{"product_id":"dark-red-ludwigia-potted-freshwater-plant","title":"Dark Red Ludwigia - Potted","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"background:#E8F5E9;border-left:4px solid #2E7D32;padding:10px 14px;margin:0 0 14px;font-size:0.95em;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIn-store pickup only.\u003c\/strong\u003e Your order is reserved, we hold off on bagging until you arrive so it stays healthy in its display tank.\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDark Red Ludwigia\u003c\/strong\u003e (\u003cem\u003eLudwigia\u003c\/em\u003e sp.) is the red stem plant to start with. Reds have a reputation for being fussy, and most of that reputation belongs to other genera: Ludwigia colors up under ordinary planted-tank light, takes root from a cutting in a week, and forgives the odd missed dose. The leaves run deep burgundy on top with wine-red undersides, darkening as light increases, and a planted group gives you the single biggest color payoff available in a freshwater tank. Browse the rest of our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/freshwater-aquarium-plants\"\u003elive freshwater plants\u003c\/a\u003e to plant around it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #2E7D32;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eCare Guide\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLight drives the color.\u003c\/strong\u003e Under moderate light you get bronze and olive with red undersides; under strong light the whole plant goes deep red. If yours is staying green, light is the lever to pull, not fertilizer.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIron matters for reds.\u003c\/strong\u003e A comprehensive fertilizer like \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/seachem-flourish-comprehensive-supplement\"\u003eSeachem Flourish\u003c\/a\u003e covers it for most tanks. If the new growth comes in pale between the veins, add a dedicated iron supplement.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCO2:\u003c\/strong\u003e not required. It grows and colors without injection, just more slowly and a little less intensely. \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/seachem-flourish-excel\"\u003eSeachem Flourish Excel\u003c\/a\u003e is a reasonable middle path.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWater:\u003c\/strong\u003e 72 to 82°F, pH 6.0 to 7.5. Undemanding across the normal community range.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTrimming and propagation:\u003c\/strong\u003e cut a stem, strip the lowest leaves, push the cutting into the substrate. It roots in about a week. Trim regularly and replant the tops to build a dense red thicket rather than a few bare stalks.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIt arrived grown above water.\u003c\/strong\u003e Remove the pot and rockwool before planting. Emersed leaves often melt during the change to submersed growth, and the submersed leaves that replace them are the redder ones.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #2E7D32;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable style=\"border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;max-width:640px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBotanical name\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eLudwigia\u003c\/em\u003e sp. 'Dark Red'\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCommon names\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003eDark Red Ludwigia, Ludwigia Dark Red\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlant type\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003eStem plant\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExperience level\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003eBeginner friendly\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLight requirement\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003eModerate to high, brighter means redder\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCO2\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003eNot required\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlacement\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003eBackground, midground in a larger tank\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMature height\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003e8 to 16 in\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth rate\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003eModerate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater temperature\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003e72 to 82°F\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003epH\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003e6.0 to 7.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePropagation\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003eCut a stem and replant it\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003eCultivated, genus is pantropical\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSold as\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003eOne potted plant, grown emersed\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePickup\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003eIn-store pickup only\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #2E7D32;padding-left:8px;\"\u003ePlacement and Companions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere it goes:\u003c\/strong\u003e back third, planted as a group of five or more stems two inches apart. A single red stem reads as an accident; a block of them reads as a design choice. Stagger the heights so the group has a soft front edge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRed against green is the whole trick.\u003c\/strong\u003e Put it behind broad green leaves like \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/amazon-sword-echinodorus-grisebachii-potted-freshwater-plant\"\u003eAmazon Sword\u003c\/a\u003e or beside fine-textured \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/water-wisteria-hygrophila-difformis-potted-freshwater-plant\"\u003eWater Wisteria\u003c\/a\u003e. The contrast is what makes the color register.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow it differs from our other Ludwigias.\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/ludwigia-super-red-mini-potted-freshwater-plant\"\u003eLudwigia Super Red Mini\u003c\/a\u003e is a smaller, more compact plant for the midground, and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/ludwigia-white-inclinata-verticillata-potted-freshwater-plant\"\u003eLudwigia White\u003c\/a\u003e is a high-light specialty with pale variegated growth. Dark Red is the full-size, easy-going red of the three.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFish and invertebrates:\u003c\/strong\u003e safe with community fish and shrimp. Soft enough that goldfish and large cichlids will eat it, so keep it out of those tanks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #2E7D32;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eRecommended Supplies\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/seachem-flourish-comprehensive-supplement\"\u003eSeachem Flourish\u003c\/a\u003e: comprehensive fertilizer with the iron and trace elements reds need.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/seachem-flourish-excel\"\u003eSeachem Flourish Excel\u003c\/a\u003e: liquid carbon for denser, deeper-colored growth without CO2.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/caribsea-eco-complete-planted-aquarium-black\"\u003eCaribSea Eco-Complete\u003c\/a\u003e: a planted substrate that helps cuttings root quickly, and dark gravel makes red pop.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/amazon-sword-echinodorus-grisebachii-potted-freshwater-plant\"\u003eAmazon Sword\u003c\/a\u003e: the broad green backdrop to set the red against.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/ludwigia-super-red-mini-potted-freshwater-plant\"\u003eLudwigia Super Red Mini\u003c\/a\u003e: the compact sibling for the midground.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #2E7D32;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eFAQ\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy is my Ludwigia green instead of red?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nNot enough light. Red pigment is the plant's sunscreen, so it only produces it when the light justifies the cost. Increase intensity or photoperiod and the new growth comes in red, though the existing green leaves stay green.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDo I need CO2 to grow red plants?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nNot for this one. Ludwigia is the genus people recommend precisely because it colors without injection. CO2 makes it faster and deeper, but it is an upgrade, not a requirement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow do I make it bushy instead of leggy?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nTrim the tops and replant them alongside the parent stems. Each cut stem branches below the cut, so regular trimming doubles the stem count and thickens the group.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it the same as Ludwigia Super Red Mini?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nNo. Super Red Mini is a smaller compact form suited to the midground. Dark Red is the full-size plant, taller and faster, meant for the back of the tank.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Squeaky's Aquatics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49222442123483,"sku":"PLANT-LUDDKR","price":7.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0767\/5209\/3403\/files\/Ludwigia-Dark-Red-Pot-White-Back-2.png?v=1788513018","url":"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/dark-red-ludwigia-potted-freshwater-plant","provider":"Squeaky's Aquatics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}