Alternanthera reineckii

Family
Amaranthaceae

Common Names
Magenta water hedge

Origin
South America, they are found in the Amazonian waterways.

Planting Area
Midground to Background

Lighting Requirements
Medium to high, if kept under low lighting the growth rate will be very slow.

Propagation
Very easy to propagate, remove the middle shoot and plant straight away in the substrate. This will help to make the mother plant bush out. Cuttings can also be taken from the side shoots.

Difficulty
Medium, if correct lighting is used they are quite easy to look after.

Short Description
These make an excellent plant for blending in with green foliage. Their red leaves offer a contrast against the green and they are also useful for filling out any gaps in the foliage. They will require nutrients in the form of liquid feeds or root tabs to keep them in top condition.