This decorative plant starts out green, but under good lighting it will develop a beautiful pink and/or red coloring.

 

Rotala indica is a favorite of many planted-aquarium enthusiasts due to the way it adds color and depth to any aquarium in which it is placed.  Also known as Rotala rotundifolia or the common name "Indian toothcup," this dense stem plant features fragile, thin leaves that transform from green into pink or red under high-intensity lighting.  It is a simple yet elegant-looking plant, as well as adaptable and fast-growing.

Under low to moderate lighting, Rotala indica leaves will likely remain green in color throughout its stems and leaves.  With high-intensity lighting, as well as carbon dioxide and abundant nutrients in the water column, this plant will outshine all green plants with hues of pink and red.  While this plant is relatively easy to grow and maintain, its stems and leaves are a bit delicate and can be damaged by particularly active species of fish.

This plant can grow very dense, so it may need to be propagated after some time.  This density also prevents light from reaching the lower leaves sometimes, which may result in them remaining green in color.  This creates a beautiful color dichotomy between the pink leaves at the top and the green leaves underneath, so it may actually be desirable.  The plant grows in shoots that can be trimmed and replanted into your substrate. The vibrant tops of the stems can be cut off and replanted to spread the colorful parts of the plant around.  The stem bottoms can be thrown out or left in the substrate to give the plant a more bushy texture.

We ship this plant in two bunches, each containing multiple 6 to 8 inch stems.

 

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