Description
Plant Profile
Rotala Nanjenshan is a delicate natural hybrid aquatic stem plant originating near Nanjenshan, Taiwan. Believed to be a natural cross between Rotala rotundifolia and Rotala wallichii, this unique species combines the hardy growth habit of Rotundifolia with the fine, needle-like leaf structure of Wallichii. Featuring dense whorls of slender, hair-like leaves along flexible stems, it displays a vibrant lime-green coloration that blushes soft pink, orange, and yellow-gold at the growing tips under high-tech aquarium conditions.
Tissue Culture cups ensure your aquascape gets a super clean starting point. Lab‑grown and fully sterile, it arrives without pests, snails, duckweed, or any unwanted algae. It’s the go‑to option for anyone who wants peace of mind when adding fresh greenery to a carefully maintained setup.
Key Features & Benefits
Needle-like foliage adds soft, cloud-like texture to midground and background zones.
Hybrid origin gives lime-green foliage with blush-pink, gold, and orange growing tips under high lighting.
Fast-branching growth perfect for dense hedges and Dutch-style streets with routine pruning.
Care & Planting Instructions
Thoroughly wash away the nutrient gel from the roots with your fingers before parting it out into manageable portions. *Rotala leaves are fragile, so handle stems with care during preparation.
Use fine-tip pinsettes to plant small stem clusters 1 inch apart into aquarium soil.
Provide medium-to-high lighting and soft, acidic water conditions (pH 5.0–7.0); mandatory pressurized CO2 injection and consistent fertilization with iron are essential to maintain needle density and induce pinkish growing tips. See our guide to growing red aquarium plants.
Maintain stable water parameters and avoid sudden environmental shifts to prevent leaf melt or stem rotting.
Trim main stem tops with straight scissors once stems reach the desired height, and replant trimmings directly into substrate to propagate and thicken your bush. Read our trimming & propagation guide for details.
Quick Facts
Listed information should be treated as general guidelines only. Team Buce Plant encourages you to do thorough research to ensure healthy growth!
Attribute
Specification
Scientific Name
Rotala sp. ‘Nanjenshan’
Common Name(s)
Rotala Nanjenshan, Nanjenshan Rotala
Family
Lythraceae
Plant Type / Taxonomy
Stem Plant (Natural Hybrid)
Care Difficulty
Moderate
Light Requirement
Medium to High
CO2 Requirement
Required (Essential for dense, needle-like whorls)
Placement / Usage
Midground / Background Bushing
Height / Size
5–10”+
Growth Rate
Fast
Water Parameters
pH 5.0–7.0 | Soft Acidic Water Preferred
Propagation Method
Cuttings (Cut stem and replant tops)
Origin
Asia (Taiwan)
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why are the lower leaves falling off my stem plants?
Lower leaf loss (leggy stems) usually occurs when lighting cannot reach the bottom of the plant due to overcrowding or shading from larger plants. Spacing individual stems slightly apart during initial planting and maintaining strong light penetration will keep lower leaves healthy.
2. How do I get pink and gold growing tips on Rotala Nanjenshan?
While Rotala Nanjenshan stays bright green under moderate conditions, developing soft pink, orange, and gold growing tips requires high light intensity, pressurized CO2, soft acidic water, and consistent dosing of liquid micro and macronutrients, particularly iron.
3. How do I prepare Rotala Nanjenshan Tissue Culture before planting?
Carefully remove the gel from the roots by washing the plant in a bowl of room-temperature water or gently rinsing it under a tap. Once the gel is removed, separate the dense cluster into smaller clumps or individual stem bundles and plant them into substrate using fine pinsettes.
