PlantStem

Alternanthera Reineckii 'Mini'

Alternanthera reineckii 'Mini'

Selectively bred cultivar (South American parentage)Intermediate

TL;DR, Alternanthera Reineckii 'Mini'

The compact, midground-friendly version of A. reineckii, same intense purple-red foliage on a stem that tops out at 15 cm instead of running away to 50. Wants strong light, CO₂, and iron to hold the deep colour; under low light it pales to bronze-green. Pinch side shoots regularly to form a dense red bush.

Alternanthera Reineckii 'Mini' (Alternanthera reineckii 'Mini') is a stem aquatic plant for the midground of a planted tank. It reaches 5–15 cm under good conditions and grows at a medium rate. Light: high. CO₂: recommended. Target 22–28 °C, pH 5.5–7.5, and 2–12 dGH. Substrate: Nutrient-rich substrate + root tabs; iron-rich dosing. Propagate via side-shoot cuttings.

LightHigh
CO₂Recommended

Care at a glance

Updated 19 May 20261 min read

Part of our complete guide to the planted aquarium.

Leaves yellowing, pitting, or new growth coming in pale or twisted? Work out what it’s short of in our plant deficiency guide.

Tank fit

The parameters that decide whether alternanthera reineckii 'mini' fits in your tank.

Parameters

Temperature22–28 °C

15 °C20 °C25 °C30 °C

pH5.5–7.5

4.05.06.07.08.0

Hardness2–12 dGH

0 dGH5 dGH10 dGH15 dGH20 dGH25 dGH

Height5–15 cm

020406080

LightHigh

Low

Medium

High

CO₂Recommended

None

Optional

Recommended

Required

GrowthMedium

Slow

Medium

Fast

V. fast

FlowLow to Medium

Still

Low

Medium

High

V. high

Profile

Family

Amaranthaceae

Type

Stem

Position

Midground

Substrate

Nutrient-rich substrate + root tabs; iron-rich dosing

Propagation

Side-shoot cuttings

Habitat

Selectively bred cultivar (South American parentage)

Kit for this plant

Who it lives with

Tank-mate safety and the species this one is documented to thrive (or fail) alongside.

Weighing it against something similar? Compare Alternanthera Reineckii 'Mini' head to head:

Frequently asked questions

Direct answers to the questions search engines and AI assistants surface most often about this species.

Does Alternanthera Reineckii 'Mini' need CO₂?

CO₂ requirement: recommended. Light requirement: high. Under low-tech conditions the plant grows at a medium rate.

What light level does Alternanthera Reineckii 'Mini' need?

Alternanthera Reineckii 'Mini' (Alternanthera reineckii 'Mini') needs high light. Run a photoperiod of 6–8 hours; longer photoperiods invite algae unless CO₂ and dosing are dialled in.

Where should Alternanthera Reineckii 'Mini' be planted?

Position: midground. Substrate: Nutrient-rich substrate + root tabs; iron-rich dosing It typically reaches 5–15 cm.

How do you propagate Alternanthera Reineckii 'Mini'?

Propagation method: Side-shoot cuttings. Alternanthera Reineckii 'Mini' is a stem plant.

What water parameters does Alternanthera Reineckii 'Mini' tolerate?

Target 22–28 °C, pH 5.5–7.5, and 2–12 dGH. Flow tolerance: low to medium.

Is Alternanthera Reineckii 'Mini' suitable for beginners?

Difficulty: 3/5. Intermediate, stable parameters and a mature tank matter.

Sources & further reading

More plants

Adjacent specimens in the catalogue.

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Plant

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Anubias barteri var. nana

Almost impossible to kill. Tie or glue to hardscape, never bury the rhizome. Susceptible to Anubias rot if rhizome is damaged; trim brown leaves at the base.

BeginnerWest Africa (Cameroon)