Beautiful in Dutch, Nature Aquarium, and layered layouts
Its warm red tones bring natural color contrast among green plant groups.
Suitable for beginner and intermediate planted tanks
It grows reliably in many aquarium setups with moderate lighting.
Leaves shift from green to reddish hues
The color gradually deepens as lighting and nutrients improve.
Forms neat upright stem groups
Regular trimming keeps the plant compact and well shaped.
Creates smooth transitions between plant colors
It blends beautifully between bright green plants and deeper red species.
Origin: North and Central America
Type: Stem plant
Growth Rate: Moderate
Size: Height: 20–50 cm (8–20 in) Width: 8–15 cm (3–6 in)
Natural Habitat: Ludwigia repens grows along slow rivers, lakeshores, and wetlands where sediments are rich in organic matter and sunlight reaches the shallow water surface.
Special Considerations: Moderate lighting supports healthy growth. Pruning the upper stems encourages fuller plant groups and prevents overly tall growth.
Did You Know?
Ludwigia repens belongs to the evening primrose family (Onagraceae). Many relatives in this family are terrestrial flowering plants, which shows how some aquatic aquarium species evolved from land plants that adapted to wet environments.
Tank Size: 25 L (6 gallons) or larger recommended. Medium and large aquariums allow this plant to develop fuller groups and natural coloration.
Plant Placement: Often used in the midground or background, where clusters of stems introduce warm reddish tones among green vegetation. It pairs well with plants such as Limnophila aromatica and Rotala indica, while foreground carpets like Hydrocotyle tripartita or Monte Carlo help create depth. Midground plants such as Cryptocoryne wendtii can provide a natural transition between plant layers.
Compatibility: Suitable for peaceful aquariums with harlequin rasboras, glowlight tetras, swordtails, Corydoras catfish, shrimp, and snails. Dense groups of stems provide shelter for shrimp such as Amano shrimp and cherry shrimp, while schooling fish like glowlight tetras appear more vibrant against the reddish foliage.
Substrate Performs best in nutrient-rich planted substrates that support strong root development and stable growth. In inert substrates (sand or gravel), supplementing with root fertilizers such as Osmocote capsules can help provide essential nutrients. Iron supplements such as Iron EDTA capsules may also benefit red and orange stem plants by supporting stronger coloration and healthy new growth.
Light: Moderate lighting (30–60 PAR) for 8–10 hours daily.
Temperature: 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
pH: 6.0 – 7.5
Hardness: Soft to moderately hard water (2–12 dGH)
CO₂: Optional but helps enhance coloration.
Care & Propagation: Regular trimming helps maintain bushy plant groups. Replanting healthy stem tops allows easy propagation and encourages new growth.
Portion Size 1 carefully selected stem bundle (typically 5–7 stems), freshly trimmed and ready for aquarium planting.
Plant Size Stems are usually 10–20 cm (4–8 in) tall at the time of packaging.
Plant Type Submerged-grown aquarium stem plants, ready to plant directly into aquarium substrate.
Snail-Free & Aquarium Safe Plants are grown without chemicals that could harm fish, shrimp, or other aquarium inhabitants and are carefully inspected to ensure they are snail-free.
Transition After Shipping Some leaves may melt or change appearance after planting as the plant adapts to new aquarium conditions. This is a normal transition and new submerged growth will develop shortly.
Planting Guide
- 1.Remove the protective plastic packaging.
- 2.Gently remove the filter floss and rubber band holding the stems together.
- 3.Rinse the stems gently with clean water.
- 4.Separate the bundle into individual stems.
- 5.Plant each stem about 2–3 cm (1–1.5 in) deep into the substrate.
- 6.Leave small spacing between stems so they have room to grow and spread.
- 7.If a stem floats out, plant it slightly deeper or at a slight angle to help it anchor.
Tip
Aquascaping tweezers from our aquascaping tool set can make planting stem plants easier and allow precise placement in the substrate.
