Alternanthera bettzickiana grow and care – herbaceous of the genus Alternanthera also known as Parrot-leaf, Sanguinarea, Alternanthera versicolor or Calico-plant, Alternanthera bettzickiana perennial evergreen or cold annual plant, can grow as edible plant but mostly used as ornamental plant for the colored leaves, can be used as ground cover plant and also in grow pond or aquarium, can grow in tropic, subtropical, mediterranean or temperate climate and growing in hardiness zone 10b+ as perennial and in the right care also 10a or as annual 4+.
Alternanthera bettzickiana flowers and edible leaves
Leaves edible color can be: green, pink, yellow, orange, white, red, purple, magenta or multicolor the leaves fleshy in the shape elliptic to oval the structure are wavy to curly.
Flower color white or yellow the flower in pompon shape.
Alternanthera bettzickiana for sale – Seeds or Plants to Buy
How to grow Alternanthera bettzickiana growing and care:
Humidity, frost free, moist soil, rich soil, wet land and possible to grow it in aquarium or on ponds, the plant grow better in rich soil with organic matter
How to care:
Add fertilizer at least once a year, better to put mulch, prune once a year
What is the best way to start growing?
Plant / Seed (mostly not viable and see explanation bellow) / Vegetative Reproduction –
How to care:
Add fertilizer at least once a year, better to put mulch, prune once a year
What is the best way to start growing?
Plant / Seed (mostly not viable rarely can find viable seeds) / Vegetative Reproduction – bending a branch over and covering it with soil or cutting
How to propagate:
Propagating start by cutting possible to put in water and switch the water every few days another option it’s to put in moist soil, with humidity and keep the moist soil and peat soil, temperature 23-27C (73-80F) and better to use root growth hormone
Is it necessary to use vegetative reproduction?
Yes, start by cutting, because it’s almost not possible to start from seeds
Difficulties or problems when growing:
Aggressive
Recommended planting season – when to plant?
Spring, summer, autumn, as annual in spring after last frost hardiness zone 8-10a (possible colder if there is long summer or take cutting indoor for the winter, in hardiness zone 10b+11a spring to summer, possible in the autumn but might not survive the winter, hardiness zone 11b+ possible all the year
How to plant:
Dig hole bigger than the root ball, add dead leaves and organic matter, cover the plant and put mulch to keep the soil moist, in the first two weeks need to increase the amount of water
Pests and diseases:
Aphids, ants
Pruning season:
All year, but better after blooming season
How to prune:
Dead branches and for harvest
Size of the plant?
30-50cm (12-20 inches) mostly grow wide
Growth speed in optimal condition:
Fast growing / Medium growing
Water requirement:
Average amount of water / Big amount of water, better not to let the soil dry
Light conditions in optimal condition for growing:
Full Sun / Half Shade
Is it possible to grow indoor as houseplant?
No, but possible to grow indoor over winter to protect the plant (because it’s hard to grow from seeds), usually grow indoor in aquarium with light
Growing is also possible in pots, planter, flowerpot or containers:
Yes, when grow in container minimum size 10-30 liter (2-6 gallon) depend if grown as annual or perennial, the plant require average to big amount of water and put mulch to keep the soil moist and makes enough holes that the water go out of the pot, when it’s grow as perennial every few years better to switch soil, and prune part of the roots and the plants, soil need to be well ventilated with good drainage, put fertilizer at least once a year, rich with organic matter, can use in potting mix or peat soil with perlite or vermiculite.
Blooming information
Bloom season:
Spring / Summer
General information about the flower:
Flower color white or yellow the flower in pompon shape.
Pollination is done by:
Bees
Edible leaves
Leaves harvesting season:
All year
How to harvest the leaves?
After establishes cut the leaves with the branches
Information about leaves:
Leaves fleshy in the shape ovate to shapeless the structure is wavy to curly and the color can be: green, pink, yellow, orange, white, red, purple, magenta or multicolor
Uses of Alternanthera bettzickiana leaves:
Eat raw, cooked, stir fry, salad
How to grow Alternanthera bettzickiana from seeds
Sowing requirement:
Find viable seeds (be aware that it’s hard to find), moist soil, humidity, better temperature 23-27C (73-80F)
Saving and care seeds until sowing:
Dark and dry location
Sowing season:
Spring in places of hot summer / Summer in half shade will be better or even in full shade
How to plant:
Plant in soil that keep and release the water like peat soil
Planting spacing:
20*30cm, 8*12 inches
Depth of Sowing:
0.5-1cm (0.25-0.5 inch)
Conditions for seeds germinate:
Moist soil, high humidity, morning sun
Watering requires for Seeds:
Average amount of water / Big amount of water
Germination time:
1-2 month
Condition of seedling:
Moist soil, put mulch in order to keep the moist, high humidity
Scientific name:
Alternanthera bettzickiana
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