TankBud

Ammannia Bonsai

Ammannia sp. 'Bonsai'

Also known as Rotala indica 'Bonsai', Bonsai Rotala, Ammania sp. 'Bonsai'

FreshwaterStemCuttingsSide shoots

Ammannia Bonsai (Ammannia sp. 'Bonsai')
Loasa · Public domain

Care at a glance

Light
High light
CO2
CO₂ beneficial
Temperature
68–82°F
20–28°C
Max height
7.9 in
20 cm
Growth rate
Slow
Placement
Midground
Type
Stem
pH
6.0–7.5
Hardness
2–12 dGH
Spread
1.6 in (4 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Root + water column
Growth region
Submersed or emersed
Difficulty
Medium
Family
Lythraceae
Origin
Asia (India and Southeast Asia)

Overview

Ammannia Bonsai is a slow, compact stem plant for the midground or foreground. It is rated medium difficulty.

Did you know

Ammannia Bonsai's name is a double swap. Shops sell it as an Ammannia, yet it is the true Rotala indica. Hobbyists spent years putting that Latin name on Rotala rotundifolia instead.

Caring for Ammannia Bonsai

Plant the stems in tidy, pillar-like groups in the midground or foreground. Strip the lower leaves first and set each stem a little apart.

Ammannia Bonsai wants high light, and strong light with steady CO2 keeps the internodes short and turns the tips reddish. Without CO2 it grows sluggishly and stays greener. It feeds through roots and leaves, so use root tabs along with a liquid fertilizer. Keep it at 68 to 82°F (20 to 28°C).

Its slow pace makes it a low-maintenance choice, since a group rarely needs trimming. Propagate it by snipping off the tops or separating side shoots and replanting them.

Good to know

Ammannia Bonsai belongs to the family Lythraceae, and its full botanical name is Rotala indica (Willd.) Koehne. It also sells as Rotala indica 'Bonsai' or Bonsai Rotala. Its compact, roundish leaves sit on thick, barely branching stems. That build makes it look like a miniature Bacopa caroliniana.

In the wild

Ammannia Bonsai is native to rice paddies, ditches and seasonally flooded wetlands across India and Southeast Asia. In the wild it is a small annual marsh herb that tolerates both emersed and submersed conditions.

Common questions

Does Ammannia Bonsai need to be planted in the substrate?

Yes. Strip the leaves from the lower part of each stem, then push the stems into the substrate one at a time, a little apart.

Does Ammannia Bonsai need CO2?

No, but it helps. Ammannia Bonsai can grow without injected CO2, and added CO2 makes it grow faster.

How much light does Ammannia Bonsai need?

Ammannia Bonsai needs high light from a strong planted-tank LED. In weaker light its stems stretch and drop their lower leaves.

Does Ammannia Bonsai need root tabs?

They help. Ammannia Bonsai takes nutrients through both its roots and its leaves. Root tabs near its roots and a liquid fertilizer cover both.

How do you propagate Ammannia Bonsai?

Ammannia Bonsai propagates by cuttings and side shoots. Cut off the top of a stem and replant it, and the stump left behind grows new shoots. Cut a side shoot off once it has a few leaves and plant it on its own.

How tall does Ammannia Bonsai grow?

Ammannia Bonsai grows to about 7.9 in (20 cm) tall. It grows slowly and rarely needs trimming.

Related plants