Ludwigia super red

Overview

Ludwigia super red (Ludwigia palustris) is one of the easiest ways to get real red into a planted tank. Unlike many red plants that demand a high-tech setup, this variety can hold a rich red-to-bronze tone even in moderate conditions — but to see the deep, glowing crimson it is famous for, it needs strong light and iron. It is a stem plant, growing as upright stalks that you trim and replant, and it makes a striking colour accent in the midground or background against a backdrop of green.

Planting & placement

Ludwigia super red is a stem plant, so plant the individual stems into the substrate a couple of centimetres apart — planting them in a loose group of five or more reads as a bold splash of red rather than a few stray stalks. It suits the midground or background, where its height and colour draw the eye. Use tweezers to push each stem in gently; see how to plant aquarium plants for the technique and aquascaping for beginners for using red as a focal point in a layout.

Light, CO2 & ferts

Colour is all about light and iron. Give it medium-to-high light — see our best light for a planted tank guide — and the new growth turns red; keep it dim and it stays green. Injected CO2 is strongly recommended for compact, fast, vivid growth, though it will survive without. Dose a complete plant fertilizer with iron (our best plant fertilizer picks help here); iron deficiency shows as pale or green new leaves on this species.

Propagation & problems

Propagation is simple: trim and replant. Cut the top few centimetres of a healthy stem and push the cutting into the substrate — it roots quickly and grows on, while the trimmed parent sprouts side shoots below the cut for a bushier group. The usual problems are green (not red) growth from too little light or iron, and lower leaves dropping when the canopy shades them — trim regularly to keep light reaching the whole stem. With good light, CO2 and iron, it is a fast, rewarding red plant.