Alternanthera Lilacina

Quick facts

Identity

Also known as

AR Lilacina

Synonyms

Alternanthera reineckii var. rosanervig; AR Rosanervig; AR Pink

Environment

Freshwater

Native to

Captive-bred variety

Habitat

Cultivar of a South American marsh plant found on riverbanks and floodplains that grow emersed on damp banks or submersed when water rises; the cultivar itself does not occur in the wild

Sourcing

Captive-bred

Conservation

Not Evaluated

Care

Care level

Moderate

Growth form

Stem

Max height

4 – 12 in (10 – 30 cm)

Spread

6 in (15 cm)

Growth rate

Moderate

Placement

Midground, Foreground

Water

Temperature

72 – 82 °F (22 – 28 °C)

pH

6.0 – 7.4

GH

2 – 12 dGH

PAR

30 – 60 PAR

Flow

Moderate

Light

High

CO₂

Beneficial

Planting

Substrate

Nutrient-rich preferred

Feeds from

Both

Fertilizer needs

High

Colors

Pink, Cream, Purple

Feeding & breeding

Propagation

Cuttings

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Care guide

Overview

Reddish-purple stems carry narrow, elongated leaves whose undersides deepen to purple or ruby, giving Lilacina a slimmer profile than bushier red Alternanthera types. It reaches 4 to 12 inches and depends on medium to high light with CO2 to hold its purple-toned coloration rather than fading toward green. Root-focused fertilizing supports steady, upright growth.

Care

Rosanervig is a selected culture form of Alternanthera reineckii, distinguished by pale, light-colored veins running through pink to magenta leaves and a more compact, less robust stem than the standard species. It grows at a medium pace and holds a tidy shape with only occasional trimming, making it more forgiving than many other red stem plants. Strong, even lighting brings out the best coloration, but the plant tolerates medium light and still colors up reasonably well, just less intensely.

Planting & trimming

Plant stems in small groups of three to seven, spaced roughly two to three inches apart, in the midground or toward the front once trimmed low, leaving room for lateral shoots to fill in. Anchor cuttings a short distance into the substrate rather than burying the lower leaves, and avoid placing taller neighbors where they would shade it. Top the stems every one to three weeks in higher-energy setups to keep growth compact and to encourage branching from the base.

Fertilizing

This is a notable root feeder, so a nutrient-rich substrate or root tabs placed beneath the stems support steady growth and full leaf color. Liquid fertilizer supplying iron and other micronutrients is equally important, since the pink pigment depends on anthocyanins that fade quickly when iron runs low. Pale or washed-out leaves with weak veining usually point to a nutrient deficiency rather than disease, and can be corrected by increasing dosing and light together.

Propagation

Propagation is straightforward: cut a few inches off the top of a healthy stem and replant the cutting directly into the substrate, where it roots quickly under active substrate and stable conditions. The remaining rooted base will typically resprout with new side shoots, allowing a single stem to be repeatedly divided over time. Dense stands can also be lifted and re-spaced to keep individual stems from shading each other out.

Problems

Some lower leaves melting or dropping after planting is a normal adjustment as the stems switch from emersed nursery growth to fully submersed life, and new growth typically follows once conditions stabilize. Algae on the leaves is the most frequent complaint and generally traces back to excess light relative to nutrient levels or weak flow rather than a fault of the plant. Leggy, stretched stems with wide internodes signal insufficient light or CO2 and can be corrected by trimming harder and raising light intensity gradually.

Sources

1. Alternanthera Rosanervig care: light, CO2 and placement · TankBud
2. Alternanthera reineckii 'Rosanervig' - Tropica Aquarium Plants
3. Alternanthera Rosanervig Care Guide | Melbourne Tropical
4. ADA Alternanthera reineckii 'Rosanervig' | Tissue Culture Aquarium Plants – Aqua House

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