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BruceF · 07-06-2012, 08:27 AM

I am growing this plant. It is in a 15g tank. I do not use co2 and I use a cfl, I think it is a 23watt. It grows very slowly. Feeding it a bit seems to perk it up but it is still fairly slow. It seems to prefer growing from the axillary buds on the stem. I find that if you lie it down on the substrate rather than pinching it back it seems to do better. I don’t think it likes shading itself either. The bottom leaves just seem to keep falling off.
From one stem I now have about 6 stems growing up toward the surface. You might find that letting grow across the top of the tank will help it to put on the axillary growth. I haven’t tried that.

It does seem to be a very hardy plant. Mine is only about 7 inches tall right now. When it gets to be about 10 inches I will try growing it horizontally on the substrate again. I am not sure it would look very good being any taller anyway but I don’t have anymore headroom in this 15g tank.

Hope that helps.

07-06-2012, 08:27 AM	#3 (permalink)
BruceF Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 292 iTrader Ratings: 4 iTrader Positive Rating: 100% Plant Points:	Re: Alternanthera Question I am growing this plant. It is in a 15g tank. I do not use co2 and I use a cfl, I think it is a 23watt. It grows very slowly. Feeding it a bit seems to perk it up but it is still fairly slow. It seems to prefer growing from the axillary buds on the stem. I find that if you lie it down on the substrate rather than pinching it back it seems to do better. I don’t think it likes shading itself either. The bottom leaves just seem to keep falling off. From one stem I now have about 6 stems growing up toward the surface. You might find that letting grow across the top of the tank will help it to put on the axillary growth. I haven’t tried that. It does seem to be a very hardy plant. Mine is only about 7 inches tall right now. When it gets to be about 10 inches I will try growing it horizontally on the substrate again. I am not sure it would look very good being any taller anyway but I don’t have anymore headroom in this 15g tank. Hope that helps.