Propagating Ludwigia ovalis 'Pink'

How to propagate the round-leaved Ludwigia ovalis 'Pink' by cuttings: topping, replanting, branching side shoots, and bringing out pink color with light, CO2 and iron.

Overview

Ludwigia ovalis 'Pink' is a stem plant in the family Onagraceae with rounded, oval leaves that flush bright pink on top under strong light. Unlike the fine-leaved verticillate ludwigias, it has a creeping, round-leaved habit, but it is propagated the same way as other Ludwigia: by stem cuttings, and the cultivar reproduces true to the parent.

Propagation Method (Cuttings)

Multiply 'Pink' by cutting and replanting stem tops. Removing the apical bud encourages lateral buds along the internodes, so individual stems branch and become bushier; higher light, CO2 and nutrients all promote more side shoots. Aquatic stems take replanting well and regrow roots quickly.

Step-by-Step

Cut the top 5-10 cm off a healthy, colored stem.
Strip leaves from the lowest 2-3 cm of the cutting.
Replant the bare base into aquasoil, leaving room for the round leaves.
Keep the rooted parent base in place to push out side shoots below the cut.
Grow out and re-top the new shoots to thicken the group.

Conditions for Healthy Growth

'Pink' colors up under high light: around 80 PAR and above gives better color and more side shoots, with very high light (roughly 150 PAR at the substrate) producing the densest, most vivid stands. At least some CO2 (10 ppm and up) improves both coloration and branching, though it tolerates lower-tech setups when given iron-rich fertilization. It can grow emersed or submersed.

Trimming & Maintenance

Trim roughly every two weeks. Top the stems and replant the cut tops to maintain height and build stock; alternatively, snip only the longest individual strands to even the canopy while keeping the bush's shape and prolonging it before overcrowding. Replanted cuttings root quickly.

Common Challenges

Green, pink-less tops usually mean light is too low; raise intensity to bring out color.
Sparse, unbranched stems improve with more light, CO2 and nutrients to trigger side shoots.
Submersed growth differs from the emersed form, so converting stems may shed early leaves before adapting.