Ludwigia Repens

Quick facts

Identity

Also known as

Creeping Primrose-willow; Red Ludwigia; Water Primrose

Synonyms

Ludwigia natans

Environment

Freshwater

Native to

Southeastern United States, Mexico, Central America, Caribbean

Habitat

Marshes, pond margins, ditches, and slow-moving shallow water, growing emersed, floating, or fully submerged

Sourcing

Both

Conservation

Not Evaluated

Care

Care level

Easy

Growth form

Stem

Max height

4 – 20 in (10 – 51 cm)

Spread

6 in (15 cm)

Growth rate

Fast

Placement

Midground, Background

Water

Temperature

68 – 82 °F (20 – 28 °C)

pH

6.0 – 7.5

GH

3 – 18 dGH

PAR

40 – 80 PAR

Flow

Low-Moderate

Light

Medium

CO₂

Beneficial

Planting

Substrate

Any

Feeds from

Both

Fertilizer needs

Medium

Colors

Green, Red, Orange, Brown

Feeding & breeding

Propagation

Cuttings

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Care guide

Overview

Wild populations grow in marshes and slow ditches across the southeastern United States and down through Mexico and the Caribbean, and this stem plant carries that adaptability into the aquarium. Leaves shift from olive-green to gold and red depending on light and nutrients, filling in midground or background as a bushy stand. It roots easily from cuttings and tolerates both cold and tropical setups.

Care

A hardy stem plant that adapts to a wide range of water chemistry, from soft to fairly hard, and tolerates unheated or cold-water setups as well as tropical tanks. It grows well without added CO2 but responds to supplementation with denser growth and stronger coloration. Regular trimming keeps stems from stretching toward the surface and encourages a fuller, bushier habit.

Planting & trimming

Push stems a couple of inches into any substrate type, spacing individual cuttings roughly an inch apart within a group of five to twelve for a dense look. Remove the lower leaves before planting so they do not rot underground, and expect the group to root and fill in within a couple of weeks. Trim the tops weekly once the planting is established to prevent it from outgrowing the midground and to keep the coloration even.

Fertilizing

Growth and color quality improve noticeably with iron-rich liquid fertilizer dosed a few times a week, since the reddish tones depend heavily on micronutrient availability. Root tabs in the substrate help but are not essential, as the plant draws much of its nutrition from the water column. Pale new growth usually signals iron or trace deficiency, while dropped lower leaves point to a lack of nitrogen or potassium.

Propagation

Propagation is done by cutting a healthy stem just above a leaf node, stripping the lowest inch or two of leaves, and replanting the cutting directly into the substrate where it forms new roots. The remaining lower stem left in the substrate will usually branch and send up new side shoots, so a single planted stem can become several over time.

Problems

Some leaf drop and melt can occur in the first week or two after planting as the stems transition from emersed nursery growth to a submerged form. Under insufficient light the plant turns leggy and reverts to a plain olive-green color, losing the red-green gradient it is known for. Older basal leaves can attract spot algae in a mature stand and are best trimmed away along with the stem when replanting.

Sources

1. Ludwigia repens | Aquasabi - Aquascaping Shop
2. Ludwigia Repens Live Plant for Freshwater Aquariums – Canton Aquatics
3. Ludwigia repens (Ludwigia repens) - Scale & Stem
4. Ludwigia Repens Care & Tank Mates, Fin & Stem

Varieties in the catalog

Ludwigia Natans Super Red

More Stem plants

Alternanthera Amabilis TricolorAlternanthera Bettzickiana GreenAlternanthera Bettzickiana RedAlternanthera LilacinaAlternanthera Red Broad LeafAlternanthera Reineckii