General
HOW TO PLANT Video = HERE
Alternanthera reineckii is part of a common garden plant with some species that can be grown submerged and these Alternanthera are good aquarium plants.
A. reineckii have different variety’s that are all red or reddish and have the capability not to lose the colour even if no CO2 is added
They are hardy and form good mid and background plants
 
LEAF FORM
Leafs are a variety of shades of red & green and the mini variety’s leafs are smaller.
 
CO2 & LIGHTING
The addition of CO2 is not essential but it will lead to much faster and healthy growth.
Lighting follow along the same lines with the extra benefit that the stem length (space between leaves on the stem) will be shorter in plants that receive better lighting, making them seem more bushy.
AND
The red colour will be more intense.
 
Adaptation/transition period
All plants need to adapt to their new environment and leaf loss is expected, because the plant need to produce new leaves that can live under the new conditions and need to lose the old leaves. Sometimes to the point that you only have stems left, but don’t despair the plant is not dead, just wait for the new leaves to appear
Tips on how to assist the plant through this period:
Wash gel off in a jug of aquarium water to prevent chlorine shock
Ensure good water quality
Remove dead leaves and stem as they appear
Use a good quality plant food additive AND use according to manufacturer’s instructions
Do regular water changes, up to 30% per week if you introduced a lot of plants
 
ROT & MELTING
This is not normally a problem after the plant adapted to your aquarium. Should you experience rot and or melting ensure the following:
Water temperature is correct & not fluctuating
You are not overdosing with an additive
Lighting is sufficient – Although they need moderate to high lighting they will tend to melt under insufficient lighting.
Poor water quality can also lead to melting and rot.
Anaerobic conditions in the substrate (due to incorrect maintenance) will lead to death of the plants
 
 
Remember our pictures might not represent the final plant colours in your aquarium as all your aquarium conditions will combine to influence the plant in your aquarium. But is a good representation of what you could expect.