Rotala 'H'ra' (Rotala Hira) care

Light

Rotala 'H'ra' is what florists mean by "bright spot, no direct sun" — close enough to a south or east window to feel the brightness, with a sheer curtain or a few feet of distance keeping the sun off the leaves. Submerged plant that develops its signature pink-red tops only under high-intensity aquarium light (roughly 50-80+ PAR). In moderate light it grows greener and looser. A phone lux-meter at the leaf surface should read 1,500-3,000 lux at noon.

Watering

Water rotala 'h'ra' submerged permanently; 30-50% aquarium water changes weekly. The actual day count varies with pot size, light, and season — the finger test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) is more reliable than a fixed calendar. Empty any drainage saucer afterwards so the pot isn't sitting in water. Grows underwater in freshwater. Prefers soft to moderately hard water (3-12 dGH), pH 6.0-7.5. Strongest colour and compact growth come with pressurised CO2 (20-30 ppm).

Soil and pot

Rotala 'H'ra' grows best in aquasoil or nutrient substrate. Performs best in active aquasoil but adapts to gravel with root tabs. It feeds substantially from the water column, so consistent liquid dosing matters most. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Rotala 'H'ra' sits happiest at around 100% (submerged aquatic) humidity and 20-28°C (68-82°F). Cultivated fully underwater, so ambient humidity is irrelevant. Emersed growth is possible in humid conditions but the colourful submerged form is what aquascapers grow. If you keep the room above 20 year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed rotala 'h'ra' sparingly. Dose a complete macro and micro fertiliser with iron and trace emphasis for pink-red tops; keep nitrate slightly lean. Steady dosing maintains the dense, well-coloured canopy this variety is grown for. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on rotala 'h'ra' in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Green instead of pink/red tops — Colour demands high light and lean nitrate. Increase PAR and trim down to encourage bright new tops; reduce nitrate if it runs high.
• Leggy, sparse growth — Low light or low CO2 stretches the stems. Raise light and CO2 for the dense, compact form.
• Tip stunting — Micronutrient shortfall or CO2 instability deforms new growth. Stabilise CO2 and dose trace elements including iron and magnesium.
• Algae on slower tanks — Imbalanced light-to-CO2 ratios invite algae on the fine leaves. Improve flow and balance light to CO2 with steady nutrients.

Propagation

Trim the top 5-10 cm and replant the cutting; the parent stem branches below the cut, multiplying stems quickly. Propagate from coloured tops grown under high light. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Rotala 'H'ra' is mildly toxic to pets. Rotala is not individually listed by the ASPCA on either the toxic or non-toxic plant lists, so its pet status is unconfirmed. Treat with caution and verify with a vet; as a submerged aquarium plant, ingestion by cats or dogs is unlikely in practice. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Rotala 'H'ra' deep-dive guides

Every aspect of rotala 'h'ra' care, each with its own calibrated guide:

• Rotala 'H'ra' watering schedule
• Rotala 'H'ra' light requirements
• Best soil mix for rotala 'h'ra'
• Rotala 'H'ra' fertilizing guide
• When to repot rotala 'h'ra'
• How to propagate rotala 'h'ra'
• Rotala 'H'ra' growth rate & size
• Rotala 'H'ra' cold hardiness
• Rotala 'H'ra' temperature & humidity
• Is rotala 'h'ra' toxic to cats & dogs?
• Is rotala 'h'ra' toxic to cats?
• Is rotala 'h'ra' toxic to dogs?

Featured in these plant shortlists

Rotala 'H'ra' qualifies for 2 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

• Best plants for a north-facing window — Houseplants for a north-facing window: bright, even, indirect light and no scorching direct sun. Each pick verified against its documented light needs.
• Best small & tabletop houseplants — Compact houseplants that stay under about 40 cm — desk, shelf and windowsill plants that never outgrow a small space.
• Browse all 29 plant shortlists — pet-safe, low-light, drought-tolerant and more

Related guides

Rotala 'H'ra' is also commonly called Rotala Hira or compact pink Rotala.

• Monstera care — light, water and common problems
• Pothos care — light, water and common problems
• Fiddle leaf fig care — light, water and common problems
• All 5561 plant care guides in the Growli library