I got 3 pms and the senders mention Rotala Macandra.
well...this is what i have to say ...despite being a cheap plant at rm2 per bundle(usually contains 5 to 6 stems)....this is a very diffcult plant to keep in good shape. this is not a beginer's plant.
Rotala Macandra is a plant that tends to go downhill rapidly after planting if its proper requirments are not met. this use to be a nightmare plant for me...it melts down quicker than most...and if it did survive the intial planting stage ...the top will grow while the bottom part wilt away. planting this plant in close formation was out of the question for me at that time.
pink form
red form
they need strong lighting, C02 enriched water....but then water temp is not critical, iron ferts is a must if u want to keep it red, while if u cut down on the amount of nitrogen it become pinkish in colour which is the much prefered colour in europe.
My experience: what i used to do many many years ago was to buy plenty of Macranda for my tanks...plant them in close formation, wait for a day or two....then begin taking photos....really beautiful photos...and show those photos around ...and getting praises from viewers...say how u plant them?whats your method?...an instant Mr Popular.
The truth is all i ever got from Macrandas are beautiful photos...and thats about it.....as the plants began to wilt away and die....after some time.
Not only was i lying to others...i found that im lying to myself.
when i got myself involved in the aquarium business, i was determine to learn from those who know ...or find ways to really plant diffcult species....coz i cannot lie to my clients...it has to be the REAL thing...or i dont get paid!
this is how i plant macranda.
i use a mixture of clay, mud, fine beach sand and bacter 100 from ADA.
this is what i recommend....but its okay to use normal fine subtrate.
get 5 to 6 healty looking cuttings...clear the leaves to give the stems at least 4 inches of length. plant them in the usual method ...3 inches apart from the other
the reason for the 4 inch stem is ...the stems will rot begining from the bottom, but with 4 inches to spare , chances are by time the rot reaches the 2 inch length, the stems had already begin to root and take hold on the subtrate..and the rotting will usually stop at this point.
give it plenty of light and a generous amount of Co2. skip any ferts at this point.
during the period of the first 2 weeks...it doesnt matter what happen to rest of the plant, just as long as rooting had taken place...once u are satisfy that roots are firm...trim the stem 4 inches from the bottom.
throw the rest away...DO NOT tempt yourself about replanting the top half... u dont need it.
after trimming what u might have left could be a bare stem...but dont worry ..if its properly rooted new shoots will appear.
shoots will appear after 2 to 3 days....usually in twins. give it a day or two to develop...then its time for the ferts. use tablet or stick fert, insert close to the stems. better if u can get Ocean Free monster root fert. the main objective is to get big fat stems.
once the shoots grows to the length of 4 inches...its time for another trim. this time trim it at 2 inches from the first trimming. and in time u will have four shoots from a single stem. let it grow for sometime (2 weeks).
and when the 4 shoots reach the length of 4 inches ...make a final trim.
its like from 1 stem =2shoots =4 shoots=8 shoots.
once all 8 shoots are in place ...its time for Iron ferts. see why u dont use iron ferts in the begining?...u have to throw all the cutting right?...so whats the point of adding iron ferts at that point.
i use Azoo iron liquid ferts and hexa iron tablets.
well...thats about it. this method does take alot of patience but in the end u will be rewarded with a miniture Rotala Macandra bonsai type plant.....its more eye pleasing than the boring long long stem type.
adjust your fert applications for the desired colour...skip the iron and the leafs will turn green ...which is not the desired colour.
Good Luck and happy planting