Myriophyllum Tuberculatum

Quick facts

Identity

Also known as

Red Watermilfoil; Red Myriophyllum

Synonyms

Myriophyllum mattogrossense (misapplied); Myriophyllum pinnatum (misapplied)

Environment

Freshwater

Native to

Tropical Asia

Habitat

Slow-flowing and stagnant shallow waters in tropical Asia

Sourcing

Both

Conservation

Not Evaluated

Care

Care level

Difficult

Growth form

Stem

Max height

4 – 20 in (10 – 51 cm)

Spread

4 in (10 cm)

Growth rate

Fast

Placement

Midground, Background

Water

Temperature

72 – 82 °F (22 – 28 °C)

pH

6.0 – 7.0

GH

2 – 8 dGH

dKH

0 – 6 dKH

PAR

50 – 80 PAR

Flow

Low-Moderate

Light

High

CO₂

Required

Planting

Substrate

Nutrient-rich preferred

Feeds from

Both

Fertilizer needs

High

Colors

Red, Orange, Brown, Green

Feeding & breeding

Propagation

Cuttings

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Care guide

Overview

Fine, needle-like whorls climb along slender stems that can reach 20 inches, radiating outward in a fir-branch pattern. Under strong light and steady CO2 the foliage shifts from rusty orange to deep copper-red, but growth stalls and colour fades quickly under weaker setups. Best suited to established, clean, nutrient-dosed high-tech tanks rather than low-maintenance setups.

Care

This fine-leaved milfoil is one of the more demanding red stem plants, needing strong, unshaded lighting and consistent CO2 injection to hold its rusty-orange to copper coloration. It is fussy about water cleanliness, since its feathery whorls are easily fouled by debris or algae, which then smothers photosynthesis and causes decline. A loose, fine-grained substrate and gentle but steady flow help keep the fragile stems and root system intact.

Planting & trimming

Plant stems carefully in a loose, nutrient-rich substrate to avoid damaging the roots, spacing groups roughly 2-4 inches apart so light reaches lower leaves. As stems reach the surface they branch heavily and develop a bushy habit, so trim by removing the older lower stem and replanting the stronger upper cutting, since the remaining rooted base regrows slowly. Avoid planting too densely, as the fine leaves need good light penetration throughout the whorl.

Fertilizing

Nitrates and phosphates should be kept at moderate, stable levels (roughly 5-15 ppm nitrate and 1-2 ppm phosphate) since this plant reacts poorly to nutrient swings or depletion. It has a higher demand for iron and trace elements than most stem plants, and a shortage shows up as dark, stunted growth or a dying shoot tip. Root tabs in the substrate combined with a complete liquid fertilizer dosed regularly give the most reliable results.

Propagation

Propagation is done vegetatively by cutting lateral shoots or the upper portion of a stem and replanting them directly into the substrate. New cuttings root readily under strong light and stable nutrient dosing.

Problems

Old leaves are prone to algae colonization when phosphate runs low, and poor micronutrient supply causes stunted, dark growth or dieback of the growing tip. The plant is intolerant of cold temperatures and does poorly outside a warm tropical range. Because the foliage is delicate and easily clogged by fine debris, cultivation is best limited to clear, well-filtered, low-algae tanks.

Sources

1. Myriophyllum tuberculatum - Flowgrow Aquatic Plant Database
2. Myriophyllum Tuberculatum | Barr Report Forum - Aquarium Plants
3. Growing Red Myriophyllum (Myriophyllum Tuberculatum) in the aquarium
4. Myriophyllum tuberculatum - Red myriophyllum | Aquatic Plant | Diszhal.info

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