Alternanthera Reineckii – the colorful charm of your aquarium

A member of the amaranth family, Alternanthera Reineckii, also goes by the name Alternanthera Pink. It was dubbed "underwater fire" because of its extraordinarily vivid coloring. It grows into vibrant thickets and creeping vines beside the water with the right maintenance and environmental conditions.

Growing areas

The marsh plant Alternanthera Reineckii is native to South America. grows in Bolivia, Argentina, Paraguay, and southern Brazil. grows underwater in areas that are prone to flooding, on the banks of rivers, and in swamps. The sun usually shines brightly in these areas. Alternanthera stems can reach lengths of over half a meter when growing in their native habitat. The plant was introduced to Europe during the 1920s and 1930s.

Growing and care

The stem of Alternanthera Reineckii is lengthy. They are arranged in multiple stems, spaced slightly apart, to create a lovely shaped bush.

The stems of the plants may rot if they are planted closely together in bushes.

To ensure that the leaves take on vibrant hues and the stems don’t become brittle and long, Alternanthera should be cared for as follows:

• The stems of Alternanthera Reineckii stretch to the surface of the water and, having reached it, shed underwater leaves. To prevent this from happening, periodically trim the stem from above at a distance of 5-8 cm from the surface of the water. If the plucked cutting has 2-4 pairs of leaves, then it can be planted in the ground, and it will soon take root. And the stem will begin to branch beautifully, forming many lateral shoots.

• Maintain bright lighting, since the red pigment in this plant is produced only in the light.

Water parameters for perfect content

At least once a week, change out at least 25% of the water.

• To grow this plant optimally in water with a temperature of 24 ° C to 30 ° C. At a temperature of 20 ° C to 24 ° C, growth will slow down.
• The measure of acidity of the pH must be maintained in the range 6.2-6.8.

• Water rigidity is not significant. But at values ​​from 2 to 12 ° DGH, the plant develops better.
• Water should be fresh for better growth of the alternanter Reine. Otherwise, the plant will stop its growth.

Lighting requirements

• Lighting at least 0.5 watts per liter will be enough to maintain the viability of the Rhinek alternanter. But when lighting less than 0.75 watts per liter, the leaves will be green.
• For the formation of anthocyanin, a pigment that gives the leaves bright shades of red, the light should be bright, and the duration of daylight should be at least 10-12 hours.
• The optimal distance from the light source to the water surface is 25-30 cm. Direct sunlight is welcome.

You can make the leaves’ coloring more intriguing by varying the light’s brightness. For instance, four hours of bright light, three hours of moderate lighting, and so on. By doing this, you can give the leaves a unique color that ranges from soft pink to reddish-purple. Combine lighting with both conventional lamps and phyto-lamps for a more colorful outcome.

Soil requirements

A 2–5 cm thick layer of coarse sand, turf, and perlite in equal amounts can be the soil. But because the soil fixes the thin roots more than anything else, water is the primary source of nutrition for this plant.

Demanding fertilizers

• Since Alternanthera reineckii feeds on substances from the water, it should be fed with liquid fertilizers containing nitrogenous substances and microelements.
• Chelated iron or any other divalent iron salts are fertilized once a month at the rate of two milligrams per ten liters of water.
• Feed the plant from February to the end of August. It is also advisable to supply carbon dioxide to the aquarium for full photosynthesis.

Select fertilizers made of complex minerals that are low in nitrogen. Keep too much nitrogen in the water; the plant will react quickly and its leaves will turn yellow.

Reproduction

Stem cuttings are used to propagate Alternantera reineckii. The stem is trimmed to yield them. You can cut the plant into multiple sections. However, there should be two or three pairs of leaves on each cutting. They are left to float in the water while a lamp illuminates them. The cuttings can be rooted once they start to form roots, which happens in a few days.

Subspecies of Alternantera reineckii

Alternanthera Reineckii, which is well-known for its vivid colors and striking appearance, has the power to completely change your aquarium into an amazing aquatic exhibit. Aquarium enthusiasts love this hardy, colorful plant because it’s perfect for bringing some red and green color to your tank. Adding Alternanthera Reineckii to your setup, regardless of experience level, not only improves aesthetic appeal but also adds a dynamic contrast that gives your underwater world vitality and life.

Several subspecies of Alternanthera reineckii can be identified based on their shapes and color shades:

• Nominal (red-brown color)
• "Grunblattrig" (brown-olive)

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