Rotala 'Fujian' Care Guide
Rotala 'Fujian' is a Chinese locality form of Rotala rotundifolia with broader leaves and orange-pink colour under strong light and CO2.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Rotala 'Fujian' is a locality form of Rotala rotundifolia originating from Fujian province in southeastern China. It belongs to the family Lythraceae. Compared with the typical Rotala rotundifolia it has somewhat broader leaves, and under strong light and CO2 it develops a coppery orange to pink tone. It is used as a midground or background stem in planted aquariums.
Taxonomy
- Family: Lythraceae
- Genus: Rotala
- Scientific name: Rotala sp. 'Fujian'
- Related to: Rotala rotundifolia
- Common name: Fujian Rotala
Origin
The form is collected from Fujian, China and was introduced into the aquarium trade as a regional variant of the widespread Rotala rotundifolia. Emersed growth is green, while submersed in a planted tank the foliage takes on orange to pink hues.
Appearance
It grows as an upright stem with fine, narrow leaves that are broader than those of standard Rotala rotundifolia. Leaf colour ranges from light green and yellow through orange to pink depending on lighting; under high light it develops a darker orange hue. The vertical growth makes it suited to grouping in the midground.
Tank requirements
- Water type: freshwater
- Temperature: 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- pH: 5.5–7.0
- GH: 2–10 °dGH
- Lighting: high; stronger colour around 150–200 µmol PAR, with 80+ µmol promoting colour
- CO2: recommended for compact growth and rich colour
- Substrate: nutrient-rich
- Placement: midground
The plant tolerates lower light but colours best under high light with CO2 and stable parameters. Regular trimming keeps the group compact and dense; trimmed tops can be replanted.
Propagation
Propagation is by cuttings. Healthy tops are cut and replanted into the substrate, where they root and continue growing, while the remaining stems branch from the cut point to thicken the stand.
Propagating Rotala sp. 'Fujian'
Overview
Rotala sp. 'Fujian' is a locality cultivar belonging to the Rotala rotundifolia group, and it propagates like its parent. Rotala rotundifolia is a stem plant whose emersed form has rounded leaves while submerged leaves are narrow and lanceolate. Under strong light its leaves can take on a coppery to almost wine-red flush, which is why 'Fujian' is prized for colour.
Propagation Method
Like the parent species, it is propagated by cuttings. The standard aquascaping technique is topping: cut the healthy top portion of a stem and replant it, while the trimmed base sends out side shoots that thicken the stand. This turns one stem into many over successive trims.
Step-by-Step
- Select vigorous, well-coloured 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.
- Replant the cuttings into nutrient-rich substrate, spacing them so light reaches each stem.
- Leave the trimmed bases in place so they branch and produce new side shoots.
- Keep light and CO2 strong so the new growth colours up and stays compact.
Conditions for Healthy Growth
Give it high light to draw out the coppery-orange colour, plus CO2 injection and a nutrient-rich substrate. Soft, slightly acidic water around pH 5.5 to 7 and 22 to 28 C suits it. The submerged form keeps its fine lanceolate leaves; an emersed form with rounder leaves develops if the plant grows above the waterline.
Trimming & Maintenance
As a fast midground stem, expect to trim roughly every 10 days to keep it dense. Each trim yields fresh cuttings for replanting, so regular topping and replanting both maintains and multiplies the group.
Common Challenges
- Losing lower leaves, which usually means the plant is not receiving enough light.
- Dull green instead of coppery colour when light is too weak.
- Leggy, stretched growth under low CO2 or nutrients.
- Bare lower stems if trimming is neglected.