Growing Alternanthera Reineckii (Alternanthera Reineckii Lilacina) In The Aquarium

This plant belongs to Amaranth family (Amaranthaceae) which comes from tropical parts of both Americas. This is a mud plant with strong, pale green or red stem and wide, lance-shaped, sessile leaves which are arranged in pairs opposite each other. Successive pairs of the leaves are at right angles towards each other. These leaves are up to 4 cm long. The upper side of the leaf is green and the underside of the leaf is pale green, lilac or reddish. Plant reaches around 25-45 cm in height and its width might be up to 15 cm. This species should be planted in the middle or at the back of the aquarium in loose groups between plants with green and wide leaves. This plant grows slowly in aquarium and it adjusts slowly to new environment conditions. It needs strong light, fertile substrate with clay or garden soil, 20-25°C water temperature, soft or medium hard water which is enriched with carbon dioxide. In aquarium you can breed this plant by vegetative propagation by seedlings from cut stems which grew above water surface. You should do it in the springtime.