When aquarium enthusiasts wish to give their underwater landscapes a burst of vivid color, alternanthera is a popular choice. This plant, which is distinguished by its vivid red and purple colors, makes a striking visual impression when it contrasts with the green background of other aquatic plants.
This hardy plant improves the aesthetics of your aquarium while also fostering a healthy atmosphere. Alternanthera is a useful addition to any aquarium setup because it helps to oxygenate the water and gives small fish and invertebrates somewhere to live.
Alternanthera can flourish in a variety of settings with the correct care and attention. This plant can make a beautiful addition to your aquatic environment, regardless of your level of experience with aquascaping.
- Types of Alternanthera
- How to plant
- Reproduction
- Why it doesn"t grow
- Diseases and pests
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Types of Alternanthera
Alternanthera comes in a wide variety of forms, and each one has its own unique size, shade, and maintenance needs. There are generally four groups:
Type | Characteristic properties | Representatives |
Large-leaved tall | Reddish shades of leaves, for example, carmine-red colors, dark brown. | Juvel, Atropurpurea |
Narrow-leaved low-growing | Short stems, also characterized by carmine-red shades | A.amoena f. rosea |
Narrow-leaved and curly-leaved | Short, have reddish or bronze-yellow leaves. | A. paranychioi — des nana compacta, A. p. aurea major (‘chroma-tclla’) |
Broad-leaved and triangular-leaved | Shiny dark purple leaves, pink-red and white spots on the bushes. Grows faster than other species. | A. versicolor |
Certain varieties of alternanthera are more frequently used for decoration than others because of their external characteristics, while others have greater utility.
The bushes can range in height from 4 to 25 cm.
An unassuming plant, alternanthera is easily grown in a pot, an aquarium, or on open ground at home. It doesn’t require any intricate stages of cultivation, but you should still abide by these guidelines:
- lighting: alternanthera loves sunlight, because the saturation of the color of the leaves depends on the brightness of the lighting in the room, but it is important to avoid direct sunlight when growing;
- air temperature: the bushes tolerate different temperatures well, but it is better to adhere to stable indicators, this is 24-28 ° C in hot weather and 17-20 ° C in winter;
- humidity: alternanthera blooms at high air humidity, so in an aquarium it is more frequent and beautiful.
You won’t need to water a plant that grows in water, but it’s still vital to make sure the filling is regularly renewed because stale liquid from old plants prevents the bushes from properly flowering. Saturated lighting is needed for the aquarium; the lamps should be on for roughly 12 hours. Even though the plant does well in direct sunlight, artificial light—such as specially designed incandescent lamps—is preferable. However, avoid selecting overly strong and brilliant models as they may result in burns on the shoots that will reach for the light above the water’s surface.
If you’ve decided to grow alternanthera in a pot, be sure to water it moderately—not too much, though, as this could lead to rotting. Use fresh, warm water for watering, and fertilizer can be added on a regular basis.
How to plant
The soil is not very important if you have decided to propagate the plant in an aquarium. An already-made blend of aquarium plants is available for purchase. Add coarse sand to alternanthera to make it better. Plant alternanthera on the high-cap side shelves of aquariums, and try to position incandescent lights so that they are not too close to the shrubs.
Plant the plant such that the tops of the sprouts are at the water’s surface and it is not entirely submerged in water. Underwater, alternanthera develops far more slowly.
Make more careful selections when choosing soil for open-air growing. Nutrient-rich, moisture-permeable, breathable, and acidity-neutral soils are preferred by stems.
The plant requires a greenhouse mixture that is saturated with humus, peat, sand, and other beneficial microelements in order to grow at home. You can also use garden soil that has rotted leaves, turf, and humus.
Reproduction
There are two methods for starting a new plant: using seeds and splitting or chopping up existing bushes. In addition to being a laborious and challenging procedure, the first method—seed—is not the best for alternanthera because flowers frequently just do not form. Due to its effectiveness, the second method, cuttings, has become more popular.
Cut the bush cuttings in the fall and plant them in the ground to grow alternanthera in this manner; the type of soil is not as crucial in this instance. After that, wrap the container in plastic wrap and store it somewhere well-lit—out of the direct sun, though. Selecting bush cuttings that are 8–10 cm long and have at least 8 leaves is preferable. Plant them in the ground up to the first leaf, give the soil regular waterings, and allow it to breathe.
In as little as ten days, new roots and leaves may emerge. You can take the film out of the container as soon as you see the first new leaves. Pinch the tops of the cuttings carefully once they start to grow actively to encourage better growth of the side shoots.
Transplant the plants into open ground at the end of spring, when the frosts have stopped. To get thicker and more attractive bushes, plant multiple seedlings in a single hole. A tiny pot works well for indoor gardening. In an aquarium, alternanthera can be grown by simply leaving the cut cuttings on the water’s surface, waiting for the roots to show up, and then planting new bushes in the substrate.
Why it doesn"t grow
Alternanthera may not bloom or produce new shoots for a variety of reasons. One of the primary ones is inadequate or overly bright lighting, as well as temperature fluctuations. Owners most frequently deal with gray rot, which is caused by too much moisture.
If this occurs, attempt to remove all afflicted plant parts; it is preferable to treat the remaining bushes with copper sulfate or another fungicide of a similar kind.
Diseases and pests
Diseases caused by pests like spider mites, aphids, and whiteflies that injure plants are a less frequent cause. The whitefly burrows between the plant’s leaves and deposits its larvae there, where their sticky remnants cause alternanthera to perish. You only need to shake the stems to identify the issue—the insects will take off. Avoiding a whitefly infestation is very simple: try to regularly ventilate your bushes.
Aphids congregate in sizable black colonies and feed on the fluids that stems from plants. Wash the plant with a weak solution of soapy water to get rid of these insects. Additionally, you can use infusions of tobacco, onions, garlic, and certain insecticides (like phytoverm, karate, etc.) to spray.
Spider mites are also simple to identify: if you see a white, powdery coating, this is most likely the issue. The leaves soon develop a web and start to dry. To combat the mite, try using tinctures of onions or garlic, soapy water, and specialized products.
Characteristic | Description |
Common Name | Alternanthera |
Scientific Name | Alternanthera Reineckii |
Light Requirement | Moderate to high |
CO2 Requirement | Beneficial but not essential |
Growth Rate | Slow to moderate |
Plant Color | Red, pink, and green |
Water Temperature | 22-28°C (72-82°F) |
pH Range | 5.5-7.5 |
Water Hardness | Soft to moderately hard |
Ideal Placement | Midground to background |
With its stunning red and purple tones, alternanthera is a flexible and colorful addition to any aquarium. Its distinct look can add visual interest to your aquarium by forming striking contrasts with other green plants and fish.
It is necessary to pay attention to lighting, CO2 levels, and water conditions in order to maintain healthy Alternanthera. This plant can flourish and grow given the proper care, giving your aquatic environment a lush, colorful backdrop. Maintaining regular trimming will ensure that the plant stays a prominent feature in your aquarium by keeping it compact and stimulating new growth.
All things considered, Alternanthera is a great option for aquarists wishing to improve the aesthetics of their tank. This plant is a great addition to your underwater world because it provides both beauty and a rewarding challenge, regardless of your level of experience as a hobbyist.
Aquatic plants Alternanthera, which have colorful leaves ranging from bright pink to deep red, are a great accent to any aquarium. It is a popular choice among more seasoned aquarium enthusiasts because it can be difficult to care for and thrives in well-lit environments. Alternanthera can grow lush and healthy and provide a striking visual contrast to your underwater landscape with the right water parameters and regular pruning.