Here is all about Rotala 'Blood Red' — one of the most vibrant and eye-catching red stem plants in the aquarium hobby, highly favored for its intense crimson coloration, especially under high-tech conditions.

🌿 Scientific Classification

• Scientific Name: Rotala rotundifolia ‘Blood Red’ (variant)

• Common Name: Rotala Blood Red

• Family: Lythraceae

• Origin: Cultivar/variant (believed to be derived from Southeast Asia)

🌱 Plant Description

• Type: Stem plant

• Height: 15–40 cm (6–16 inches)

• Width: 2–5 cm per stem

• Leaf Shape: Narrow, elongated lanceolate leaves

• Color: Greenish-pink in low-tech tanks; deep blood red in high-tech tanks with strong light and CO₂

• Growth Pattern: Upright with slightly arching stems and dense leaf clusters when trimmed well

💧 Tank Requirements

🌾 Growth & Propagation

• Growth Rate: Moderate to fast

• Trimming: Regular topping encourages bushy growth

• Propagation: By cutting stems and replanting the tops in the substrate

• Spacing: Plant stems in groups with a few centimeters between to allow light penetration and bushy growth

🌟 Color Enhancement Tips

• Light: Use full-spectrum, high PAR lighting to bring out red pigmentation

• CO₂: Essential for deep red color and healthy growth

• Fertilizers: Keep nitrates on the lower side (5–10 ppm) while providing high iron and micronutrients

• Consistency: Avoid fluctuations in CO₂, light, or water parameters to prevent color loss

🧠 Care Tips

• Trim frequently to maintain dense, bushy growth

• Remove lower leaves if they get shaded and melt

• Avoid planting too deep; leave the crown above the substrate

• Combine with green plants for a vibrant red-green contrast

⚠️ Common Issues

🐠 Compatibility

• Ideal for peaceful community tanks

• Great in shrimp tanks — shrimp enjoy climbing the stems

• Avoid housing with large or plant-eating fish

• Snail-safe (unless snails are starved or conditions are poor)

📌 Quick Summary

✅ Why Choose Rotala Blood Red?

• Among the deepest red aquatic plants available

• Perfect for creating contrast in green-heavy tanks

• Loved in Dutch-style aquascapes for strong color blocks

• Responds dramatically to optimal conditions — rewarding to grow!