Rotala Blood Red
Plant Profile
If you're hunting for a red aquarium plant that actually lives up to the hype, Rotala Blood Red is the holy grail. Hailing from southeastern China, this premium Rotala rotundifolia variant has the same slender foliage as Rotala H'ra, but amps the color up with an intensely deep crimson under high-tech conditions. It grows straight up in an upright pattern, making it a knockout choice for your midground or background whenever you need an uncompromising pop of red to slice through a wall of green.
*Form Notice: Photos display this plant in both its emersed (above-water) and submerged forms. Depending on nursery availability and seasonality, you may receive this plant in either form. Learn more about what to expect by reading our guide on Emersed vs. Submerged-Grown Aquatic Plants.
Key Features & Benefits
- Produces an exceptionally intense, deep crimson-red coloration that sets a high benchmark for red stem plants in planted tanks.
- Fast vertical growth habit easily forms dense, geometric background hedges through routine pruning and replanting.
Care & Planting Instructions
- Remove lead weight and remove cotton wrap (or foam) surrounding the base, then strip the lower inch of foliage so bare stems anchor cleanly into soil without rotting. *Rotala stems have fragile leaves, so handle with care during preparation.
- Use fine-tip pinsettes to push individual stems 1 to 2 inches into soil, spacing them slightly apart so light reaches lower growth.
- Provide high-intensity lighting and pressurized CO2 injection. Adding iron supplementation is key to triggering its iconic blood-red pigments. See our guide to growing red aquarium plants.
- Maintain stable water parameters and avoid sudden environmental shifts to prevent leaf melt or stem rotting.
- Trim stem tops with straight scissors once they reach the surface to promote branching and prevent lower leaves from being shaded out. Read our trimming & propagation guide for details.
Quick Facts
Listed information should be treated as general guidelines only. Team Buce Plant encourages you to do thorough research to ensure healthy growth!
| Attribute | Specification |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Rotala rotundifolia 'Blood Red' |
| Common Name(s) | Rotala Blood Red, Rotala Rotundifolia Blood Red |
| Family | Lythraceae |
| Plant Type / Taxonomy | Stem Plant |
| Care Difficulty | Advanced / High-Tech |
| Light Requirement | High |
| CO2 Requirement | Required (Essential for deep red color) |
| Placement / Usage | Background / Midground Bushing |
| Height / Size | 4–8”+ |
| Growth Rate | Moderate to Fast |
| Water Parameters | pH 6.0–7.5 | 72–84°F |
| Propagation Method | Herbaceous Stem Cuttings |
| Origin | Southeastern China |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why are the lower leaves falling off my stem plants?
Lower leaf loss (leggy stems) usually occurs when lighting cannot reach the bottom of the plant due to overcrowding or shading from larger plants. Spacing individual stems slightly apart during initial planting and maintaining strong light penetration will keep lower leaves healthy.
2. How do I get my Rotala Blood Red to reach its deepest crimson color?
Achieving the rich, iconic "blood red" color requires high light intensity, mandatory pressurized CO2 injection, complete liquid fertilization, and supplemental iron dosing. Without high light and CO2, the plant will remain a lighter orange-red or pinkish-green.
3. How do I transition Rotala Blood Red from emersed to submerged growth?
When transitioning from emersed to submerged growth, plant bare stems securely into rich substrate under high lighting and keep water parameters stable. As new growth adapts, the plant will shed its rounded land leaves and sprout slender, intense crimson underwater foliage. Once new shoots develop, trim away old lower growth to encourage dense branching.