Rotala Mexicana 'Goias' care guide
Rotala Mexicana 'Goias' (Rotala mexicana 'Goias') — high light, 22-28 °C, pH 5.5-7, CO2 recommended.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Rotala Mexicana 'Goias' (Rotala mexicana 'Goias') is an aquatic plant of the family Lythraceae, listed in the Aquairi knowledge base as an intermediate-level species. It is typically grown under high light with pressurised CO2 injection on nutrient-rich aquasoil. A beautiful fine-leaved Rotala variant with reddish coloration that intensifies under high light and CO2. Forms dense bushes of delicate, needle-like foliage prized in competition aquascapes.
Taxonomy
- Family: Lythraceae
- Genus: Rotala
- Scientific name: Rotala mexicana 'Goias'
- Common synonyms: Rotala sp. 'Goias'
Habitat
Rotala is a genus of small marsh plants (Lythraceae) distributed across the Old-World tropics, from India and South-East Asia to tropical Africa and northern Australia. Many forms occur in rice paddies, ditches and seasonally flooded lowlands. In the Aquairi knowledge base, populations associated with this form are recorded from Brazil.
Growth requirements
- Lighting: high
- CO2: recommended
- Temperature: 22-28 °C (72-82 °F)
- pH: 5.5-7
- GH: 2-10 °dGH
- Substrate: nutrient-rich aquasoil
- Maximum height: 25 cm
- Growth rate: medium
- Recommended placement: midground
Placement
A background or midground stem. Bright light combined with CO2 injection brings out the orange, pink and red tones for which Rotala is grown; lean nitrogen and abundant micros sharpen the colour further. In the Aquairi knowledge base this form is recommended for the midground under high light with pressurised CO2 injection, using nutrient-rich aquasoil.
Propagation
Pinched off and replanted cuttings root in days; periodic topping creates the dense bushy cluster characteristic of Dutch- and nature-style layouts. Documented propagation techniques for this entry include: stem cuttings.
Common issues
Small upright leaves and pale tips indicate insufficient light or CO2; reducing nitrate slightly while raising iron tends to intensify the red pigments.
Propagating Rotala mexicana 'Bangladesh' from Cuttings
Overview
Rotala mexicana 'Bangladesh' is a fine-leaved form of Rotala mexicana, a stem plant of the loosestrife family (Lythraceae); the 'Bangladesh' trade form is generally treated as a form of R. mexicana, though there is some taxonomic uncertainty. It is a thin-leaved, fast grower that stays mostly green with a dark burgundy stem and develops red to orange hues only under very intense light. It is propagated vegetatively from cuttings.
Propagation Method (Cuttings)
'Bangladesh' is propagated through stem cuttings, like other Rotala. Cut the longest stems 5-10 cm from the substrate and replant the tops in groups. One quirk of this form: it is not a prolific brancher, and when topped the remaining top portion tends to rot back while a few side shoots form lower down the stem — so favour replanting healthy cut tops over relying on the trimmed base.
Step-by-Step
- Choose a healthy stem with good fine foliage, at least 10-12 cm tall.
- Cut the top 5-10 cm with clean, sharp scissors.
- Strip leaves from the lowest 2-3 cm to expose a clean node.
- Plant the cutting into nutrient-rich substrate, burying the stripped node; group several for a streamlined mid-stem stand.
- Watch the topped base: expect a few low side shoots rather than dense branching, and remove any rotting top stub.
Conditions for Healthy Growth
This form is forgiving but rewards good conditions. It grows in lower light, but 80+ umol PAR promotes better colour, and 150-200 umol PAR gives the strongest colouration — red only under the most intense light, otherwise green with a burgundy stem. CO2 is not required, yet with sufficient light and CO2 the plant grows denser and more colourful. Soft, slightly acidic water suits the mexicana group well.
Trimming & Maintenance
Once established 'Bangladesh' behaves like a weed and can trail long stems along the surface in high light, so trim regularly — roughly every week or two — to keep the group tidy and light reaching the base. Because topping causes the cut top to rot rather than branch heavily, the cleanest long-term method is to harvest and replant fresh tops each cycle. Like other Rotala it is amphibious, so emersed-grown stems convert their leaf form as they settle in submersed culture.