic ecosystems are precious and fragile.
