TCulture Rotala Rotundifolia Orange Juice (Pot)

Description

Rotala rotundifolia ‘Orange Juice’ is a selection from Massimo Iannella a passionate plant enthusiast from Italy. The Orange Juice Rotala is like Rotala rotundifolia a time-tested popular stem plant wonderfully suitable for aquascaping. Its emerged form has roundish leaves, in the aquarium they grow to a longer, narrow form. Compared with other Rotala species it is relatively undemanding. This highly variable species is widely distributed in the Asian subtropics and tropics; standard variants available in trade are light green to reddish under water, depending on the light intensity. The leaves of the Orange Juice Rotala have stunning orange in the emerged and submerged form.

Rotala rotundifolia ‘Orange Juice’ in Singapore tanks

‘Orange Juice’ is a standout selection of Rotala rotundifolia, named for the warm orange tone its new growth takes on under good conditions, a colour that sits beautifully between the usual greens and reds in a scape. Its emersed leaves are roundish, drawing out into the longer, narrow submerged form once established. Like the parent species it is relatively undemanding, which makes that distinctive colour unusually accessible.

To pull out the orange you need bright light and iron dosing; under weaker light it leans greener, as the species naturally varies with intensity. Singapore’s soft, slightly acidic tap water and steady 27-29C warmth suit it without a heater, so light and nutrients are the levers you actually adjust for colour. It grows fast like all rotundifolia, so plan on regular topping and replanting to keep a dense group.

Browse our background plants range, then read our Rotala rotundifolia trimming guide and our iron dosing guide to bring out the orange.