TankBud

Rotala indica

Also known as Indian toothcup

FreshwaterStemCuttingsSide shoots

Rotala indica (Rotala indica)
Vitro Culture · Used with permission

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
Medium
Placement
Midground
Type
Stem
pH
5.5–7.5
Hardness
2–14 dGH
Spread
2 in (5 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Root + water column
Growth region
Submersed or emersed
Difficulty
Medium
Family
Lythraceae
Origin
Warmer regions of Asia (India eastward to Japan), naturalized in rice-growing regions worldwide

Overview

Rotala indica is a stiff, upright stem plant that forms a compact column in the midground rather than a sprawling bush. It is a plant of medium difficulty.

Did you know

The plant the hobby calls Rotala indica usually is not. Rotala rotundifolia was imported under that name in 1960, and the real species circulated for years as 'Ammannia sp. Bonsai'.

Caring for Rotala indica

Plant Rotala indica in dense groups in the midground. Check what you are buying first, because most shop plants labeled Rotala indica are red Rotala rotundifolia. The genuine species is the compact, bonsai-leaved one.

It wants high light and a nutrient-rich substrate to look its best, plus a liquid fertilizer for its leaves. Injected CO2 tightens the internodes and brings a reddish to pink blush to the upper leaves. Without CO2 it stays greener and more open. It suits 68 to 82°F (20 to 28°C).

It grows at a medium pace with or without CO2. Trim it regularly and replant the tops to thicken the stand. Cut side shoots free once they have a few leaves and plant them on their own.

Good to know

Rotala indica belongs to the loosestrife family, Lythraceae. Under magnification the true species shows a thickened, whitish, cartilaginous leaf margin that lacks chlorophyll. Its stem is relatively thick and sparingly branched. Cavan Allen confirmed the genuine plant as R. indica in 2009.

In the wild

Rotala indica is native across the warmer parts of Asia, from India east to Japan. It has spread as a weed of rice paddies, marshes and low wet fields throughout tropical rice-growing regions. It grows emersed along muddy paddy margins and submersed in shallow standing water, in soft to moderately hard conditions. In the wild it behaves largely as an annual, finishing its cycle with the seasonal flooding and drying of the fields.

Common questions

Does Rotala indica 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 indica need CO2?

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

How much light does Rotala indica need?

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

Does Rotala indica need root tabs?

They help. Rotala indica 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 indica?

Rotala indica 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 Rotala indica grow?

Rotala indica grows to about 7.9 in (20 cm) tall. It grows at a moderate pace.

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