STRAAT Dutch Style · Plant Encyclopedia

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Ludwigia Meta

Ludwigia inclinata var. verticillata 'Meta'

🌍 Colombia · Departamento del Meta (Meta river) Rare CO₂ Recommended Diff.: ★★★ 📏 Midground/Background — centrepiece 📈 Medium-fast

Beautiful orange-red whorled leaves (11 per whorl). From the Meta river in central Colombia. Visually identical to Ludwigia Pantanal but significantly easier to keep — CO₂ threshold 10+ ppm vs 30+ for Pantanal. Fast-growing — trim every 2-3 weeks.

⚗️ Water parameters

🌡️ Temp

22–28 °C

⚗️ pH

6–7.2 pH

🔵 KH

0–4 °dKH

KH <4° for optimal growth

💧 GH

1–6 °dGH

📊 TDS

60–180 ppm

🌿 CO₂

10–30 ppm

More tolerant than Pantanal (10+ ppm sufficient)

🧪 NO₃

5–20 ppm

Low NO₃ = deeper red

🔬 PO₄

0.1–0.5 ppm

⚙️ Fe

0.1–0.3 ppm

💡 PAR

80–200 µmol

🪨 Rijke soil of worteltabs

🇳🇱 Dutch Style

Excellent centrepiece terrace 3-4 in Dutch style. Whorled structure unique.

💡 Tips

Trim and replant tops directly
NO₃ <10ppm for deepest red
PAR 150+ most effective for colour
Group 5-9 stems next to light green plants
Grows to 30+ cm — plan extra space

🔍 Problems

⚠ Orange instead of red

→ Insufficient light or NO₃ too high

⚠ Tip damage

→ CO₂ too low or unstable

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Ludwigia Inclinata Crystal Red

Ludwigia inclinata 'Crystal Red'

🌍 South America Uncommon CO₂ Recommended Diff.: ★★★ 📏 Midground/Background 📈 Medium-fast

Deep red whorled leaves similar to Meta but with slightly different leaf texture and brighter red colour. Less demanding than Pantanal. CO₂ recommended for best colour but more tolerant than Pantanal.

⚗️ Water parameters

🌡️ Temp

22–28 °C

⚗️ pH

6–7.2 pH

🔵 KH

0–5 °dKH

💧 GH

1–8 °dGH

📊 TDS

60–200 ppm

🌿 CO₂

15–30 ppm

🧪 NO₃

5–20 ppm

🔬 PO₄

0.1–0.5 ppm

⚙️ Fe

0.1–0.3 ppm

💡 PAR

80–200 µmol

🪨 Rich soil recommended

🇳🇱 Dutch Style

Red whorl plant for Dutch style. More accessible alternative to Pantanal.

💡 Tips

Keep CO₂ stable for best colour
Soft water recommended
Similar to Meta but slightly more tolerant
Trim whorled leaves and replant

🔍 Problems

⚠ Bleaches

→ CO₂ too low

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Ludwigia Inclinata Curly / Tornado

Ludwigia inclinata 'Curly'

🌍 South America Uncommon CO₂ Recommended Diff.: ★★★ 📏 Midground/Background 📈 Medium

Special variant with rolled/spiral leaves in whorled arrangement. Leaves twist spirally around the stem — a unique growth profile that makes the plant recognisable. Equivalent requirements to other L. inclinata variants.

⚗️ Water parameters

🌡️ Temp

22–28 °C

⚗️ pH

6–7.2 pH

🔵 KH

0–4 °dKH

💧 GH

1–6 °dGH

📊 TDS

60–180 ppm

🌿 CO₂

15–30 ppm

🧪 NO₃

5–20 ppm

🔬 PO₄

0.1–0.5 ppm

⚙️ Fe

0.1–0.3 ppm

💡 PAR

80–200 µmol

🪨 Rich soil recommended

🇳🇱 Dutch Style

Unique spiral whorled plant for Dutch style. Recognisable growth profile.

