Alternanthera reineckii "Rosaefolia" - Bunch

Alternanthera reineckii 'Rosaefolia' is the classic red stem plant many hobbyists know as Scarlet Temple. Its lance-shaped leaves show olive to bronze tops over magenta and purple-red undersides, building a bold splash of color in the midground or background. It is one of the easier red plants to grow, and strong light and CO2 bring out its most intense color. This listing is a bunch of several stems held together with a lead band, an easy way to plant a full group at once. If you prefer a lab-grown start, it is also available as a tissue culture cup. Browse the rest of our freshwater aquarium plants.

Planting a Bunch

• Remove the lead and foam: Unwrap the band and the foam strip before planting. Left on, the tight band pinches the stems and can rot them at the base. If a stem end is bruised from the band, snip it off above the damage.
• Rinse and check: Rinse the stems gently, pull off damaged leaves, and look them over for hitchhikers.
• Strip the bottom leaves: Remove the leaves from the lowest inch or two of each stem. Buried leaves just rot.
• Plant stems one at a time: Push each stem about 2 inches into the substrate with tweezers, an inch or so apart. A bundle planted as one clump shades its own center and rots at the base.
• Floaters: If a stem keeps lifting out, plant it at a slight angle or hold it down with a loosely wrapped plant weight or a small stone until it roots, then remove the weight.

Care Guide

• Light: Medium to high. Stronger light deepens the magenta and keeps growth compact. In dim tanks it tends to drop its lower leaves.
• CO2: Recommended for the richest color and fastest growth, though it will still grow without it in softer tones.
• Nutrients: A nutrient-rich substrate plus root tabs feeds the roots, and a liquid fertilizer feeds the leaves. Iron helps intensify the reds.
• Settling in: Farm-grown stems often carry leaves formed above water, and some may drop in the first few weeks as new underwater leaves grow in. That is normal.
• Trimming: Trim the tops and replant them. Each cut stem branches, quickly filling in a dense red stand.

Specifications

In the Aquascape

Rosaefolia is the go-to red for drama and depth. A group of single stems reads as a bold red bush in the middle or back of the tank, and a green backdrop such as Water Wisteria makes the red pop even more.

Recommended Supplies

• CaribSea Eco-Complete Planted Substrate for stems to root into.
• Seachem Flourish Tabs to feed the roots.
• Seachem Flourish Iron for deeper reds.
• Plant Lead Weight Anchors to hold down stubborn floaters while they root.

FAQ

Should I leave the lead band on?
Take it off. The band holds the bunch together for handling, but in the tank it squeezes the stems and can rot them.

Some leaves dropped after planting. Is that normal?
Yes. Leaves grown above water often shed as new underwater leaves grow, and lower leaves also drop when light is weak. Strong light and steady conditions bring fresh growth.

What is the difference between the bunch and the cup?
The bunch gives you several larger stems ready to plant, so your group looks full right away. The tissue culture cup starts smaller but is lab-grown and pest free, a nice choice for shrimp tanks.

How do I get the deepest red?
Strong light, CO2, and a steady supply of iron and other nutrients. With less light it still grows well in softer bronze and pink tones.