Works beautifully in Dutch, Nature Aquarium, and triangular layouts
Its deep red stems create bold color contrast among bright green background plants.
Best suited for intermediate planted tanks
Stable lighting and nutrients help the plant develop its richest coloration.
Displays intense crimson foliage
The vibrant red leaves make it one of the most dramatic stem plants in aquascaping.
Branches into dense colorful bushes
Frequent trimming encourages compact clusters instead of tall single stems.
Creates powerful background highlights
Small groups can instantly transform the visual depth of planted aquascapes.
Origin: Southeast Asia
Type: Stem plant
Growth Rate: Fast
Size: Height: 20–40 cm (8–16 in) Width: 5–10 cm (2–4 in)
Natural Habitat: Rotala species are common along tropical riverbanks and floodplains where sunlight is abundant and sediments contain high levels of organic nutrients.
Special Considerations: High lighting and balanced micronutrients—especially iron—encourage deep red pigmentation. Frequent trimming maintains dense groups and prevents stems from becoming sparse.
Did You Know?
The intense red coloration in plants like Rotala ‘Red Blood’ is produced by anthocyanin pigments, which act as natural light shields for the plant. These pigments absorb excess radiation and protect leaf cells from light stress while creating dramatic red tones valued in planted aquariums.
Tank Size: 20 L (5 gallons) or larger recommended. Larger aquariums allow this colorful stem plant to form dense background groups.
Plant Placement: Typically used as a background highlight plant, where its deep red stems create strong visual contrast in planted aquascapes. It pairs well with bright green plants such as Hygrophila polysperma and Bacopa caroliniana, while foreground plants like Monte Carlo or Glossostigma elatinoides can create a smooth visual transition toward the front of the aquarium. Dark-leaf plants such as Anubias barteri can also provide texture contrast when placed nearby.
Compatibility: Suitable for peaceful aquariums with rummynose tetras, cardinal tetras, rasboras, rainbowfish, shrimp, and snails. Dense stems provide shelter for shrimp species such as Amano shrimp, cherry shrimp, and crystal shrimp, while schooling fish like rummynose or cardinal tetras stand out clearly against the deep red 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: Medium–high intensity (30–60+ PAR) for 8–10 hours per day.
Light: Medium to high lighting (40–70 PAR) for 8–10 hours daily promotes deeper coloration.
Temperature: 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
pH: 5.5 – 7.5
Hardness: Soft to moderately hard water (2–12 dGH)
CO₂: Recommended for compact growth and intense coloration.
Care & Propagation: Trim stems periodically to maintain dense growth and prevent shading. Replant healthy cuttings to propagate new plants. Regular pruning encourages fuller plant groups.
Portion Size 1 carefully selected stem bundle (typically 15–17 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.
