Do you dream of adding a bright and noble accent to your aquarium? Then you should get acquainted with Rotala macrandra. This plant is not called royal for nothing — its luxurious red color can transform any underwater landscape, making it truly impressive.
Growing this beauty is a task for enthusiastic aquarists. It requires care, good lighting, and nutritious water. But its capricious nature is more than compensated for by the result: when the plant feels good, it takes on stunning shades ranging from pinkish-orange to deep burgundy-red.
When placed correctly, Rotala macrandra becomes a living gem in the design of an aquarium. It can create a bright background or become a colorful accent in the center of the composition. It is that very touch that transforms a simply beautiful aquarium into a work of art.
Distribution
Rotala macrandra originates from Southeast Asia. The plant is believed to be native to India. Its natural habitat is marshy areas, lake shores, and riverbanks.
Rotala rosea prefers a humid environment and thrives when completely submerged in water. Since it grows in the tropics, the shoreline is often flooded during the rainy season.
Growing and care
Red-leaved Rotala will decorate almost any tropical aquarium thanks to its striking appearance. However, only experienced aquarists can afford this plant. Rotala macrandra is very demanding in terms of maintenance conditions.
At the slightest deviation from the norm, it loses its appeal or dies. It is considered the most difficult to breed compared to other varieties.
Rotala macrandra is most demanding on water conditions when it is floating and not fixed in the ground. The floating form of the plant grows more slowly than the ground form and is generally smaller in size.
- Rotala macrandra is best used to decorate a Dutch aquarium. Less often, it is used in compositions based on Takashi Amano's “Natural Aquarium” concept. This is partly due to the complexity of the idea of recreating a piece of nature in artificial conditions, as it requires a deep understanding of the principles of biological balance.
- Red-leaved Rotala can be grown both in an aquarium and in a humid greenhouse. It is suitable for decorating the foreground. Although it is often placed on the sides of the aquarium. Its aesthetic value is determined not only by the purple color of the leaves, but also by their smooth upper layer, reminiscent of a lacquer coating.
Water parameters for ideal maintenance
Rotala macrandra is very demanding on water, especially its temperature. It should be maintained between 26 and 30 degrees Celsius. In colder conditions, rotala slows down its growth until it stops, after which it begins to degrade and die.
The following recommended values should be maintained in the water:
- total hardness dH— 2-7º;
- carbonate hardness KH — 1-10º;
- the acid-alkaline balance should be 5-7.
If the water hardness exceeds 12º, Rotala macrandra dies, and an alkaline environment is uncomfortable for it.
Another important condition is the cleanliness of the water in the aquarium. Be sure to change 1/3 of its total volume every two weeks.
If the water is cloudy, Rotala macrandra grows more slowly and takes on an unattractive appearance. At the same time, strong water currents are also undesirable.
For example, weak roots suffer and leaves fall off when there is a strong current created by a powerful filter.
Lighting requirements
A large amount of light is the most important condition for the good growth of Rotala macrandra. There should be enough light for each leaf. Otherwise, the plant will begin to stretch and wither, so it is highly desirable to systematically thin out the foliage if the bush grows too large, so that the leaves do not block each other.
Under the right conditions, young foliage has a reddish-pink color, which can serve as a guide for the aquarist.
When planting Rotala in an aquarium, it is recommended to place the sprouts directly under the light sources.
The optimal lighting intensity is 80-100 Lm/l. It is advisable to choose lighting fixtures that can generate light rays predominantly in the red spectrum. It is useful to use incandescent bulbs and combine them with fluorescent lamps or natural lighting.
The latter should be limited to 2 hours per day. The optimal length of daylight hours is approximately 14 hours.
As noted by Rotala owners, despite its high lighting requirements, it can survive in low light conditions if necessary. It should be noted that excess light can lead to the growth of algae, which worsens the condition of the ecosystem in the aquarium.
Requirements for soil and nutrient substrate
The root system of red-leaved Rotala is very weak and belongs to the creeping type. Leaf buds are usually present on the rhizome. New roots sometimes appear on the stems of the bush, which begin to spread across the surface of the soil.
Although Rotala macrandra grows mainly in muddy soil in natural conditions, a large amount of silt in an aquarium will have a negative effect. The recommended substrate thickness is 3 cm. The soil should resemble coarse sand in structure. It is desirable that it be sufficiently nutritious.
ADA Aqua Soil Africana is a suitable professional substrate for keeping Rotala. This soil has an average level of fertility compared to the more fertile Amazonia and the poorer Malaya. However, unlike Amazonia, it has less effect on water hardness and acidity, without causing sudden changes in indicators.
