🌸 Rotala Colorata – Care Guide

Rotala colorata is a vibrant, fast-growing stem plant known for its reddish-pink to orange hues under the right conditions. It’s a favorite among aquascapers for creating color contrast and delicate texture in midground to background layouts. Closely related to Rotala rotundifolia, it offers a more intense coloration and finer-leafed appearance.

🔎 Overview

• Scientific Name: Rotala sp. 'Colorata'

• Common Name: Rotala Colorata

• Origin: Southeast Asia

• Growth Form: Upright, fine-leaved stem plant

• Coloration: Green in low light, vibrant orange to pink/red in high light

• Height: 20–40 cm (8–16 inches)

• Placement: Midground to background

💡 Care Requirements

🔆 Lighting

• Medium to high lighting for best color and compact growth

• High light = intense orange to pink/red leaves

• Low light = more green, leggier growth

💨 CO₂

• Highly recommended

• Enhances coloration and encourages healthy, bushy growth

• Without CO₂, it may survive but remain duller in color

💧 Water Parameters

• Temperature: 20–28°C (68–82°F)

• pH: 6.0–7.5

• Hardness: Soft to moderately hard

• Flow: Moderate – helps prevent algae on delicate leaves

🧪 Nutrients

• Requires consistent liquid fertilization, especially:

  • Iron and micronutrients for vivid coloration

  • Nitrates (keep moderate) – too much can dull red tones

• Grows well in nutrient-rich substrates, but water-column feeding is key

✂️ Growth & Maintenance

• Growth Rate: Fast

• Trim tops regularly to encourage bushy, compact growth

• Replant healthy tops to thicken stems and create depth

• Remove lower leaves if they melt or get shaded

🌱 Propagation

• Propagates easily by cuttings

• Cut healthy tops (5–10 cm) and replant directly into substrate

• Will root quickly and continue upward growth

🪴 Aquascaping Tips

• Perfect for color contrast in planted tanks

• Use in groups for best visual impact

• Place behind green plants (e.g., Cryptocoryne, Hydrocotyle, Pogostemon helferi) to make the pinks pop

• Works beautifully in Dutch, nature-style, or high-energy scapes