Tici In Vitro Aquatic Plant - Alternanthera Reineckii Rosenarvig

1) Overview

• Family: Amaranthaceae

• Species origin: South America

• Cultivar trait: Variegated foliage with pink/light veins

• Growth form: Upright stem plant

• Use: Midground to background color accent

‘Rosanervig’ is valued for its decorative venation pattern, unlike AR Mini which is compact and solid red.

2) Morphology (Technical Detail)

• Leaf shape: Elliptic to lanceolate

• Leaf size: 3–6 cm

• Color pattern:

  • Upper surface: Green to bronze with pink veins

  • Underside: Red to magenta

• Stem: Upright, moderately thick

• Height: 20–40 cm (can be trimmed shorter)

Variegation intensity depends heavily on light intensity.

3) Aquarium Requirements

This is a true high-tech stem plant.

4) Growth Characteristics

• Growth rate: Moderate

• Growth pattern: Vertical, branching at nodes

• Density control: Through topping and replanting

• Compactness: Internode length shortens under strong light

Unlike carpeting plants, it does not spread horizontally.

5) Planting & Establishment

1. Separate stems individually.

2. Remove bottom leaves from planting section.

3. Space stems 2–4 cm apart.

4. Maintain stable CO₂ from day one.

Dense bunch planting reduces airflow and increases algae risk.

6) Trimming & Bush Formation

• Trim tops when reaching desired height.

• Cut above a node to trigger side shoots.

• Replant cuttings to create a thick cluster.

Regular trimming produces a vibrant midground bush.

7) Nutritional Considerations

For best coloration:

• Maintain adequate iron (Fe)

• Avoid excessive nitrate levels

• Ensure high, consistent light

• Stable CO₂ is critical

Coloration comes primarily from light intensity, not iron overdosing.

8) Common Problems

Loss of variegation (turns mostly green)

• Cause: Insufficient light

• Solution: Increase PAR

Leggy stems

• Cause: Weak light or unstable CO₂

Lower leaf drop

• Caused by shading in dense groups

Algae on leaves

• Often linked to CO₂ fluctuations

9) Aquascaping Applications

Best used for:

• Midground focal clusters

• Background color contrast

• Dutch-style layouts

• Nature-style red highlights

Pairs well with:

• Micranthemum tweediei

• Staurogyne repens

• Eleocharis acicularis

It provides a striped, vein-highlighted red accent, distinct from solid red plants.

10) Rosanervig vs AR Mini

11) Pros & Cons

Pros

• Unique variegated pattern

• Strong visual focal point

• Good for structured layouts

Cons

• Requires high light + CO₂

• Loses color in low-tech setups

• Needs regular trimming

12) High-Tech vs Low-Tech

High-tech:

• Strong pink venation

• Compact internodes

• Deep underside coloration

Low-tech:

• Greener leaves

• Taller, stretched growth

• Reduced variegation