Want a lotus that colors up without taking over the tank? Nymphaea micrantha is the dwarf option — a rare West African species whose leaves shift through green, bronze, red and purple depending on your light. It gives you a genuine centerpiece in a tank too small for a full-size lotus. What You’ll Receive A healthy, sprouted Nymphaea micrantha bulb with visible leaf growth, carefully selected and packed by Aquarium Plants Factory®. Important Note:Nymphaea micrantha is a naturally small lotus species.The bulb size is tiny by nature, especially compared to larger lotus varieties. This is normal and expected. Despite its small bulb size, the plant is fully viable and will grow and develop normally once planted in a nutrient-rich substrate. Plant Profile Common name — Micrantha Water Lily, Dwarf Red Lotus, Tri-Color Lotus Scientific name — Nymphaea micrantha Origin — Tropical West Africa Placement — Centerpiece Mature height — 8–16 in Growth rate — Fast Care Difficulty — Beginner Light — High. Strong light is what brings out the red and bronze CO₂ — Not required! Color comes from light and iron, not carbon Water — 72–82°F · pH 6.0–7.5 Substrate — Required. Heavy root feeder — nutrient substrate or root tabs Growth habit — Fully aquatic. Cannot be grown emersed Propagation — Bulb offsets, plus plantlets on mature leaves Grower’s Notes It makes plantlets on its own leaves. Micrantha is viviparous — small daughter plants form where the leaf meets the stem. Let one develop a few leaves and roots, then detach and plant it. This is how one bulb becomes a collection. Trim the surface leaves to keep it compact. Left alone it sends leaves to the top and shades everything below; cutting those at the base keeps growth submerged and bushy. Root tabs are not optional. This is a heavy root feeder, and in inert gravel it stays small and green rather than coloring up. Some early leaf melt is normal as the bulb converts to submerged growth. New leaves follow quickly. Want to go deeper? Read our complete Nymphaea Water Lily Care Guide. Notes Photos are for reference. Color, leaf shape and growth rate vary considerably with lighting and nutrients. Never release aquarium plants into natural waterways.
