Terrestrial Alternanthera - Emersed Plant

[Darth Mollusk]

I've been growing some plants emersed to great success: pothos, peace lily, and polka dot plant. 

So, I swung by the nursery to see what they had, and found this Alternanthera brasilia (or possibly dentata or bettzickiana, idk). Breaking with the alliteration trend, but oh well.

Genus name rang a bell, so I'd assumed it was one of the ones I'd come across in my research. But then I realized: the reason it sounded familiar was because of the known-to-be aquatic plant, Alternanthera reineckii! 

Forget emmersed--I'm wondering how this thing would do submersed. That's not entirely true: but I do wonder how it'd do emersed 😆. From what I saw of the genus on Wikipedia, it contains both terrestrial and aquatic species. I'm going to assume this one is not aquatic.

Anybody have experience with this particular plant? Any luck converting it to grow out of an  aquarium/riparium? From what little I've found, it will root in water. I'm just not sure it'll last long term. It does need a lot of light, and I'm not sure my hygger splashing on the roots will cut it.

 But considering I can't keep a plant alive outside an aquarium, I may as well give it a shot.

Edited July 2, 2022 by DarthMollusk

[Fish Folk]

If you can figure out how to properly splice off viable plantlets (sorry, I’m obviously not using correct terms), definitely try to transition it to immersed.

I’ve been told that many plants can transition. But I’m guessing if it were possible, someone would have figured this out awhile ago for such a lovely specimen. 

[Darth Mollusk]

On 7/3/2022 at 7:51 PM, Fish Folk said:

If you can figure out how to properly splice off viable plantlets (sorry, I’m obviously not using correct terms), definitely try to transition it to immersed.

I’ve been told that many plants can transition. But I’m guessing if it were possible, someone would have figured this out awhile ago for such a lovely specimen. 

That's my thinking, too. But, it's a fairly sizable plant so I might try both out. For science!

[Fish Folk]

On 7/4/2022 at 10:47 AM, DarthMollusk said:

That's my thinking, too. But, it's a fairly sizable plant so I might try both out. For science!

If it works… you’ll be set to pay for a good part of your hobby. Keep us tuned in!

[Patrick_G]

Try rooting a cutting in some water and see what happens. 

[Darth Mollusk]

On 7/4/2022 at 2:53 PM, Patrick_G said:

Try rooting a cutting in some water and see what happens. 

That's the plan!

[Expectorating_Aubergine]

Grow a cutting in a very humid situation, like a terrarium. When I say humid I mean like 80%+ humidity. The plant will transition more successfully since it's tissues will be thinner and more like what you would find in an aquatic plant. 

[Seattle_Aquarist]

Hi @DarthMollusk

The genus Alternanthera is large, with 200+ various species (not counting all the variants).  The plant we typically see in the hobby is Alternanthera reineckii (with several variants).  The 'Purple Knight' is a cultivar of Alternanthera dentata so do not be disappoint if it does not transition to submerged growth.  Different species have grown up to adapt to different conditions.  -Roy

I grow several species emersed for future 'scapes.

[Darth Mollusk]

On 7/4/2022 at 4:04 PM, Expectorating_Aubergine said:

Grow a cutting in a very humid situation, like a terrarium. When I say humid I mean like 80%+ humidity. The plant will transition more successfully since it's tissues will be thinner and more like what you would find in an aquatic plant. 

Thanks! I grow my cuttings in the tank in a soap rack I've got in there--they've all done great so far. Guess the humidity might be why!

On 7/4/2022 at 4:08 PM, Seattle_Aquarist said:

Hi @DarthMollusk

The genus Alternanthera is large, with 200+ various species (not counting all the variants).  The plant we typically see in the hobby is Alternanthera reineckii (with several variants).  The 'Purple Knight' is a cultivar of Alternanthera dentata so do not be disappoint if it does not transition to submerged growth.  Different species have grown up to adapt to different conditions.  -Roy

I grow several species emersed for future 'scapes.

I don't really expect to grow submersed; I'm always thrilled when I manage not to kill them 😅

I've got a couple cuttings in the tank this morning, but later I might try extracting the main plant from the dirt, cleaning well, and trimming roots for emersed growth. That method worked really well for the peace lily and polka-dot plant, but we'll see!

[Odd Duck]

On 7/4/2022 at 3:08 PM, Seattle_Aquarist said:

Hi @DarthMollusk

The genus Alternanthera is large, with 200+ various species (not counting all the variants).  The plant we typically see in the hobby is Alternanthera reineckii (with several variants).  The 'Purple Knight' is a cultivar of Alternanthera dentata so do not be disappoint if it does not transition to submerged growth.  Different species have grown up to adapt to different conditions.  -Roy

I grow several species emersed for future 'scapes.

Are those 2 liter soda bottles cut apart and fit back together into tiny greenhouses?

[Seattle_Aquarist]

@Odd Duck,

Yes, that is exactly what they are - I call them 'humidomes'.  I first tried Pepsi but the bottle is uniform diameter top to bottom,  the Coke bottles have varying diameters.  I cut off the base of the bottle, then a second cut about 6" from the top where the bottle is more narrow.  Lastly I cut a slit in the top portion from the lower edge toward the top so it is easy to nest into the base.  I've used these for about 10 years now.  After a couple of months algae forms in the lower portion, they can be washed or if they if they are really gross I recycle them and use new.  The pots can go 3-4 weeks without having to be watered depending upon the amount of biomass.  In the pots I use approximately 1/3 of gravel for drainage, next I use either just plan Miracle-Gro Potting Mix or Miracle-Gro Potting Mix with pool filter sand added for extra drainage.  I top with 1/4" of either pool filter sand or Special Kitty cat litter (montmorillite clay).  The Miracle-gro potting mix provides good nutrients and high CEC, when I water the plants using Miracle-Gro Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food mixed to 50% concentration.  After the 3" plastic pots have drained I use clean, fresh water to fill the humidomes and put the pots back in place. 

The humidomes sit on wire shelves with several propagation heat mats underneath them controlled by one thermostat.  The shelves are by a window in the unheated attached garage where the temp can get into the low 40 degrees in the winter and as warm as 98 degrees in the summer - the pots stay above 55 degrees and I have not lost a pot due to temperature.  You would think the 98 degrees would cause problems but since the humidity in the humidomes is very high the plants do not suffer because of minimal transpiration and a ready source of water in the base of the humidomes.  I started with T12 shop lights with 2X40W lamps but a couple of years ago converted to Feit LED Shop Lights (42 watts / 4000K).  The PAR value at the shelf level is about PAR@100.

This system allows me to keep several "hard to find species" on hand for future 'scapes.  I also have plants to swap with follow members in the club.  Because the plants are raised in high humidity the cuticle layer of the leaves is very, very thin and the cutting / plants typically transition to submerged growth with no melting.  There are many species that can be grown emersed (see pics below) if I am unsure I first resort to the AquaticPlantCentral.com Plant Database where it tells of a species can be grown emersed or not.  Sometimes it is just trial and error.

Probably more than you wanted to know, sorry!  -Roy

[Torrey]

On 7/9/2022 at 9:45 AM, Seattle_Aquarist said:

Probably more than you wanted to know, sorry!  -Roy

That was perfect!!!