Plant Profile
Rotala Green is a classic and highly beloved aquatic stem plant native to the tropical waterways of Southeast Asia. Unlike standard Rotala rotundifolia variations that turn pink or red under high light, Rotala Green retains its vibrant, fresh lime-green coloration even under intense lighting and CO2. Featuring supple central stems lined with delicate, rounded leaves, it exhibits a distinct weeping or drooping growth habit as it reaches toward the light. Prolific and fast-growing, it readily branches after pruning, making it an ideal choice for sculpting dense, rolling background hedges.
Tissue Culture cups ensure your aquascape gets a super clean starting point. Lab‑grown and fully sterile, it arrives without pests, snails, duckweed, or any unwanted algae. It’s the go‑to option for anyone who wants peace of mind when adding fresh greenery to a carefully maintained setup.
Key Features & Benefits
- Vibrant, fresh lime-green foliage maintains its clean green color under all lighting conditions.
- Drooping or creeping stem habit branches aggressively when pruned to form thick, sweeping background hedges.
Care & Planting Instructions
-
Thoroughly wash away the nutrient gel from the roots with your fingers before parting it out into manageable portions. *Rotala leaves are fragile, so handle stems with care during preparation.
- Use fine-tip pinsettes to plant small stem clusters 1 inch apart into aquarium soil.
- Provide high-intensity lighting and pressurized CO2 injection (20–30 ppm); consistent fertilization with a liquid macro and micro formula yields robust growth and prevents lower leaf yellowing.
- Maintain stable water parameters and avoid sudden parameter swings to prevent stem melting or rotting.
- Trim main stem tops with sharp straight scissors once they reach the desired height, and replant trimmings directly into substrate to propagate and thicken the bush. 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 'Green' |
| Common Name(s) |
Rotala Green, Rotala Rotundifolia Green, Green Rotala |
| Family |
Lythraceae |
| Plant Type / Taxonomy |
Stem Plant |
| Care Difficulty |
Easy |
| Light Requirement |
High |
| CO2 Requirement |
Recommended (20–30 ppm yields compact, dense growth) |
| Placement / Usage |
Midground / Background Bushing & Dutch Streets |
| Height / Size |
4–8”+ (Cup portion size: 2–3”) |
| Growth Rate |
Fast |
| Water Parameters |
pH 6.5–7.5 |
| Propagation Method |
Cuttings (Cut stem tops or lateral shoots and replant) |
| Origin |
Southeast Asia |
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 achieve a thick, bushy forest with Rotala Green?
To encourage Rotala Green to form a dense hedge, routinely trim the main stem tops once established. Each cut site will sprout multiple lateral side shoots, doubling the stem density and creating a tight, bushy green bush.
3. How do I prepare Rotala Green Tissue Culture before planting?
Carefully remove the gel from the roots by washing the plant in a bowl of room-temperature water or gently rinsing it under a tap. Once the gel is removed, separate the cluster into smaller clumps or individual stems and plant them into substrate using fine pinsettes.
