Rotala macrandra (Rotala macrandra)

The Lythraceae family. India is the homeland.

Among the most exquisite plants with long stems. The thinnest shiny oval leaves on this plant have a magnificent pink color that makes it a real eye-catcher in any aquarium. The rotala stems typically grow to a maximum length of 20 to 25 cm. The plant should be positioned on the aquarium’s side shelves or in the foreground. Rotala macrandra, also known as Rotala large-stamen, is one of the most erratic aquatic tropical plants.

For rotala, the ideal water temperature is between 27 and 30 °C. Its growth ceases, young leaves rapidly get smaller, and older leaves disintegrate at temperatures below 26 °C. Rotala cannot withstand water that is too hard (hardness higher than 6 °). For this plant, 2-4° of water hardness is ideal. This kind of water reacts neutrally or slightly acidically, which is ideal for rotalas. It is not at all desirable to add table salt or baking soda to water because it is intolerant of many chemicals, especially sodium ions.

Rotala Macrandra should have extremely bright lighting. The plant should be positioned so that it is directly under the light source. Two to three hours a day in direct sunlight is very beneficial. You could, of course, confine yourself to artificial lighting.

In this instance, using a combination of LB-type fluorescent lamps to produce intensely diffused light and incandescent lamps to raise the percentage of red-orange radiation is essential. Employing only powerful incandescent lights is associated with high energy costs and may cause the plant to overheat. Twelve to fourteen hours of daylight should be allowed, but Rotala also needs to be shielded from algae. For it, blue-green algae are particularly hazardous.

The rotala has an extremely underdeveloped root system. More roots form on the stems that are creeping at the water’s surface. It is still necessary to plant the plant in the ground. The rotal grows very slowly and eventually shrinks if left to swim. Even the smallest changes in the ideal water characteristics cause these floating, unbound stems to wither away quickly.

The rotal should be planted in healthy, moderately sown soil. A certain amount of peat and clay should be added to the newly created soil. The soil from the old aquarium should be considered the best. Given the delicate nature of the rotal root system, river sand with a layer thickness of no more than two to three centimeters should be used as the substrate.

Since the plant reacts negatively to even the smallest excess of salt in water, mineral top dressing should be applied with extreme caution. For rotala, the recommended concentration of mineral fertilizers is two to three times lower than for other plants. Furthermore, it is preferable to perform mineral fertilization two or three times per week rather than just once, naturally lowering the dosage.

Like all long-stemmed plants, rotala is propagated artificially using stem cuttings. Shorter cuttings grow very slowly, so the ideal length for them is 7 to 10 cm. There must always be a developed lateral shoot on a cutting that is taken from the middle of the stem.

Rotala is extremely sensitive to touch, especially the touch of fingers, so it should be handled with extreme caution. The plant should be exposed to as little air as possible during transplanting.

Rotala plants lose their decorative effect when they are grown at low water levels, so you should avoid letting them dangle in the air. Furthermore, when the plant is grown above ground, it blossoms, which further deteriorates the plant’s appearance.

Post category: Aquarium plants from A to Z / Plants for an aquarium – P

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The exquisite freshwater plant Rotala macrandra is well-liked by aquarium enthusiasts due to its striking hues and unusual growth patterns. This plant is a fantastic option for bringing a pop of complexity and beauty to your aquarium because it grows well in a well-kept tank with the right amount of light and nutrients. We’ll go over the essential maintenance procedures and care guidelines for Rotala macrandra in this post, so you can keep this striking plant happy and healthy in your aquatic environment.

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