Alternanthera Bettzickiana Red

Read this first: this is not a true aquatic plant. Alternanthera bettzickiana 'Red' is a marsh and garden plant. Kept underwater it holds its pink stems and red-flushed leaves for several months and then needs a spell of emersed growth to recover. Bought with that in mind, it is one of the strongest colors available for a riparium, vivarium or a temporary aquarium accent.

What You'll Receive

• Sold as loose Fresh-cut Plants, Bunched plants, or Potted plants
• Fresh-cut plants | approx. 6 stems, loose fresh-cut plants without root
• Bunched plants | approx. 6 fresh-cut plants without root bundle with foam, and plant's weight
• Potted plants | approx. 6 fresh-cut plants without root potted with net pot and rock wool

Plant Profile

• Common name — Calico Plant
• Scientific name — Alternanthera bettzickiana 'Red'
• Also known as — Red Calico Plant, Bettzickiana
• True aquatic — No
• Best suited to — Riparium, vivarium, paludarium or bog planting
• Origin — South America; widely cultivated as a garden plant
• Placement — Midground
• Shipped size — Approx. 6 fresh-cut stems, roughly 3-6 inches
• Mature height — 4-8 inches
• Suits — 10 gallons and up, or any humid terrarium
• Growth rate — Medium

Care

• Difficulty — Intermediate
• Light — Medium to high
• CO₂ — Recommended when submerged
• Water — 72-82°F, pH 6.0-7.5
• Substrate — Required. Nutrient-rich soil or root tabs; also feeds from the water column
• Growth habit — Non-aquatic; submerged use is temporary, emersed growth is permanent
• Propagation — Cuttings

Grower's Notes

• This is not a true aquatic plant, and we would rather say so. Submerged, it survives and even puts on a few inches over several months, but it does not grow indefinitely underwater. Plan to rotate it out to a humid emersed setup to recover, or treat it as a seasonal accent.
• It is at its best above the waterline. In a riparium, paludarium, vivarium or bog planting with consistently wet soil and high humidity, the red is deeper and the plant grows without a time limit.
• Light drives the color. Under moderate light the leaves stay green to yellow-green. Strong light — bright LED or partial sun in an emersed setup — is what turns them intense red.
• Take cuttings before it declines. Trim and root fresh tops in wet soil while the parent is still strong. Waiting until the submerged plant fades usually means the cuttings are too weak to take.
• Want permanent red underwater? Alternanthera reineckii is the same genus, fully submersible, and stays red indefinitely.

Want to go deeper? Read our complete Alternanthera Care Guide.

Notes

• Pictures are not the actual plants you will receive, but a sample representation. Unless specific, we don't guarantee aquatic plants will be free of pests, pesticides, grow emerged, or submerge.
• Never release aquarium plants into natural waterways.

At a glance

• Free shipping on orders of $150 or more (after discounts) within the contiguous United States, by USPS.
• Free thermal protection is included with every shipment, all year round.
• Processing: most orders leave us within 1 to 2 business days. Tracking is emailed when your order ships.
• USPS (2 to 5 business days) ships Monday through Saturday.
• UPS 2nd Day Air® ships Monday through Wednesday. Order by Tuesday at 6:00 AM Pacific Time for same-week delivery.
• UPS Next Day Air® ships Monday through Thursday. Order by Wednesday at 6:00 AM Pacific Time for same-week delivery.
• Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and military addresses ship by USPS at a flat rate shown at checkout.
• Weather holds: during extreme heat or cold we may hold live orders until it's safe to ship.
• We ship within the United States only.

Please bring live plants indoors and unpack them the day they arrive. Every live order is covered by our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee.

The complete rules, including lost packages and address issues, are in our Shipping Policy. If anything conflicts, that policy applies.

Every live order is backed by our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee. If a plant arrives dead, we'll make it right.

How it works

• Tell us within 24 hours of the delivery time on your tracking.
• Send photos of the affected items in their original, unopened packaging, plus a photo of the shipping label, to hello@aquariumplantsfactory.com with your order number.
• We'll make it right with a replacement, store credit or refund for the affected item.

Good to know

• Some melting or yellowing as plants adjust from greenhouse to aquarium life is normal. They regrow from healthy roots and rhizomes.
• Please bring your package indoors and unpack it the day it arrives.
• Free promotional items and shipping charges are not covered.

The complete rules, including what's covered and what voids the guarantee, are in our Returns, Refunds & Live Arrival Guarantee. If anything conflicts, that policy applies.

Please review your state's regulations on restricted plants, as we are committed to not shipping plants that are restricted in your area. Do not release any plants into the wild or waterways, as this can harm local ecosystems by introducing invasive species.

Your cooperation in protecting the environment is appreciated. For continuously updated information, refer to the USDA State Noxious Weed list here.

Thank you for your responsible commitment to environmental preservation.