Alternanthera

Alternanthera is a stem plant grown for its red to purple foliage, and it remains one of the simplest ways to bring warm colour into a planted tank.

Growing Alternanthera

• Stem plant: set several stems in a loose group so each one still catches light.
• Lighting: moderate to high light holds the red tones. Under dim light the colour drifts back toward green.
• CO2: not essential, though added CO2 with steady fertilizing gives denser growth.
• Placement: midground or background, where the colour reads against green neighbours.
• Difficulty: moderate, mostly because of the light it asks for.

Trim the tops as they grow and replant the cuttings to thicken the group. Our plant stock rotates, so the listings on this page are what we actually have on hand. Live plants are sold for local pickup at our Lethbridge store.

For a green backdrop behind it, have a look at Vallisneria.