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.
Care at a glance
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.
By Mike ElmiraUpdated 1 min read
Part of our complete guide to the planted aquarium.
The parameters that decide whether alternanthera reineckii 'mini' fits in your tank.
Amaranthaceae
Stem
Midground
Nutrient-rich substrate + root tabs; iron-rich dosing
Side-shoot cuttings
Selectively bred cultivar (South American parentage)
Selectively bred cultivar (South American parentage)
Tank-mate safety and the species this one is documented to thrive (or fail) alongside.
Direct answers to the questions search engines and AI assistants surface most often about this species.
CO₂ requirement: recommended. Light requirement: high. Under low-tech conditions the plant grows at a medium rate.
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.
Position: midground. Substrate: Nutrient-rich substrate + root tabs; iron-rich dosing It typically reaches 5–15 cm.
Propagation method: Side-shoot cuttings. Alternanthera Reineckii 'Mini' is a stem plant.
Target 22–28 °C, pH 5.5–7.5, and 2–12 dGH. Flow tolerance: low to medium.
Difficulty: 3/5. Intermediate, stable parameters and a mature tank matter.
A planted tank is a system. Pair this plant with one entry from each other pillar to plan the whole scape.