Another advantage of using them when growing Rotala macrandra is the large amount of iron they contain, which is necessary to maintain the bright color of the plant's leaves.
For good growth of Rotala macrandra, it would be useful to purchase an additional nutrient substrate containing clay and peat.
Fertilizer requirements
Mineral fertilizers are useful as a supplement.
The only limitation is that, compared to other plants, red-leaved rotala requires half as many macro- and microelements.
It is best to divide the recommended amount of fertilizer into several parts and apply it gradually.
Depending on the amount of nitrates, rotala can change color. In particular, with an increased amount of nitrates, the color changes to orange.
Phosphates, on the contrary, help maintain bright red hues.
Because of this, special attention should be paid to the dosage of fertilizers with macronutrients.
Rotala macrocarpa categorically cannot tolerate sodium ions that enter the water when baking soda or table salt is added.
It is essential to add carbon dioxide to the water at a concentration of 15-20 mg/l. This helps to maintain the plant's beautiful decorative appearance. Another essential element is iron. It can be obtained in sufficient quantities from special liquid fertilizers such as:
- Tetra Plant Florapride Red. This fertilizer was developed for plants with a large amount of red pigment. In addition to iron, it is rich in manganese and potassium. It helps the plant develop faster, while preventing the growth of algae that are undesirable for any tropical aquarium.
- Aquarium Leaf Zone. This fertilizer focuses on chelated iron and potassium-containing compounds, which are much better absorbed by plants.
- Florastim Fe. This fertilizer with chelated micronutrients contains divalent iron, which many experienced aquarists prefer to use instead of trivalent iron. The latter is considered to be highly oxidizing and less easily absorbed.
Rotala macrandra is one of the most spectacular aquarium plants, transforming any aquarium into a real underwater palace. With bright red leaves densely arranged along the stem, it creates a rich accent in the back or middle of the composition. It needs good lighting and nutritious soil to show off the full beauty of its color, but even under moderate conditions, it looks impressive. If you want to add depth, color, and expressiveness to your aquarium, Rotala macrandra will be a real royal find.
Reproduction
New shoots can be obtained by propagating the stem. Each cutting should be at least 7-10 cm long, otherwise the daughter plant will develop slowly. Particular attention should be paid to cuttings from the middle part of the stem. It must have side shoots.
Rotala macrandra must be transplanted with extreme care. Contact with the leaves should be kept to a minimum. They are too delicate and do not tolerate contact with fingers. Also, the plant should not be left in the air for a long time.
Young shoots should not be planted close together. Otherwise, they may shade each other and develop poorly. For this reason, it is almost impossible to obtain dense stands of Rotala macrandra.
Variations and forms of the plant
In addition to the main form of Rotala macrandra, there are many subspecies. Of these, the three most well-known variations are:
- Rotala macrandra “Green.” Green rotala has leaves of the corresponding color and a brownish-brown stem. Unlike the main form, it is more unpretentious, so it is suitable for beginners. The leaves of Rotala macrandra Green grow up to 2 cm long and 1 cm wide. A distinctive feature of the plant is the ability to produce red-yellow leaves at a nitrate concentration of less than 10 mg/l. At the same time, the leaves must be at the surface of the water and receive sufficient light.
- Rotala macrandra “Green Narrow Leaf.” In terms of maintenance requirements and characteristics, it is similar to the form described above. The only difference is the width of the leaves. In this variety, it is no more than 5 mm.
- Rotala macrandra “Narrow Leaf”. A narrow-leaved variety, also known as “Magenta” and “Florida.” Like the main plant, it has a red color. Despite its recent appearance, it has already been appreciated by aquascaping enthusiasts.
Rotala macrandra is truly a special plant. It can become a living gem in your underwater world. If you are willing to give it a little attention, it will generously reward you with a stunning view of dense, velvety thickets of rich red color.
Don't be afraid to get started, even if you are not an experienced aquarist. Yes, bright colors require good lighting and nutrition, but these are not impossible conditions. Modern equipment makes achieving them quite feasible.
As a result, you will get not just a plant, but the main accent of the entire aquarium. Contrasting Rotala will enliven any composition, adding depth and dynamics. It is worth the effort you put into it.
Try adding this “royal” inhabitant to your aquarium. Watch it grow and change color, creating a unique underwater landscape together with you. This is one of the most effective and rewarding ways to make your aquarium truly impressive.
