Rotala ‘Blood Red’

🌿 Introduction
Rotala ‘Blood Red’ is one of the most intense red stem plants available to aquascapers. Its fine, needle-like leaves glow with deep crimson under strong light and CO₂, creating a fiery focal point in the aquarium. Native to Asia, Rotala species are common along riversides and wetlands, where they adapt easily between emersed and submerged growth. The ‘Blood Red’ variant has become a favorite for creating dramatic contrast in nature-style and Dutch aquascapes.

🌱 Plant Profile

• Type: Stem plant

• Origin: Asia (cultivated variant)

• Position: Midground to background

• Growth Rate: Medium to fast

• Lighting: High (intense light required for deep red coloration)

• CO₂: Recommended for compact growth and strong coloration

• Height / Spread: 8–16″ tall · 2–4″ spread per stem

• Water Parameters: pH 5.5–7.0 · GH 2–8 · KH 1–4

✅ Care Summary

• Plant individual stems in clusters for a dense, bush-like effect.

• Provide intense light + CO₂ to achieve the deep “blood red” color.

• Regular trimming and replanting tops encourages bushier, compact stands.

• Nutrient-rich water and iron supplementation enhance red pigmentation.

• Works best as a background accent or midground highlight in larger tanks.

🌿 Q&A

Q: How do I get Rotala ‘Blood Red’ to stay deep crimson?
A: Strong lighting, stable CO₂, and balanced fertilization (especially iron) are required. Without these, leaves may turn orange or green.

Q: Where should I plant Rotala ‘Blood Red’ in my tank?
A: It’s best suited for the midground to background, where its tall, colorful stems can form a dense thicket or accent wall.

Q: Is it difficult to transition from emersed to submerged growth?
A: Some melt may occur, but stable conditions and good light/CO₂ help it recover quickly with submerged growth forms.

Q: Can it be used in terrariums or paludariums?
A: Yes — like many Rotala species, it grows emersed along wet margins. In high humidity terrariums, it can maintain its red tones with strong light.

🌍 More About Rotala ‘Blood Red’
The genus Rotala includes over 40 species, found across Asia’s wetlands, rice paddies, and riversides. Many adapt seasonally, growing emersed during dry months and submerged during flooding. In aquariums, they display a wide range of colors depending on conditions.

The ‘Blood Red’ form is a cultivated variant prized for its intense pigmentation under strong lighting. In nature, dense stands of Rotala provide shelter for fry, small fish, and invertebrates. In aquascaping, ‘Blood Red’ is often used to create dramatic focal points or contrast patches, pairing well with green carpeting plants and other fine-leaved stems.