💡 Tips

Spiral leaf structure is characteristic
Same requirements as other L. inclinata
Unique and recognisable in a Dutch layout

🔍 Problems

⚠ Loses spiral form

→ Insufficient light or CO₂

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Ludwigia Super Red

Ludwigia palustris 'Super Red'

🌍 North and Central America · cultivated variety Common CO₂ Recommended Diff.: ★★★ 📏 Midground/Background 📈 Medium-fast

Most common red Ludwigia in the hobby. Red-brown under normal light, deep intense red under high light. Beginner-friendly but shows best colour only under high light and CO₂. Mini Super Red dwarf variant available for nano aquariums.

⚗️ Water parameters

🌡️ Temp

18–28 °C

⚗️ pH

5–7.5 pH

🔵 KH

0–8 °dKH

💧 GH

1–10 °dGH

📊 TDS

50–250 ppm

🌿 CO₂

15–30 ppm

🧪 NO₃

5–25 ppm

🔬 PO₄

0.1–0.8 ppm

⚙️ Fe

0.05–0.3 ppm

💡 PAR

40–180 µmol

🪨 Rich soil recommended

🇳🇱 Dutch Style

Reliable red plant for Dutch style beginners. Terrace 2-4.

💡 Tips

Mini Super Red for fore- and midground in nano
Fe dosing for most intense red
Grows also without CO₂ (less intense red)
Most available red Ludwigia

🔍 Problems

⚠ Red fades

→ Insufficient light or Fe deficiency

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Ludwigia Rubin (Red Skeleton)

Ludwigia sp. 'Rubin'

🌍 N/C America — hybrid of L. glandulosa Uncommon CO₂ Recommended Diff.: ★★★ 📏 Midground/Background 📈 Medium

Darkest red of all Ludwigia species — almost wine red to purple. Elliptical dense leaves close to the stem. Requires intense light and CO₂ for dark colour. Compact growth profile. Dramatic contrast with yellow or orange neighbours.

⚗️ Water parameters

🌡️ Temp

18–30 °C

⚗️ pH

5–7.5 pH

🔵 KH

0–8 °dKH

💧 GH

1–10 °dGH

📊 TDS

50–250 ppm

🌿 CO₂

20–35 ppm

🧪 NO₃

5–20 ppm

🔬 PO₄

0.1–0.5 ppm

⚙️ Fe

0.1–0.3 ppm

💡 PAR

60–200 µmol

🪨 Rich soil recommended

🇳🇱 Dutch Style

Darkest colour accent in Dutch style. Spectacular next to yellow and orange plants.

💡 Tips

Darkest Ludwigia available
Intense light for deepest purple-red tint
Dramatic contrast with yellow or orange plants
Compact growth profile — less trimming needed

🔍 Problems

⚠ Bleaches to red-brown

→ Insufficient light

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Ludwigia senegalensis

🌍 West Africa · Senegal · subtropical regions Uncommon CO₂ Recommended Diff.: ★★★ 📏 Midground/Background 📈 Medium

Unique red colour with finely patterned leaves. Exotic West African origin. Similar requirements to other red Ludwigias but slightly more tolerant. Beautiful leaf texture that lends itself well to Dutch style.

⚗️ Water parameters

🌡️ Temp

22–28 °C

⚗️ pH

6–7.2 pH

🔵 KH

0–6 °dKH

💧 GH

1–8 °dGH

📊 TDS

60–200 ppm

🌿 CO₂

20–30 ppm

🧪 NO₃

5–20 ppm

🔬 PO₄

0.1–0.5 ppm

⚙️ Fe

0.1–0.3 ppm

💡 PAR

60–180 µmol

🪨 Rich soil recommended

🇳🇱 Dutch Style

Exotic red Ludwigia with beautiful leaf texture for Dutch style.

💡 Tips

West African species — beautiful leaf texture
Slightly more tolerant than Crystal Red
Soft water recommended for best colour

🔍 Problems

⚠ Loses red

→ Insufficient light

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Ludwigia alata var. MC

🌍 North America · wetland areas Uncommon CO₂ Recommended Diff.: ★★★ 📏 Midground/Background 📈 Medium

Rare Ludwigia variant with slender stems and striking red colour. Alata species with wing-shaped ridges along stems. Similar requirements to other red Ludwigias.

