Rotala Wayanad Vitro Culture

Most red stem plants demand high light, injected CO₂ and a soft-water tank before they show any color at all. Rotala 'Wayanad' is easier than that. It colors from green through orange under medium-high light, and the narrow lance-shaped leaves give a finer texture than the round-leaved macrandra types — closer to rotundifolia in habit, but with warmer tones.

What You'll Receive

One 4-inch sealed Vitro Culture® bag containing healthy Rotala 'Wayanad' plantlets—ready to rinse, acclimate, and plant in your aquarium.

Plant Profile

• Common name: Rotala Wayanad
• Scientific name: Rotala sp. 'Wayanad'
• Origin: Wayanad district, Kerala, India
• Placement: Midground to background
• Shipped size: Small tissue-cultured plantlets, roughly 1-2 inches
• Mature height: 6-14 inches
• Suits: 10 gallons and up
• Growth rate: Fast

Care

• Difficulty: Intermediate
• Light: Medium to high. It grows green under medium light and shifts toward orange and red as intensity rises.
• CO₂: Recommended. Injection tightens the node spacing and deepens the color; without it the stems grow leggier and stay green.
• Water: pH 6.0-7.5, 72-82°F (22-28°C)
• Substrate: Required — a nutrient-rich substrate or root tabs, with water column dosing alongside
• Growth habit: Upright stems with narrow, lance-shaped leaves and compact nodes
• Propagation: Cuttings — trim healthy stems and replant the tops

Grower's Notes

• Trim it hard and often. Fast growth is only useful if you use it. Cutting the group back by a third every couple of weeks forces side shoots and builds the dense bush this plant is capable of.
• Replant the tops and discard the old bases. Cuttings root within days and outgrow the stumps they came from.
• Space stems roughly an inch apart when planting. Bundled stems shade each other and rot at the center.
• Still uncommon outside specialist collections. 'Wayanad' has never been assigned a species epithet and circulates under its collection locality.
• Expect the emersed-grown tissue culture foliage to melt back before submerged leaves appear. New growth is the honest signal.

Notes

• Images are for reference. Color intensity and plant form will vary depending on lighting, nutrients, and tank conditions. Initial melting may occur during the transition from tissue culture, followed by healthy regrowth under optimal care.
• 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.