Rotala Bossii

Rotala sp. 'Bossii'

Also known as Rotala sp. Bossii

FreshwaterStemCuttingsSide shoots

Rotala Bossii (Rotala sp. 'Bossii') — Buce Plant · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Light: High light
CO2: CO₂ beneficial
Max height: 11.8 in; 30 cm

Growth rate: Fast
Placement: Background
Type: Stem
pH: 5.0–8.0
Spread: 2 in (5 cm)
Nutrient uptake: Root + water column
Growth region: Submersed or emersed
Difficulty: Medium
Family: Lythraceae
Origin: India (undescribed collector form)

Overview

Rotala Bossii is a fast background stem plant grown for a bushy green backdrop. It is a plant of medium difficulty.

Did you know

Rotala Bossii is bought for refusing to turn red. Hobbyists chase this genus for crimson tops, but Bossii stays green even under strong light. That makes it the contrast plant to park beside a red stand.

Caring for Rotala Bossii

Plant Rotala Bossii as single stems in the background. Acclimate it gently, because the leaves are fragile and it resents sudden parameter swings. Swings end in melt or stem rot, so keep the tank stable.

Give it high light to keep it dense and low. Injected CO2 is not required, but it speeds growth and, with regular fertilization, keeps the stems ahead of algae at that light. It feeds through roots and leaves, so pair root tabs with a liquid fertilizer. Iron dosing coaxes out pink to orange tips.

It grows fast. Top the stems and replant the cuttings, since trimming also drives the side branching that builds the bush. Cut side shoots free once they have a few leaves and plant them on their own.

Good to know

Rotala Bossii is a member of the family Lythraceae, the loosestrifes. Bossii is a collector's trade name rather than a published species epithet, and no authority has formally placed it. That is why the sp. in its name is deliberate. In leaf shape it resembles Rotala rotundifolia.

In the wild

Rotala Bossii is an undescribed Rotala that circulates from India. Vendors report it growing there in dimly lit fresh water. Trade stock is farm-raised and may arrive in emersed or submersed form.

Common questions

Does Rotala Bossii 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 Rotala Bossii need CO2?

No, but it helps. Rotala Bossii can grow without injected CO2, and added CO2 makes it grow faster.

How much light does Rotala Bossii need?

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

Does Rotala Bossii need root tabs?

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

How do you propagate Rotala Bossii?

Rotala Bossii 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.