Rotala Ceylon (Pot)

Description

Rotala rotundifolia ‘Ceylon’ was originally introduced from Sri Lanka (Ceylon). R. sp. ‘Pink’ since about 2012 This pretty Rotala rotundifolia form was often used by Takashi Amano for his aquascapes. Since about 2012 it is also called Rotala sp. ‘Pink’, however this name is also used for a different Rotala rotundifolia variant.
In its submerged form, ‘Ceylon’ differs from “normal” Rotala rotundifolia by a looser, lighter growth habit. The stems are thinner, darker coloured and tend to grow upward in wide spirals. The internodes are relatively long, the leaves are light green with pink lower side. Under lots of light, the shoot tips can assume light-reddish hues.
The Ceylon Rotala is as easy to care for as “standard” Rotala rotundifolia. It is recommendable as a bush in the midground to background.

Growing Rotala ‘Ceylon’ in a Singapore Planted Tank

Rotala ‘Ceylon’ is one of the more forgiving Rotala forms we carry, which makes it a good entry into red-tinged stem plants for local aquascapers. Its loose, spiralling growth fills a midground-to-background bush quickly, and our soft, slightly acidic tap water suits it well straight from the source. We grow our pots emersed, so expect a short adjustment as it converts to submerged leaves once planted; trim the weaker emersed tips after a couple of weeks and the submerged growth takes over.

To draw out those light-reddish shoot tips you will want decent light and steady CO2, since pink colouration in Rotala is light-and-nutrient driven rather than guaranteed. In our warm tanks, healthy flow and consistent dosing matter more than chasing extreme brightness, which often just feeds algae. Top-and-replant every couple of weeks to keep the bush dense rather than leggy, replanting the cut tops back into the substrate.

Explore more background plants, and read our Rotala-only aquascape guide, the CO2 guide, and our stem plant trim-and-replant walkthrough.