Ludwigia Super Red Mini - Potted

Ludwigia Super Red Mini is the easiest true red in the hobby, shrunk down. Where most red stem plants demand high light, pressurized CO2, and a dosing schedule before they give up anything better than olive, this one turns genuine crimson under ordinary aquarium lighting with nothing but decent fertilizer. The leaves are small and closely spaced and the whole plant stays compact, which makes it one of the few real reds that works in a nano tank without immediately outgrowing it. Browse the rest of our live freshwater plants to fill out the aquascape.

Care Guide

• Planting: peel off the net pot, tease out the rock wool, and separate the stems. Plant them individually about an inch apart rather than as one clump, so light reaches the lower leaves and each stem builds its own root system.
• Light drives the red: medium light gives you a red-bronze plant, high light gives you full crimson. In genuinely low light it holds a coppery green instead. This is the one variable that matters most.
• Iron is the other half: reds need iron. Dose Seachem Flourish Iron alongside a comprehensive fertilizer, and push Flourish Tabs into the substrate. Pale or yellowing new growth almost always means iron, not light.
• CO2: optional. It colors up without it, which is the whole appeal. CO2 makes growth denser and the red deeper if you already run it.
• Water parameters: 68 to 82°F, pH 6.0 to 7.8. Undemanding and tolerant of most tap water.
• Trimming and propagation: snip a top a few inches long and replant it. The cutting roots within a week or two and the trimmed stem branches, so a handful of stems becomes a thicket. Trim regularly or the lower leaves shade out and drop.

Specifications

Placement & Companions

Plant it in a loose group of five or more stems. A single stem reads as a stray twig, but a cluster reads as a deliberate red accent, which is exactly what a green tank is missing. Set it against fine-textured green plants so the color has something to push against.

It pairs well with Scarlet Temple and Rotala "Vietnam H'ra" if you want a full warm-toned group, or against Bacopa Caroliniana for a green backdrop. Completely safe with shrimp, snails, and community fish.

Recommended Supplies

• Seachem Flourish Iron, the single best thing you can add for red plants
• Seachem Flourish Tabs root fertilizer
• Fluval Plant & Shrimp Stratum nutrient substrate
• Fluval Plant 4.0 LED to push the color

FAQ

Do I really not need CO2?
Correct. This is one of a small handful of red plants that colors up in a low-tech tank. CO2 helps, but light and iron do most of the work here.

My plant is green, not red. What is wrong?
Almost always light, then iron. Raise the intensity or move the plant higher in the tank, and start dosing iron. New growth will come in red within a few weeks even if the old leaves stay green.

How is this different from regular Ludwigia Super Red?
Size. Same color, smaller leaves, tighter internodes, and a shorter overall plant. The mini form suits nano tanks and midground placement where the standard version would take over.

Why did the bottom leaves fall off?
Shading. Once the tops get dense the lower leaves stop getting light and drop. Trim the tops, replant the cuttings, and the patch stays full from top to bottom.

Is it safe for shrimp?
Yes. Shrimp graze the biofilm on the stems and leave the plant alone.

How do I get my plants?
These are in-store pickup only. We hold your order and pull it fresh when you arrive.