⚗️ Water parameters

🌡️ Temp

20–28 °C

⚗️ pH

6–7.5 pH

🔵 KH

0–6 °dKH

💧 GH

1–10 °dGH

📊 TDS

60–200 ppm

🌿 CO₂

20–30 ppm

🧪 NO₃

5–20 ppm

🔬 PO₄

0.1–0.5 ppm

⚙️ Fe

0.1–0.3 ppm

💡 PAR

60–180 µmol

🪨 Rich soil recommended

🇳🇱 Dutch Style

Rare Ludwigia with wing-shaped stems for Dutch style.

💡 Tips

Wing-shaped stems characteristic
Rare in trade
Similar requirements to L. palustris red

🔍 Problems

⚠ Loses colour

→ Insufficient light

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Ludwigia lanceolata

🌍 North America · wetlands Uncommon CO₂ Recommended Diff.: ★★★ 📏 Midground/Background 📈 Medium

Lanceolate leaves with red-brown colour. Less common than repens but with a characteristically distinctive appearance. Suitable as midground accent in Dutch style.

⚗️ Water parameters

🌡️ Temp

18–28 °C

⚗️ pH

5.5–7.5 pH

🔵 KH

0–8 °dKH

💧 GH

1–12 °dGH

📊 TDS

50–250 ppm

🌿 CO₂

15–30 ppm

🧪 NO₃

5–25 ppm

🔬 PO₄

0.1–0.8 ppm

⚙️ Fe

0.05–0.3 ppm

💡 PAR

40–160 µmol

🪨 Rich soil recommended

🇳🇱 Dutch Style

Lanceolate midground Ludwigia for Dutch style.

💡 Tips

Less common but beautiful in appearance
Lanceolate leaves give distinctive texture
CO₂ for best colour

🔍 Problems

⚠ Greening

→ Insufficient light

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Ludwigia sedoides

🌍 South America · Venezuela · floating marsh plant Uncommon CO₂ Optional Diff.: ★★★ 📏 Wateroppervlak — drijvend 📈 Medium

Floating Ludwigia with striking checkerboard pattern of green and red diamond-shaped leaves. Grows at the water surface. Exceptionally decorative as a surface variant. Requires open water surface without strong current.

⚗️ Water parameters

🌡️ Temp

22–30 °C

⚗️ pH

6–7.5 pH

🔵 KH

0–8 °dKH

💧 GH

1–12 °dGH

📊 TDS

50–250 ppm

🌿 CO₂

5–20 ppm

🧪 NO₃

5–25 ppm

🔬 PO₄

0.1–0.8 ppm

⚙️ Fe

0.05–0.2 ppm

💡 PAR

50–200 µmol

🪨 Not applicable — floating

🇳🇱 Dutch Style

Unique floating Ludwigia with checkerboard pattern. Decorative for the water surface.

💡 Tips

Floating — no substrate needed
Checkerboard pattern unique in the hobby
No strong current at the surface
Flowers beautifully above water

🔍 Problems

⚠ Leaves lose pattern

→ Insufficient light

🌿

Photo coming soon

Ludwigia sphereocarpa Mini

Ludwigia sphereocarpa

🌍 North America · marshes Uncommon CO₂ Recommended Diff.: ★★★ 📏 Midground — also nano 📈 Medium

Compact mini variant with small rounded fruits (sphaerus = spherical). Reddish leaves under high light. Suitable for nano aquariums thanks to compact size.

⚗️ Water parameters

🌡️ Temp

18–28 °C

⚗️ pH

6–7.5 pH

🔵 KH

0–8 °dKH

💧 GH

1–12 °dGH

📊 TDS

50–250 ppm

🌿 CO₂

15–25 ppm

🧪 NO₃

5–20 ppm

🔬 PO₄

0.1–0.5 ppm

⚙️ Fe

0.05–0.2 ppm

💡 PAR

40–150 µmol

🪨 Rich soil recommended

🇳🇱 Dutch Style

Compact Ludwigia for nano Dutch style aquariums.

💡 Tips

Compact size suitable for nano
Reddish colour under high light
Less common in trade

🔍 Problems

⚠ Greening

→ Too little light