Alternanthera Reineckii

Veloth · 03-14-2009, 10:45 PM

We ordered some plants for a member, we were given this plant free because it was not doing well. We were told it was a Alternanthera Reineckii. According to what we have read it is suppose to grow 10 to 20 inches high. The attached picture started out as 1 stem and has bushed to what you see but will not grow up. What are we doing wrong.

**customdrumfinishes** · 03-15-2009, 12:13 AM

it looks good, so wierd its not getting taller. any other plants not growing right?

Axelrodi202 · 03-15-2009, 12:51 AM

You did say it wasn't doing well. It's a really tricky plant. It used to do great for me, but now, the growth is all leggy and there are very few leaves.

Veloth · 03-15-2009, 02:08 AM

Just for other info: 55g tank, 2x54w (was 4) t5 lights, EI dosing and pressurized CO2. Light on about 9hrs. All my other plants seem to be doing fine. All the other stem plants require weekly trimming. Maybe this one just forgot which way up is.

**legomaniac89** · 03-15-2009, 02:23 AM

I wish my Alternanthera would grow like that. Weird growth, but pretty cool looking

wakesk8r · 03-15-2009, 02:40 PM

mine grew short like that when i first planted it.
Once it made it to the top it blew up and just got leggyer and looked crappy

Dave k · 03-15-2009, 03:51 PM

Looks like it might be thishttp://www.plantedtank.net/forums/myplants/75-Cardinal_Flower_Lobelia_cardinalis.html ,in case the link don't work.In the plant search it is Lobelin Cardinalis-Cardinal flower not a true aquatic

helgymatt · 03-16-2009, 05:02 PM

It is not Lobelia. Lobelia is bright green (that picture you linked is not a very accurate dipiction of lobelia). It is alternanthera for sure. The plant grows fast under the right conditions, but I have experienced some difficulties with it. Sometimes it gets distorted growth at the tips (new growth) and then it tends to stunt and put out side shoots. Other people have experienced the same problem, without a clear understanding of why this happens. it looks like some of yours are doing the same thing (curling). The likely culprit is low/inconsistent CO2 supply. Try to keep it stable and make sure you are supplying enough to balance with the lighting thrown at it.

**plantbrain** · 03-16-2009, 11:51 PM

Stop up rooting and replanting the tops for awhile.
Let it it grow in and root well.

Top only as it gets too tall. It always seem to like some shade in my tanks.
It's picky about CO2, not light demanding etc.

It's easy ti kill it if you drop the CO2, and it will get BBA, holes, lose leaves and look like crap, with good CO2, it turns lush and pretty.

Regards,
Tom Barr

urban guerilla · 03-17-2009, 09:35 PM

Nice bush.

03-14-2009, 10:45 PM	#1
Veloth Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Pelion, SC Posts: 338	Alternanthera Reineckii We ordered some plants for a member, we were given this plant free because it was not doing well. We were told it was a Alternanthera Reineckii. According to what we have read it is suppose to grow 10 to 20 inches high. The attached picture started out as 1 stem and has bushed to what you see but will not grow up. What are we doing wrong. Attached Thumbnails

03-15-2009, 12:51 AM	#3
Axelrodi202 Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (13/100%) Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Morris County, NJ Posts: 1,665	You did say it wasn't doing well. It's a really tricky plant. It used to do great for me, but now, the growth is all leggy and there are very few leaves. __________________ O_o / /_______________________________ \| BWAAAH IMA FIRIHN MA LAZER!!!!!!!!! \_\

03-15-2009, 02:23 AM	#5
legomaniac89 Aroid Addict (View User Tanks) PTrader: (69/100%) Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Elkhart, IN Posts: 3,479	I wish my Alternanthera would grow like that. Weird growth, but pretty cool looking __________________ Got Plants?-6 CO2 + 12 H2O → C6H12O6 + 6 O2 + 6 H2O Lego's Comprehensive Grow List - From Acorus to Zephyranthes New 40 Breeder Scape --- Low Tech 20H Always interested in trades for aroids, carnivores, orchids, ferns, or whatever else you think I might like to try

03-16-2009, 05:02 PM	#8
helgymatt Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (50/98%) Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Des Moines, IA Posts: 1,256	It is not Lobelia. Lobelia is bright green (that picture you linked is not a very accurate dipiction of lobelia). It is alternanthera for sure. The plant grows fast under the right conditions, but I have experienced some difficulties with it. Sometimes it gets distorted growth at the tips (new growth) and then it tends to stunt and put out side shoots. Other people have experienced the same problem, without a clear understanding of why this happens. it looks like some of yours are doing the same thing (curling). The likely culprit is low/inconsistent CO2 supply. Try to keep it stable and make sure you are supplying enough to balance with the lighting thrown at it. __________________ --Matt Rimless 75 Gallon Rimless 75 Re-scape

03-16-2009, 11:51 PM	#9
plantbrain Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (232/100%) Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: The swamp Posts: 11,993	Stop up rooting and replanting the tops for awhile. Let it it grow in and root well. Top only as it gets too tall. It always seem to like some shade in my tanks. It's picky about CO2, not light demanding etc. It's easy ti kill it if you drop the CO2, and it will get BBA, holes, lose leaves and look like crap, with good CO2, it turns lush and pretty. Regards, Tom Barr __________________ Regards, Tom Barr

03-15-2009, 12:13 AM	#2
customdrumfinishes are you experienced? (View User Tanks) PTrader: (108/98%) Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: south carolina Posts: 1,989	it looks good, so wierd its not getting taller. any other plants not growing right?

03-15-2009, 02:08 AM	#4
Veloth Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Pelion, SC Posts: 338	Just for other info: 55g tank, 2x54w (was 4) t5 lights, EI dosing and pressurized CO2. Light on about 9hrs. All my other plants seem to be doing fine. All the other stem plants require weekly trimming. Maybe this one just forgot which way up is.

03-15-2009, 02:40 PM	#6
wakesk8r Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (24/100%) Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Lake Travis Texas Posts: 416	mine grew short like that when i first planted it. Once it made it to the top it blew up and just got leggyer and looked crappy

03-15-2009, 03:51 PM	#7
Dave k Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: NYS Posts: 113	Looks like it might be thishttp://www.plantedtank.net/forums/myplants/75-Cardinal_Flower_Lobelia_cardinalis.html ,in case the link don't work.In the plant search it is Lobelin Cardinalis-Cardinal flower not a true aquatic

03-17-2009, 09:35 PM	#10
urban guerilla Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 16	Nice bush.

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