Alternanthera reineckii - Tissue Cultured Aquarium Plant

Alternanthera reineckii – Tissue Cultured Aquarium Plant

Overview: Commonly known as AR Mini, this plant is tissue cultured and suitable for growing in the aquariums. It grows relatively slowly and has compact growth. The beauty of the plant is in its miniature version, which is characterized by the lush green foliage and exotic appearance. The vibrant colors of the plant make the tank look flamboyant. Alternanthera reineckii is perfect for aquariums which are smaller in size. It can be used as a foreground plant if the tank is large to make it look even better. One can sue it as a mid-ground and background plant as well.

Advantages: Tissue cultured Alternanthera reineckii plants are grown in vitro under controlled conditions that are suitable for propagating the aquatic plants. The advantage of tissue cultured plants is it ensures that the aquarium will remain free from unwanted pests.

Care: Before introducing the plant to the tank, remove the tissue culture gel. Wash the gel away or simply remove it from the hands. Alternanthera reineckii requires regular and timely trimming to maintain the compact and dense foliage. It gives an appearance of red-violet carpet at the bottom of the tank when maintained up to the height of 5 to 10 cm.

Light requirements: Like other stem plants, Alternanthera reineckii also requires medium to high light intensity. It shows an improvement in growth and overall appearance with an appropriate supply of carbon dioxide in the tank. Also, the plant attains it's signature red color in the presence of a right amount of CO2.

pH requirement: It can flourish well when the pH of the water ranges between 5.0 to 7.0

Propagation: Alternanthera reineckii is an easy to maintain plant and can be propagated by stem cutting and simply planting new growths or lateral shoots in the substrate.