Rotala Indica Growth

[David]

Hi everyone

Its been roughly a week since I planted my Rotala Indica. To my understanding, stemmed plants normally grow upwards towards the light and depending on the lighting intensity and nutrients, determine how close the nodes gets.

However, my Indica seems to be growing sideways...some at 90degress and some are even making a U-Turn back towards the substrate.

Originally I believed that it was stray daylight that comes through my balcony door. However on closer examination, they are not growing towards the stray light but rather in its own haphazard fashion.

I am not complaining here as if the growth continues this way, it would make it easier to shape it into a nice bushy bunch.

I just like to know what is contributing to this growth pattern..is it:

1. Light intensity?

2. Substrate heater pushing out nutrients from base fertilizer?

[David]

Anyone? Even for a calculated guess?

[magpie]

I suspect the stems of your rotala are planted too space out. Maybe you can try to plant them densely.

[wongce]

weird, mine grow upwards straight last time.... too much water flow push them sideways?? lol ( pure guessing)

[David]

@magpie...currently they are planted leaf tip to leaf tip spacing. Is that too much space?

@wongce...I don't think its too much water flow pushing time sideways as some are actrually growing against the current.

I am suspecting that they are receiving too much light and no incentive to grow upwards.

[kohanson]

Mine grows this way too at around 70% light intensity. I also suspect that it could be that the lights are too strong. Another possibility is that my rotala are slightly spaced out and there are gaps in between, therefore, the plants are trying to close up the gaps. From the way my rotala grows, those that bend will produce roots and there will also be new growth coming out. I will usually trim the stem right after the new roots and replant them into the substrate. Before replanting, I will cut off the bottom 3 nodes of 6 leaves away.

[David]

Thanks guys. I shall let it grow a little longer and trim off the top and re-plant it closer.

Still trying to figure out a way to take advantage of the sideway growing for shaping.

[barmby]

I think not enough strong lights because the leaflets at the top look tiny and round. Let them grow and see? Here's mine below the tank surface:

[David]

Thanks Bamby....can you do me a favour and give me a whole plant shot? My is rounded at the top section because when I got it from Teo, the tips where growing emersed leaves...its shrinking again.

[barmby]

Ok. Can. Oh Emersed. that explain everything. it will take long time to establish