Ludwigia Dark Red (Ludwigia repens var Dark Red) - Potted

Ludwigia Dark Red | Potted

Ludwigia is a broad group of popular stem plants known for their color range and versatility in aquascaping. Ludwigia Dark Red is a round-leaved variety that can display tones from olive green to deep red, with coloration strongly influenced by light intensity, nutrients, and overall tank stability. Planted in groups, it creates a rich, warm backdrop that contrasts beautifully against green plants and hardscape.  

Ludwigia Dark Red Overview

In the aquarium, Ludwigia Dark Red grows as an upright stem plant with rounded to slightly oval leaves arranged along the stem. Under stronger light and good nutrition, the plant can develop deeper red hues and tighter growth, forming a vivid background or midground mass. Like many Ludwigia varieties, it can also produce a striking “top view” when it reaches the surface—leaves may become smaller and the plant can begin to branch and spread horizontally, creating a lush canopy effect and adding depth to the layout.

Aquarists appreciate Ludwigia Dark Red for:

• Color range and contrast: Leaves can shift from greenish/olive tones to darker reds depending on conditions, making it easy to create warm color accents in planted layouts.
• Great background structure: When planted in groups, it forms a dense stand that gives your aquascape height and definition.
• Easy shaping through trimming: Regular pruning encourages branching and helps create a fuller, bushier appearance.
• Natural shelter value: Dense growth provides cover and line-of-sight breaks that help smaller or shyer tank inhabitants feel more secure.

Planted as a grouped stand in the mid-to-background, Ludwigia Dark Red delivers both color and structure, giving your aquascape a richer, more layered look as it grows in.

Caring for Ludwigia Dark Red

Ludwigia Dark Red is a highly adaptable stem plant that can thrive in a wide range of aquariums. Under good conditions it grows quickly and will often reach the surface, where it may begin to branch and spread. To keep the plant looking its best—compact, colorful, and full—occasional pruning is helpful. Trim the tops and replant the healthiest cuttings to thicken your grouping and maintain a clean, intentional shape.

This plant does not require specialized substrate or heavy fertilization, but it will grow faster and develop stronger coloration when provided with a nutrient-rich substrate and consistent fertilization. Stable CO₂ is not required, though it can further improve growth density and help support more compact, vibrant development in higher-light setups.

• Light: Moderate
• Temperature Range: 72–80°F
• Placement: Midground–Background
• CO₂: Not required (beneficial for denser growth and stronger coloration)
• Difficulty: Easy–Moderate
• Growth Rate: Moderate–Fast

For the best color and a fuller “bushy” stand, plant Ludwigia Dark Red as a grouped background cluster behind darker hardscape (rocks or driftwood) so the red tones pop, and trim/replant tops to encourage branching. If you want faster growth and deeper reds, combine a nutrient-rich substrate with a complete fertilizer routine (and stable CO₂ if you run it), and use sharp aquascaping scissors for clean, regular pruning. Modern Aquarium also offers other Ludwigia varieties, including Ludwigia Peruensis, Ludwigia Super Red Mini, Ludwigia Red (Ludwigia repens), and more.

Why Choose the Potted Version

The potted Ludwigia Dark Red is ideal if you want a plant that arrives with a well-established base and is easier to place securely right from day one. Because it has been grown and rooted in its pot, it typically comes with a more developed root system and a stable “anchor,” which can make planting cleaner and help reduce disruption to your aquascape.

Many hobbyists like potted plants because you have flexibility: you can place the pot directly into the substrate temporarily while the plant adjusts, or remove the pot and planting media and plant the stems into your substrate for a more seamless, natural look. Keeping the plant potted at first can also help in tanks where you’re still finalizing your layout, or if you want to minimize disturbance in a newly planted aquarium. Over time, you can reposition it, split it, or plant it more permanently once you’re happy with the design.

Ludwigia Dark Red is also available bare-root, and both options can thrive—potted simply offers an extra level of stability and convenience when you’re planting and establishing your layout.

Shop with Confidence for Aquarium Plants at Modern Aquarium

At Modern Aquarium, each plant is carefully inspected, cleaned, and prepared by hand before shipping so you receive healthy, vibrant specimens ready to grow.

• Top Quality Store & real reviews: Modern Aquarium has been designated by Google as a Top Quality Store and has thousands of individual verified reviews from real customers.
• Live Arrival Guarantee & fast delivery: All live plants are backed by our Live Arrival Guarantee and shipped via FedEx 2-Day delivery to help ensure they arrive fresh and ready to thrive.
• Trusted sourcing: Our plants are sourced from some of the best nurseries in Florida and handled with care from the grower to your aquarium.
• What You See Is What You Get: The images on our site are typical representations of the plants we sell—no unrealistic stock photos. Because live plants are natural products, individual specimens will vary in size, fullness, and exact coloration.
• Support when you need it: Reach us through the chat feature on our website or simply give us a call—we’re happy to help with placement, trimming, and getting the best color from your Ludwigia.

As your Ludwigia Dark Red (Potted) settles in, it becomes a reliable “color engine” in the mid-to-background—easy to trim, easy to shape, and always adding warmth to the layout. To help it thrive, pair it with a nutrient-rich substrate like Fluval Stratum and maintain steady nutrients with a quality fertilizer routine; if you run CO₂, stable delivery often translates into tighter growth and better reds, and our Fully Automated CO₂ System with pH & CO₂ Controller is built for that consistency. To complete the natural look, add hardscape—like Tiger Wood or Blackwood—and finish with botanicals such as Aquatic Bael Pods for a more immersive, forest-stream aesthetic.