Whip Rotala

Rotala wallichii is the finest-leaved of the commonly available red rotalas, producing densely packed needle-like leaves that turn pink to orange-red under strong light. Each stem resembles a soft bottlebrush, and a well-grown group in the midground or background creates a texture that contrasts sharply with broad-leaf plants. The optimum temperature is 24 to 28 °C and pH from 5 to 7, with medium to high light and CO2 at 20–40 mg/l. Trim tall shoots as the group develops and replant healthy tips. The stems branch readily when the top is cut, so propagation is simply a matter of replanting the trimmings. Nitrate levels around 10–50 mg/l and phosphate 0.1–3 mg/l keep the colour intense; low nitrate tends to deepen the red but also reduces stem thickness. Rotala wallichii is suitable for nano tanks as well as larger layouts because the stems stay relatively thin and can be grouped tightly. It is rated difficult, which is accurate for keepers moving from easy stem plants to something that demands consistent CO2 and lighting discipline.