Roseafolia - Alternanthera Reineckii

The purple colour underneath Alternanthera reineckii 'Pink' leaves provides an effective contrast to the many green plants in an aquarium - particularly when planted in groups. Good light encourages the leaves to turn red. Alternanthera or popular as Roseafolia are really difficult to grow, but this one is relatively undemanding. A source of iron will help to intensify red colour. the plant is easy to care for if given right condition, which include strong lighting and iron rich substrates. Easy to propagate by nipping off the terminal bud and planting it in the bottom. This also makes the mother plant more bushy, because more side shoots are formed. Easy to propagate by nipping off the terminal bud and planting it in the bottom. This also makes the mother plant more bushy, because more side shoots are formed.

It really doesn't do well at all underwater plants, even with extra CO2. Although underwater plants didn't die, but they hardly grew at all, with about half of the oldleaves falling off and the new leaves clasped tight to the stem and not expanding more than half centimeters. After two months one stem has reached the surface, then started fairly rapid above water surface growth with normal leaves. In three weeks it grew almost 8 inches, while, incontrast, the underwater plants had no visible growth during the same period. The fact that the above-water portion grew so rapidly indicates that nutrients were in good supply. The water was clear, and therefore, underwater plants got almost as much light.