{"product_id":"josephs-coat-alternanthera-ficoidea-terrarium-riparium-plant","title":"Joseph's Coat (Alternanthera ficoidea) - Potted","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif;color:#1a1a1a;max-width:860px;line-height:1.7;\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"background:#E8F5E9;border-left:4px solid #2E7D32;padding:10px 14px;margin:0 0 14px;font-size:0.95em;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIn-store pickup only.\u003c\/strong\u003e Your order is reserved, we hold off on bagging until you arrive so it stays healthy in its display tank.\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"background:#FFF8E1;border-left:4px solid #F9A825;padding:10px 14px;margin:0 0 14px;font-size:0.92em;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEmersed plant, not a submersed aquarium plant.\u003c\/strong\u003e Joseph's Coat is grown with its roots wet and its leaves in the air. It is built for pond margins, bog filters, paludariums, and riparium planters, and it will melt if held fully underwater long term.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJoseph's Coat\u003c\/strong\u003e (\u003cem\u003eAlternanthera ficoidea\u003c\/em\u003e) earns its name honestly: every leaf is a different mix of crimson, rose, copper, cream, and green, so a single potted plant reads like a handful of different plants stacked together. It is a compact, bushy grower that holds that color all season in bright light, and it is one of the easiest ways to put real warmth at a water's edge where most plants give you nothing but green. Browse the rest of our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/fresh-water\"\u003efreshwater plants and supplies\u003c\/a\u003e to fill out the pond or paludarium.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #2E7D32;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eCare Guide\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlacement:\u003c\/strong\u003e set the pot on a shallow pond shelf, at the mouth of a bog filter, or in a paludarium or riparium planter, with the crown at or just above the waterline and the foliage in open air.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWater depth:\u003c\/strong\u003e keep it to moist soil or no more than about an inch over the crown. Permanently wet feet are fine, permanently submerged leaves are not.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLight drives the color:\u003c\/strong\u003e bright light is what produces the reds, pinks, and coppers. In shade the plant survives but reverts toward plain green, which defeats the purpose of buying it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHumidity:\u003c\/strong\u003e loves it. A closed paludarium or the humid air just above pond water suits it perfectly.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eShaping:\u003c\/strong\u003e pinch the growing tips every couple of weeks. It responds by branching, and pinched plants stay dense and colorful instead of getting leggy.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCold sensitivity:\u003c\/strong\u003e this one is tender, unlike a hardy marginal. It will not survive a Georgia freeze outdoors. Treat it as a warm-season pond annual, or bring it inside for the winter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #2E7D32;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable style=\"border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;max-width:640px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScientific name\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eAlternanthera ficoidea\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCommon names\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eJoseph's Coat, Calico Plant, Parrot Leaf\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSold as\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003ePotted plant, net pot with rock wool\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCare level\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eBeginner (emersed)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eType\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eEmersed ornamental, pond marginal \/ bog plant\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSetup\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003ePond shelf, bog filter, paludarium, riparium, terrarium\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater depth\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eMoist soil to about 1 inch over the crown\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHeight\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e6 to 12 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLight\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eModerate to high (drives the color)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTemperature\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e65 to 85°F, frost tender\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth rate\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eModerate, pinch to keep bushy\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eTropical South America (ornamental cultivar)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePickup\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eIn-store pickup at Squeaky's Aquatics\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #2E7D32;padding-left:8px;\"\u003ePlacement \u0026amp; Companions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePut it where the color gets seen: the front edge of a pond shelf, the lip of a bog filter, or the land section of a paludarium. It sits beautifully next to \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/bloody-dock-rumex-sanguineus-2-inch-pot\"\u003eBloody Dock\u003c\/a\u003e, whose red-veined green leaves play off the calico foliage, and against floating plants covering the open water nearby: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/water-hyacinth-pontederia-crassipes-floating-plant\"\u003eWater Hyacinth\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/water-lettuce-pistia-stratiotes-freshwater\"\u003eWater Lettuce\u003c\/a\u003e, and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/frogbit-portion-cup-limnobium-spongia\"\u003eFrogbit\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor an indoor emersed display, pair it with \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/florida-ruffle-alternanthera-ficoidea-terrarium-riparium-plant\"\u003eFlorida Ruffle\u003c\/a\u003e, its ruffled cousin in the same species, and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/bella-palm-chamaedorea-elegans-terrarium-riparium-plant\"\u003eBella Palm\u003c\/a\u003e for height.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #2E7D32;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eFAQ\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I plant it fully underwater in my aquarium?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNo, and this is the mistake to avoid. Joseph's Coat is regularly sold alongside true aquarium plants, but held under water it drops leaves and rots over a few weeks. Keep the leaves in air. If you want a genuinely submersed red Alternanthera, buy \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/scarlet-temple-alternanthera-reineckii-potted-freshwater-plant\"\u003eScarlet Temple\u003c\/a\u003e instead, which is a true aquatic in the same genus.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill it come back next spring in my pond?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNo. Unlike a hardy marginal, this one is frost tender. Treat it as a warm-season annual outdoors, or lift it and overwinter it somewhere bright and above freezing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMy plant is turning green. What happened?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNot enough light. The reds and pinks are pigment the plant only bothers producing under bright conditions. Move it somewhere sunnier and the new growth colors back up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow do I keep it compact?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePinch the tips. Every pinch turns one stem into two, so regular pinching is what gives you the dense, bushy shape rather than a few long floppy stems.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow do I get my plants?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThese are in-store pickup only. We hold your order and pull it fresh when you arrive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Squeaky's Aquatics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49051151892699,"sku":null,"price":7.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0767\/5209\/3403\/files\/8487ace7-3688-439c-b364-c64a226f42f9.png?v=1785744804","url":"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/josephs-coat-alternanthera-ficoidea-terrarium-riparium-plant","provider":"Squeaky's Aquatics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}