Rotala Pearl Vitro Culture

Macrandra in miniature, with leaves that curl downward. Rotala sp. 'Pearl' is a fine selection of Rotala macrandra carrying tiny round leaves that curve slightly under, coloring from green through pink to violet-purple in strong light. The texture is softer than any other macrandra form, which is what makes it a nano and detail plant rather than a background one.

What You'll Receive

Fresh, healthy, and ready to plant. Your Rotala Pearl comes securely packaged in a 4-inch sealed Vitro Culture® bag to maintain optimal humidity and sterility during transit.

• 1 Bag: Perfect for nano tanks or adding a pop of colour to a specific midground area.
• 5 Bags: Ideal for densely planting larger aquascapes and establishing immediate visual impact.

Plant Profile

• Common name — Rotala Pearl
• Scientific name — Rotala macrandra Koehne
• Also known as — Rotala sp. 'Pearl', Rotala macrandra 'Pearl'
• Family — Lythraceae
• Foliage — Tiny round leaves curved slightly downward; green to pink to purple
• Placement — Foreground accent to midground; nano layouts
• Growth rate — Medium

Care

• Difficulty — Advanced
• Light — High. Required for compact growth and color
• CO₂ — Required in practice. Without injection growth slows and color stays green
• Water — 64–86°F · pH 4.0–7.0 · KH 0–12 · GH 0–30
• Substrate — Required. Nutrient substrate for root and stem development
• Growth habit — Grows submerged or emersed
• Propagation — Cuttings

Grower's Notes

• This is a macrandra, and it behaves like one. The small leaves make it look approachable, but it wants the same pressurized CO₂, strong light and rich substrate as the full-size plant. Without those it survives as a green stem and never shows the color you bought it for.
• Downward-curved leaves are the identifying feature. It resembles Rotala macrandra 'Mini Type 2' but the leaves are shorter and finely curved, which gives the softer texture.
• Trim regularly to force branching. Left alone it stretches and thins at the base, and macrandra rarely refills bare lower stems.
• Plant stems individually, an inch or so apart. Small-leaved stems shade each other badly when bunched.
• Tolerates a wide hardness range for a macrandra, from soft to fairly hard, though color is always strongest in soft acidic water.
• Want the same color without the demands? Rotala rotundifolia is the forgiving alternative.

Notes

• Rotala sp. 'Pearl' is best suited for experienced aquascapers using CO₂ injection and high-intensity lighting. Without these conditions, growth may slow, and coloration may remain green. Trim regularly to encourage dense, bushy growth.
• 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.