Ludwigia Tornado Vitro Culture

Ludwigia Tornado is the stem plant that looks like it is caught mid-spin. Each narrow leaf twists into a corkscrew as it grows, so a planted group reads as motion rather than a flat wall of foliage. Color runs olive-green to rust and red depending on how hard the tank is driven.

What You'll Receive

Fresh, healthy Ludwigia Tornado Vitro Culture® cultivated and prepared by Aquarium Plants Factory®, available in multiple value packs:

• 1 Bag: One 4-inch Vitro Culture® bag filled with many small plantlets
• 5 Bags: Five 4-inch Vitro Culture® bags (excellent for larger aquascapes or propagation)
• 10 Bags: Ten 4-inch Vitro Culture® bags (ideal for larger tank coverage)

Each 4-inch bag contains multiple young plants, which can be separated and grown into numerous individual stems—offering exceptional value and flexibility for aquascaping.

Plant Profile

• Common name — Tornado Ludwigia
• Scientific name — Ludwigia inclinata var. verticillata 'Curly'
• Also known as — Ludwigia Twister, Ludwigia Curly
• Origin — Central and South America
• Placement — Midground to background
• Shipped size — 4-inch bag of small plantlets, straight-leaved on arrival
• Mature height — 6-14 inches
• Suits — 10 gallons and up
• Growth rate — Medium

Care

• Difficulty — Intermediate
• Light — Medium to high
• CO₂ — Recommended
• Water — 68-82°F, pH 6.0-7.5
• Substrate — Nutrient-rich soil or root tabs, plus water column dosing
• Growth habit — Amphibious stem, feeds from roots and water column
• Propagation — Cuttings

Grower's Notes

• The curl is a light response, not a fixed trait. Under medium light the leaves loosen and flatten out. Strong light directly overhead is what tightens them into the spiral this variety is sold for.
• Expect straight leaves out of the bag. Tissue culture plantlets are grown emersed and arrive without the twist. The curled form appears on the new submersed growth over the following few weeks.
• Iron drives the red. Without a comprehensive micronutrient dose the plant grows well but stays green. Regular iron dosing under strong light is what pushes the color toward rust and wine red.
• Separate the culture into small clusters. Rinse the gel away and plant two or three plantlets per spot, spaced about an inch apart. Planting the whole mat as one lump kills the center.
• Trim the tops, replant them, discard the base. Like most Ludwigia, older lower stems go leggy. Cutting the top few inches and replanting them keeps the group dense and evenly colored. Also available as fresh-cut stems.

Want to go deeper? Read our complete Ludwigia Care Guide.

Notes

• Appearance may vary depending on growing conditions. Plants may arrive in emersed form and will transition to submerged growth once planted in your aquarium. Some initial leaf melt may occur during acclimation.
• Never release aquarium plants into natural waterways.

At a glance

• Free shipping on orders of $150 or more (after discounts) within the contiguous United States, by USPS.
• Free thermal protection is included with every shipment, all year round.
• Processing: most orders leave us within 1 to 2 business days. Tracking is emailed when your order ships.
• USPS (2 to 5 business days) ships Monday through Saturday.
• UPS 2nd Day Air® ships Monday through Wednesday. Order by Tuesday at 6:00 AM Pacific Time for same-week delivery.
• UPS Next Day Air® ships Monday through Thursday. Order by Wednesday at 6:00 AM Pacific Time for same-week delivery.
• Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and military addresses ship by USPS at a flat rate shown at checkout.
• Weather holds: during extreme heat or cold we may hold live orders until it's safe to ship.
• We ship within the United States only.

Please bring live plants indoors and unpack them the day they arrive. Every live order is covered by our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee.

The complete rules, including lost packages and address issues, are in our Shipping Policy. If anything conflicts, that policy applies.

Every live order is backed by our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee. If a plant arrives dead, we'll make it right.

How it works

• Tell us within 24 hours of the delivery time on your tracking.
• Send photos of the affected items in their original, unopened packaging, plus a photo of the shipping label, to hello@aquariumplantsfactory.com with your order number.
• We'll make it right with a replacement, store credit or refund for the affected item.

Good to know

• Some melting or yellowing as plants adjust from greenhouse to aquarium life is normal. They regrow from healthy roots and rhizomes.
• Please bring your package indoors and unpack it the day it arrives.
• Free promotional items and shipping charges are not covered.

The complete rules, including what's covered and what voids the guarantee, are in our Returns, Refunds & Live Arrival Guarantee. If anything conflicts, that policy applies.

Please review your state's regulations on restricted plants, as we are committed to not shipping plants that are restricted in your area. Do not release any plants into the wild or waterways, as this can harm local ecosystems by introducing invasive species.

Your cooperation in protecting the environment is appreciated. For continuously updated information, refer to the USDA State Noxious Weed list here.

Thank you for your responsible commitment to environmental preservation.