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Form of Ludwigia inclinata

Ludwigia White

Ludwigia inclinata var. verticillata 'White'

One of 4 forms of Ludwigia inclinata · See all forms →

Also known as Ludwigia sp. 'White', White Ludwigia, Ludwigia inclinata 'White', Ludwigia inclinata Cuba White, Ludwigia inclinata Cuba Pink, Ludwigia White Edge

FreshwaterStemCuttingsSide shoots

Ludwigia White (Ludwigia inclinata var. verticillata 'White')
Aquarium Plants Factory · Used with permission

Forms · Ludwigia inclinata

See all 4 →

Care at a glance

Light
High light
CO2
CO₂ required
Temperature
64–86°F
18–30°C
Max height
15.7 in
40 cm
Growth rate
Medium
Placement
Background
Type
Stem
pH
4.5–7.0
Spread
4.7 in (12 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Root + water column
Growth region
Submersed or emersed
Difficulty
Difficult
Family
Onagraceae
Origin
Cultivated form (white mutant of Ludwigia inclinata 'Cuba', no wild range)

Overview

Ludwigia White is a difficult stem plant for the background, grown for its pale, white and pink leaves.

Did you know

A reverted shoot of Ludwigia White, grown on alone, becomes ordinary Ludwigia 'Cuba'. Aquasabi's Tobias Coring confirmed in 2022 that these green shoots are the 'Cuba' form itself.

Caring for Ludwigia White

Plant Ludwigia White one stem at a time in the background, in a rich soil. It reaches 15 to 40 cm. Nursery stems arrive green, and the white and pink show only on submersed growth.

It needs high light, injected CO2 and soft water, with full macro, micro and iron dosing. It feeds through both roots and leaves, so add root tabs to the liquid fertilizer. Keep the water between 64 and 86°F (18 to 30°C), with a pH of 4.5 to 7.

It grows at a moderate pace, slower than most Ludwigias, because its pale leaves carry little chlorophyll. Take cuttings only from white tops. Green shoots, with larger green leaves, never turn white again and grow faster, so cut them out early.

Keep CO2 and water changes steady. Swings make the stems melt from the bottom up.

Good to know

Ludwigia White belongs to the Onagraceae and is sold as Ludwigia inclinata var. verticillata 'White'. It is a white-variegated mutant of the orange-red 'Cuba' form. Its narrow leaves grow in dense whorls, near white to pale pink, with the most pink at the crown under very strong light. Aquasabi's lab raised 'Snow White', an almost fully white selection of it, in 2022.

In the wild

Ludwigia White is a cultivated mutant with no wild population, and hobbyists in Germany were growing it by 2017. Its parent, the 'Cuba' form, comes from swampy ground on the Isla de la Juventud, off the southwest coast of Cuba. Ludwigia inclinata itself grows in bogs and rivers across tropical Central and South America.

Common questions

Is Ludwigia White a different species from Ludwigia inclinata?

No. Ludwigia White is a form of Ludwigia inclinata. It reaches about 15.7 in (40 cm), against 19.7 in (50 cm) for the species. It also differs in growth rate, placement and spread.

Does Ludwigia White 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 Ludwigia White need CO2?

Yes. Ludwigia White needs injected CO2 to grow well, and it usually struggles without it.

How much light does Ludwigia White need?

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

Does Ludwigia White need root tabs?

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

How do you propagate Ludwigia White?

Ludwigia White 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 Ludwigia White grow?

Ludwigia White grows to about 15.7 in (40 cm) tall. It grows at a moderate pace.

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