Mini Alternanthera

Alternanthera reineckii 'Mini' is a dwarf form of the well-known red-leaved A. reineckii, bred to stay compact. Under water it forms very low-growing bushes with short internodes, many side shoots and a dense, bushy outline. The leaves hold a deep brownish-red, close to A. reineckii 'Rosa', and that colour makes it one of the few red plants that can sit at the front of the tank. It is also profiled under the older trade name A. reineckii 'rosaefolia minor', and the two are likely identical. It has been known in Europe since around 2007, though its exact origins are unclear. Submersed stems reach at most about 20 cm, and many lateral shoots and aerial roots form along the way. Care mirrors the other reineckii forms: moderate to high light, a good supply of CO2 and nutrients, and an optimum temperature of 17 to 25 °C. A population takes roughly six weeks to double, so it does not fill in quickly. Propagate by cuttings from the top or from side shoots, or by separating established bushes. As a miniature it suits small aquaria and the foreground of larger layouts, and careful trimming produces a dense red-violet carpet about 5 to 10 cm tall. It is often used in Dutch-style scapes as a red accent, sometimes planted among Staurogyne repens.