Rotala sp. 'Burma' Care Guide
Rotala sp. 'Burma' (Myanmar) is a demanding red-colouring stem plant from the Burmese region, needing strong light, CO2 and iron.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Rotala sp. 'Burma', also traded as Rotala sp. 'Myanmar', is a stem plant of the family Lythraceae from the Burmese region. It is grown for its golden-red to ruby colour under strong light. It is a demanding plant that requires consistent care, constant CO2 and adequate iron, and is therefore better suited to experienced aquarists in high-tech tanks.
Taxonomy
- Family: Lythraceae
- Genus: Rotala
- Scientific name: Rotala sp. 'Burma'
- Also traded as: Rotala sp. 'Myanmar'
- Common name: Burma Rotala
Appearance
The plant forms upright stems up to about 20 cm tall with needle-like leaves that turn golden-red to red-brown under suitable conditions. Leaf blades reach roughly 2.5 cm in length and about 1.5 mm in width. Where iron is deficient, the leaves gradually yellow and decay, so iron supply is an important driver of the red colouration.
Tank requirements
- Water type: freshwater
- Temperature: 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- pH: 5.5–7.0
- GH: 1–8 °dGH
- Lighting: high; bright lighting around 6500 K favours the ruby tone
- CO2: required (constant)
- Substrate: nutrient-rich; iron supply important
- Placement: midground
It needs constant CO2 and stable, nutrient-rich conditions, with moderate nitrate and phosphate. Strong, warm-spectrum lighting brings out the deep red colour. Because of its sensitivity it is treated as an advanced plant.
Propagation
Propagation is by cutting the stem. The cut tops are replanted into the substrate where they root, and the remaining stems branch from the cut to form a denser group.
Propagating Rotala sp. 'Burma'
Overview
Rotala sp. 'Burma' is a cultivar of the genus Rotala, which belongs to the loosestrife family (Lythraceae). The genus contains around 46 species, several of which are used as aquarium plants. 'Burma' is grown as a stem plant that forms a bushy stand and intensifies in colour under strong light, propagated the same way as its relatives in the genus.
Propagation Method
Propagation is vegetative, by cuttings and topping. Cut the top of a healthy stem, replant it, and let the remaining base branch into new side shoots. Repeating this over several rounds quickly converts a few stems into a full bush, which is the standard approach for Rotala cultivars.
Step-by-Step
- Pick the strongest, most colourful stems and cut the top 5 to 10 cm with clean scissors.
- Strip the leaves from the lowest 2 to 3 cm of each cutting.
- Plant the cuttings into nutrient-rich substrate, leaving room between stems for light penetration.
- Keep the trimmed bases so they branch and bush out.
- Maintain strong light and CO2 to push compact, deeply coloured regrowth.
Conditions for Healthy Growth
This is a demanding stem that needs high light, CO2 injection and a nutrient-rich substrate to thrive and colour up. Soft, slightly acidic water around pH 5.5 to 7 and a temperature of 22 to 28 C suit it. An emersed form differs from the submersed form, so expect leaf shape to shift if it grows above the waterline.
Trimming & Maintenance
Trim roughly every 10 days to keep the bush dense and to encourage branching. Each trim provides cuttings, so maintenance and propagation happen together; replant the best tops and discard weak material.
Common Challenges
- Weak colour and stretched growth when light or CO2 is insufficient.
- Thin, sparse stands if topping is delayed and branching is not encouraged.
- Nutrient deficiency in a poor substrate, since this is a high-demand stem.
- Bare lower stems shading themselves in an overgrown group.