Rotala sp. 'Singapore' Care Guide
Rotala sp. 'Singapore' is a red Rotala rotundifolia variant ('Blood Red Singapore') that needs high light, CO2 and iron to reach its intense red colour.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Rotala sp. 'Singapore' is a stem plant in the family Lythraceae, documented in the trade as Rotala rotundifolia 'Singapore' (also called 'Blood Red Singapore'), reported as among the most intensely red of the rotundifolia varieties. Its submerged leaves are small and compact, taking on copper-red to blood-red tones under strong light.
Taxonomy
- Family: Lythraceae
- Genus: Rotala
- Scientific name: Rotala sp. 'Singapore'
- Trade form: Rotala rotundifolia 'Singapore' / 'Blood Red Singapore'
Habitat
Rotala rotundifolia, the base species, is an Asian aquatic plant. The 'Singapore' / 'Blood Red' form is a selected aquarium variety grown for its colour rather than collected from the wild.
Growth requirements
- Water type: freshwater
- Temperature: 22-28 °C (72-82 °F)
- pH: 5.5-7.0
- GH: 2-10 °dGH
- Lighting: high (red colour needs around 70+ PAR at the plant tops)
- CO2: required for best colour; 20-30 ppm recommended
Reaching intense red requires high light, consistent CO2 and iron supplementation; in Rotala rotundifolia the reddest growth tends to appear under nitrate limitation. The standard rotundifolia is easy to moderate, while the blood-red selection is more demanding.
Placement
The KB record places it in the midground at up to about 30 cm. It is planted in dense groups to provide a fine vertical, colourful structure.
Propagation
Propagation is straightforward using head cuttings and side shoots, replanted to thicken the stand; trimming routinely produces new planting material.
Propagating Rotala sp. 'Singapore'
Overview
Rotala is a genus in the loosestrife family (Lythraceae) of roughly 46 species, several of which are popular aquarium plants. Rotala sp. 'Singapore' is a fine, almost grass-like Asian variant with a feathery, pine-needle-like texture that takes on orange-pink to copper-red tones under strong light. It propagates exactly like other Rotala stems: by cuttings.
Propagation Method (Cuttings)
As a stem plant, 'Singapore' is multiplied only by cuttings; cultivars are propagated as the parent so each cutting reproduces the same fine form and color. Topping the stem removes the apical bud, which encourages lateral buds along the internodes so the replanted top and the remaining base both branch into denser growth.
Step-by-Step
- Cut the top 5-10 cm off a healthy stem with clean scissors.
- Strip the leaves from the lowest 2-3 cm of the cutting.
- Replant the bare base of the cutting into aquasoil, spacing stems so light reaches each one.
- Leave the rooted parent base in place; it will sprout side shoots from below the cut.
- Once new tops reach trimming height, repeat to build a dense bush.
Conditions for Healthy Growth
'Singapore' rewards a high-tech setup. Give it plenty of light, CO2 injection and balanced fertilization; the copper-pink to red coloration develops only under high light. Soft, slightly acidic water suits it, and the fine leaves stay compact when light is intense from the surface to the substrate.
Trimming & Maintenance
Trim roughly every two weeks. Topping the bush and replanting the cut tops both maintains shape and produces propagation stock, since aquatic stems regrow roots quickly after replanting. As an alternative, pick out and snip only the longest individual strands to even the canopy without removing the whole top.
Common Challenges
- Loss of red color and stretched stems usually mean too little light, CO2 or iron.
- Bare lower stems from shading: thin the bush and let light reach the base.
- Submersed growth differs from the firmer emersed form, so freshly converted stems may melt before adapting.