Genus:
Alternanthera
Type:
Reineckii
Family:
foxtail family
Hometown:
South America
Light:
medium to high
Temperature:
4-30°C (optimal: 17-28 °C)
Growth:
medium
pH:
5.0 to 8
Degree of hardness:
soft hard
CO2:
10-40 mg/l
propagation:
cuttings, side shoots
Difficulty:
medium
Location in the aquarium:
Nano aquarium, foreground, middle ground
Drhyperlaur (talk) (Uploads), Alternanthera reineckii, marked as public domain, details on Wikimedia Commons
Look
The lesser parrot leaf comes in numerous color variants, with the four colors pink, red, bronze and purple being the most common. However, green is the original color of Alternanthera reineckii. This perennial stem plant grows to about 10 to 30 cm. Their mostly lanceolate leaves measure submerged 2 cm in length and 1 cm in width. Under strong lighting, the green leaves turn reddish. However, if the exposure to light is too weak, the lower leaves can die off. When it reaches the surface, it continues to grow semi-crawling on the water.
distribution
Today it is no longer known exactly which color variants developed naturally and which developed through breeding. However, the original form of the plant comes from South America, where it also lived under water on river banks and in flood areas. From there it was introduced to us under various other names. In 1976 it was mentioned for the first time in aquaristic books of the CSSR. However, this original form has become rare nowadays.
husbandry conditions
When planting, care should be taken to plant each stem individually. The original form of this plant is more demanding than its close relatives and needs a lot of light. It is therefore only conditionally recommended for beginners. However, modern LED lighting usually fully meets the needs of this plant. An additional addition of Co2 also promotes the growth of the plant. If the intensity of the color on the leaves decreases, this can be due to a lack of micronutrients.
particularities
If the Small Parrot Leaf is planted accordingly, dense hedges can result. While all species require slightly different environments and their preferences should be considered for optimal growth, all can thrive in the above conditions.