[bonaparte]

My local garden center has started trotting out some Alternathera. The tag just says "variegated hybrid" and it doesn't specify whether it's reineckii or not, but it does have that deep red coloration.

What do you think? Should I try it?
How risky is it to use nursery stock like this in your tank?

And how do you go about prepping a terrestrially grown plant for submersed culture?

 

[Kehy]

Some alternatheras are strictly for use out of the water. Others do ok with wet feet, but I think only a couple are decent underwater. If possible, I'd split the plant/s into groups and try them dry, in a riparium-type planter, and underwater.

 

[AirstoND]

Does it have some bright pink leaves and labeled "partytime"?

These and what you're referencing will probably only like their roots wet.

 

[bonaparte]

I've seen about half a dozen varieties now. None of them are labelled reinickii though. I think I'm barking up the wrong tree.

 

[AirstoND]

Humans generally don't bark up the wrong tree unless you're into that sort of thing. I've seen the plants you talk about and there is a field of hydroponics. If you know how to balance nutrients, oxygenation, light and gas exchange you can definitely grow it emersed, submerged growth is about evolving adaptation to those parameters.