🔥 All About Rotala rotundifolia ‘HRA’ – Growow TC Plant

Rotala rotundifolia 'HRA' is a highly sought-after red stem plant prized for its intense reddish-orange to deep red coloration and compact growth. This variety, believed to originate from Vietnam, performs beautifully in high-tech aquariums and is often used as a focal point or background accent in Dutch or Nature-style aquascapes. In Growow Tissue Culture (TC) form, it ensures a healthy, algae- and pest-free start.

🔍 Quick Overview

• Scientific Name: Rotala rotundifolia 'HRA'

• Common Name: Rotala HRA (Hrân đỏ – Vietnamese for red)

• Family: Lythraceae

• Origin: Cultivar from Southeast Asia

• Type: Stem plant

🌱 Plant Characteristics

• Height: 20–40+ cm

• Leaf Shape: Narrow, needle-like leaves

• Color: Pinkish to vibrant red under strong lighting

• Growth Pattern: Upright, with bushy tops when trimmed

• Growth Rate: Medium to fast with CO₂ and nutrients

💧 Tank Requirements

• Lighting: Medium to high (intense light needed for red coloration)

• CO₂: Required for vibrant color and healthy growth

• Substrate: Nutrient-rich aquasoil or sand with root tabs

• Water Parameters:

  • pH: 5.5–7.0

  • Temperature: 22–28°C (72–82°F)

  • Hardness: Soft to medium

• Position in Tank: Midground to background

🧪 Growow TC Plant Benefits

• Pest-free, algae-free, and clean start

• Multiple healthy stems in one cup

• Easy to acclimate and propagate

• Perfect for starting or refining vibrant aquascapes

🌟 Why Choose Rotala ‘HRA’

• Incredible red hues – stands out against green backgrounds

• Great for Dutch-style color layering

• Responds well to trimming – produces dense, bushy tops

• Contrasts beautifully with green or light-colored plants

• A dramatic choice for highlight areas in aquascapes

🧠 Tips for Success

• Trim tops regularly and replant for thicker appearance

• Dose iron and micronutrients to enhance red tones

• Avoid shading – needs strong direct light

• Works well alongside Rotala wallichii, Ludwigia, and Pogostemon erectus

💡 Did you know? Aquatic plants like Rotala change leaf color based on light intensity and nutrients — a process similar to how fall leaves change color due to chlorophyll breakdown and sugar build-up.