Rotala Macrandra Mini Red
Rotala Macrandra Mini Red
Rotala Macrandra Mini Red is a compact cultivar with intense red coloration concentrated in small leaves on fine stems — a miniaturized expression of the macrandra red color in a more manageable scale that allows placement in midground positions where full-sized macrandra would grow too tall. Very sensitive to water parameters, Mini Red requires excellent conditions to maintain its intense color and compact growth.
Care tip: Rotala Macrandra Mini Red grows best in high lighting with CO₂ required. Maintain temperatures of 72–82°F and pH 6.0–7.0. Regular liquid fertilization supports healthy growth and best coloration.
Growing to 6 to 10 inches, Mini Red is compact enough for midground use where its concentrated red creates an eye-catching warm accent. The small leaf size and fine stems require high quality conditions to develop most attractively — under anything less than optimal conditions the intense red fades and the fine stems become etiolated. Regular trimming maintains compact density.
As an advanced plant, Mini Red requires CO₂ injection, high lighting, and careful water quality management. Temperatures between 72 and 82°F and a pH of 6.0 to 7.0 provide comfortable conditions. The chart's note about sensitivity to water parameters is accurate and important — Mini Red is among the more sensitive compact Rotala cultivars available. Consistent fertilization and very stable conditions support the best results.
In the aquascape, Rotala Macrandra Mini Red creates a concentrated intense red midground accent whose small scale allows placement in positions unavailable to full-sized macrandra. The compact, intense red display is most effective when several stems are grouped together to create a concentrated color mass at midground scale. It pairs beautifully with fine-textured green plants where the intense red creates vivid close-range contrast.
Rotala Macrandra Mini Red is a compact, intensely red midground plant for advanced aquarists with high-tech setups. Its concentrated red color and compact scale make it a valuable tool for introducing macrandra-intensity red to midground positions in planted aquascape compositions.
Care & Specifications
| Difficulty | Challenging |
| Placement | Midground |
| Max Height | 6–10 inches |
| Light Level | High |
| Temperature | 72–82°F |
| pH | 6.0–7.0 |
| CO2 Needs | Required |
| Origin | India |
| Notes | A compact cultivar of Rotala macrandra with intense red coloration concentrated in a smaller leaf and stem size than standard macrandra. Very sensitive to water parameters and lighting — requires high light, CO₂, and excellent water quality. Rewarding for high-tech aquascapers who can meet its exacting needs. |
