Rotala Rotundifolia Orange Juice

Plant Profile:

• Scientific Name: Rotala rotundifolia 'Orange Juice'
• Common Name: Rotala Orange Juice
• Origin: Southeast Asia (aquarium cultivar, likely from Vietnam)
• Height: 20–40 cm (8–16 inches)
• pH: 5.5–7.5
• Care: Moderate
• Light: Medium to High — higher light brings out brighter orange hues
• CO₂: Recommended for compact, colorful growth
• Propagation: Stem cuttings — trim healthy tops and replant
• Growth Rate: Fast

Notes:

Rotala rotundifolia 'Orange Juice' is a beautiful, easy-to-grow stem plant known for its vibrant orange to peach-colored tips, especially under good lighting and CO₂. It’s a fantastic choice for midground to background placement and pairs well with red or green plants for color contrast.

Key to its best appearance:

• Intense lighting (full-spectrum preferred)
• Consistent CO₂ injection
• Lean dosing (not overly rich in nitrate) to enhance pigmentation

This plant is relatively undemanding compared to other colorful Rotala species, making it a great introduction to colored stems for aquascapers.