{"product_id":"scarlet-temple-alternanthera-reineckii-potted-freshwater-plant","title":"Scarlet Temple (Alternanthera reineckii) - Potted","description":"\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\u003cp\u003eScarlet Temple (\u003cem\u003eAlternanthera reineckii\u003c\/em\u003e) is the easiest way to put real red in a planted tank. Each pot holds a cluster of upright stems with green-to-bronze tops and rich burgundy undersides, and the color only gets deeper as the plant settles in. It is one of the few red plants that does well without CO2, which makes it a favorite midground pick for low-tech setups. Browse the rest of our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/freshwater-aquarium-plants\"\u003efreshwater plants\u003c\/a\u003e while you are here.\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\u003eLighting:\u003c\/strong\u003e Moderate. It survives in low light but stretches and fades toward green; stronger light keeps the stems compact and the reds vivid.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlanting the pot:\u003c\/strong\u003e Do not bury the pot. Slide the plant out, peel away the rock wool, separate the individual stems, and plant them about an inch apart so each stem gets light and flow.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFeeding:\u003c\/strong\u003e Feeds from both roots and water column. \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/seachem-flourish-tabs\"\u003eSeachem Flourish Tabs\u003c\/a\u003e near the roots or a nutrient-rich substrate keep it growing steadily.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColor boost:\u003c\/strong\u003e Iron is the secret to deep red. Regular dosing with \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/seachem-flourish-iron-ferrous-iron-planted\"\u003eSeachem Flourish Iron\u003c\/a\u003e makes a visible difference.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTrimming:\u003c\/strong\u003e Cut the top few inches once stems get leggy and replant the cuttings right next to the originals. The trimmed stem branches and the patch fills in thicker.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCO2:\u003c\/strong\u003e Not required. Growth is faster and denser with CO2, but Scarlet Temple holds its color in low-tech tanks better than most red plants.\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=\"width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;margin:6px 0 10px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\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 reineckii\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;\"\u003eScarlet Temple, AR, Red Temple\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\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlacement\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eMidground to background\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;\"\u003e8 to 16 inches, kept lower with trimming\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLighting\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eModerate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCO2\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eNot required, helps color and density\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;\"\u003e70 to 82°F\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003epH\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e6.0 to 7.5\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;\"\u003eSlow to moderate\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;\"\u003eSouth America\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 stem plant\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 only\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\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;\"\u003eCompatibility\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eScarlet Temple is safe with all community fish, snails, and shrimp. Its dense stems make great cover for \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/amano-shrimp-caridina-multidentata-freshwater\"\u003eAmano shrimp\u003c\/a\u003e and fry, and the red foliage is a striking backdrop for schooling tetras and rasboras. Skip it with large cichlids, goldfish, and other known plant shredders.\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;\"\u003eRecommended Supplies\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/seachem-flourish-tabs\"\u003eSeachem Flourish Tabs\u003c\/a\u003e root fertilizer for steady growth\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/seachem-flourish-iron-ferrous-iron-planted\"\u003eSeachem Flourish Iron\u003c\/a\u003e for deeper red coloration\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/caribsea-pyroflora-volcanic-substrate-6-lbs\"\u003eCaribSea PyroFlora volcanic substrate\u003c\/a\u003e for planted tanks\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/dwarf-aquarium-lily-nymphaea-stellata-potted-freshwater-plant\"\u003eDwarf Aquarium Lily\u003c\/a\u003e, another easy red-toned centerpiece\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBrowse all \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/freshwater-aquarium-plants\"\u003efreshwater aquarium plants\u003c\/a\u003e\n\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;\"\u003eFAQ\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDo I plant it pot and all?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNo. Remove the plastic pot, gently pull off the rock wool, separate the stems, and plant each one individually in the substrate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy are some leaves melting after planting?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePotted Scarlet Temple is grown out of water at the farm. The old emersed leaves often melt back while the plant pushes new underwater growth. Keep it fed and lit, and fresh red leaves replace them within a few weeks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow do I get the deepest red color?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThree things: decent light, iron dosing, and root tabs. Add CO2 if you have it and the color goes from bronze-red to true scarlet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it really beginner-safe for a low-tech tank?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes. It grows slower without CO2 but stays healthy and colorful, which is rare for a red plant. Just give it moderate light and do not let faster plants shade it out.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Squeaky's Aquatics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48878315208923,"sku":"PFBSCA","price":7.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0767\/5209\/3403\/files\/image_182266b5-ed6b-486d-b419-5fdc1e892d12.png?v=1781535096","url":"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/scarlet-temple-alternanthera-reineckii-potted-freshwater-plant","provider":"Squeaky's Aquatics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}