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Aquascaperoom

Alternanthera Lilacina

Alternanthera Lilacina

Regular price 18.99
Regular price Sale price 18.99
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Alternanthera reineckii 'Lilacina' is a popular, moderately demanding aquarium stem plant known for its vibrant reddish-purple leaves, making it a striking mid-to-background focal point. It thrives in high-light, nutrient-rich environments with mandatory \(CO_{2}\) injection to maintain intense colors and promote compact growth.

Key Care Requirements
  • Lighting: High lighting is essential. Without strong light, the plant may lose its color and turn green.
  • \(CO_{2}\) Injection: Highly recommended for healthy growth and vibrant colors.
  • Nutrients: Requires nutrient-rich substrate and iron-rich fertilization to maintain its purple hue.
  • Temperature: Thrives in 22–28°C (72–82°F).
  • pH & Water Hardness: Prefers a pH of 6.0–7.5 and soft to moderately hard water
Growth, Maintenance, and Propagation
  • Placement: Best used as a midground or background plant due to its stem-forming growth.
  • Trimming: Regular pruning is necessary to encourage bushy, compact growth and prevent lower leaves from dying due to shadowing.
  • Propagation: Propagated easily through cuttings; cut the top part of the stem and replant it into the substrate.
  • Handling: Sensitive to sudden environmental changes, which can lead to melting or rotting
Common Issues
  • Losing Color: Usually caused by low light or poor nutrition, causing the plant to revert to orange or green.
  • Algae Growth: As a relatively slow grower, it is susceptible to algae growth on its leaves in high-light setups.
  • Melt: Known to melt when moved or when water parameters change abruptly
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