How to grow alternanthera ficoidea

Alternanthera ficoidea grow and care – herbaceous of the genus Alternanthera also known as Parrot-leaf or Sanguinarea, Alternanthera ficoidea perennial evergreen or cold annual plant mostly used as ornamental ground cover plant and also in grow pond or aquarium, can grow in tropic, subtropical, mediterranean or temperate climate and growing in hardiness zone 9+ as perennial or as annual 4+.

Leaves edible color can be: green, pink, yellow, orange, white, red, purple, magenta or multicolor the leaves fleshy in the shape elliptic to shapeless the structure is wavy to curly and the color green leaves.

Alternanthera ficoidea flower

Flower color white the flower in pompon shape.

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How to grow Alternanthera ficoidea growing and care:

Humidity, moist soil, rich soil, frost free, 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 – cutting, cut stem and put in water over time it will grow the roots, care that it’s not rot if it is start to rot take it out of the water and put it in moist soil and even better wet 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)

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 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 ficoidea leaves:
Eat raw, cooked, stir fry, salad

How to grow Alternanthera ficoidea 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 ficoidea

How to grow alternanthera ficoidea

Growing Alternanthera ficoidea

Alternanthera ficoidea colored leaves

Alternanthera ficoidea plant care

Alternanthera ficoidea plant

Alternanthera ficoidea

Categories

Blooming Seasons
  • Spring flowers
  • Summer flowers
Edible Parts
  • Edible leaves
Culinary uses
  • Cooked
  • Eaten raw
  • Salad
Flower colors
  • White flower
Climate
  • Mediterranean Climate
  • Subtropics Climate
  • Temperate Climate
  • Tropics Climate
Harvest Season
  • Autumn Harvest
  • Spring Harvest
  • Winter harvest
Leaf color
  • Orange leaves
  • Pink leaves
  • Purple leaf
  • Red leaves
  • White leaves
  • Yellow leaf
Ornamental parts
  • Ornamental flower
  • Ornamental leaves
  • Ornamental plant
Plant growing speed
  • Average growing plants
  • Fast growing plants
Plant life-form
  • Annual plant
  • Evergreen
  • Perennial plant
  • Shrub
Plant Uses
  • Colored leaves
  • Ground cover plants
  • Ornamental plants
Planting Season
  • Autumn Planting
  • Spring Planting
  • Summer planting
Plants sun exposure
  • Full sun Plants
Watering plants
  • Regularly water
Hardiness zone
  • Hardiness zone 10
  • Hardiness zone 11
  • Hardiness zone 12
  • Hardiness zone 13
  • Hardiness zone 4
  • Hardiness zone 5
  • Hardiness zone 6
  • Hardiness zone 7
  • Hardiness zone 8
  • Hardiness zone 9