Ludwigia inclinata 'Red'

🌿 Ludwigia inclinata 'Red'

Ludwigia inclinata 'Red' is a stunning high-tech stem plant renowned for its vibrant crimson crowns and narrow, lanceolate foliage. Under optimal aquarium conditions, its lush green lower stems transition into brilliant shades of deep red, orange, and purple at the top, making it a spectacular focal point for aquascapers.

🌱 Growth & Appearance

This plant produces strong, upright stems lined with elongated leaves that arch outwards. Under intense light and high nutrients, the tops form a dense, flower-like rosette of fiery red foliage.

Its rapid growth rate makes it effective at filling out vertical space in the aquarium. Regular pruning is key to encouraging heavy side-branching, helping you form a dense, bushy group with striking color variation.

💡 Lighting & CO₂

Ludwigia inclinata 'Red' requires high to very high lighting to showcase its rich red pigments and maintain tight node spacing. Weak light will cause the plant to revert to a plain green hue and grow leggy.

Pressurized CO₂ injection is essential for keeping leaf margins clean and preventing stem tip stunting. Generous water column dosing—particularly macro nutrients and iron—is required to maintain maximum color intensity.

🪴 Planting & Maintenance

Plant individual stems into nutrient-rich aquasoil, leaving enough space between them so light can reach the lower stem portions. To propagate, simply trim the top 4 to 6 inches of healthy growth once the plant reaches the surface and replant the tops directly into the substrate.

Pruning the main stem encourages multiple new shoots to sprout from the cut nodes, increasing overall group density over time.

🌿 Best Use

Ludwigia inclinata 'Red' serves as an exceptional midground to background stem plant for high-tech nature aquascapes, Dutch-style layouts, and collector tanks.

Its intense red hue creates an eye-catching contrast against bright green plants such as Stargrass, Hygrophila, or carpeting mosses.

✨ Plant Profile

Difficulty: Intermediate to Advanced

Growth Rate: Fast

Lighting: High

CO₂: Required

Temperature: 20–28°C

Placement: Midground to Background

Growth Type: Stem Plant

Propagation: Stem Cuttings