alternanthera reineckii rosaefolia for color.

[starlord]

I've been pleasantly surprised by the rapid growth of this gel plant in a bag - it's really taken off from the start. In comparison, my A.r. rosanervig did alright initially last year, but unfortunately, it lost its vigor after around 9 or 10 months.

"Rosaefolia" has been even more impressive, with not a single stem fading...my initial one did drop some stems when transitioning from the bag to underwater, but that's been the only issue. No lost leaves, just a strong start all around.

For those looking for a low-tech, colorful plant, I'd definitely recommend this one.

[willie32]

Looks great indeed. I've found that plants that slow down after a while can often be revitalized with some root tabs, might be worth trying on your A.r. rosanervig.

[starlord]

I took cuttings, but unfortunately, they didn't root and the bare stems just melted away. I think the low-tech setup, with lots of fish, might have taken a toll on it. I've heard others have had similar issues. I'm sticking to low-tech, and it's been working out for me. Just don't expect those super vibrant, rainbow-colored plants to be a breeze. However, I did come across a video of an aquarist who managed to grow some amazing red and orange plants in a low-tech setup, no CO2. He swears by intense lighting and plenty of iron, and he's a fan of dirted substrates.

[willie32]

I think softer water also plays a role in low-tech red plants, but iron's definitely a key factor - and for some plants, keeping nitrate levels in check is important too.

[starlord]

Also willie32, I remembered something - there's this guy on Youtube, I think his username's Indkento4, and he's got Red Cabomba thriving. He's always pruning it, and I've heard that plant can be a handful. Unfortunately, I forgot to bookmark the video. Our water's pretty soft, rating a 1 on the hardness scale, but it's a bit on the alkaline side with a pH of 8 to 9.

[starlord]

Looking back, I'd have handled those Alternanthera seedlings differently - separated them into singles instead of just three clumps. Moderate bright lighting and they've taken off like crazy. I figured some would die, others would take their time to root, but nope. Now I'd have gotten way better coverage of the center if I'd done it that way. Still learning after all these years - and still discovering how different a species plant and its many cultivars can be.

[starlord]

It's blown me away with its rapid growth, way surpassing my initial expectations.