Cherry Stem aquatic plant a.k.a. Althernanthera ficoidea

A while ago I bought some Cherry Stem/Hedge a.k.a. Althernanthera ficoidea var. cherry stem at my LFS. After I bought it, I read that it can be used as an aquatic plant but must be grown emerged for several months in between growing submerged. There really doesn't seem to be much helpful info the internet about this plant.

Does anyone with experience with this plant know if this is true? If it is true, how do you know when it needs to be taken out? I kind of just want to leave it in my tank without removing it at all. It doesn't seem like disturbing it every few months would be good for growth/root systems. Is there anyone with experience with this plant?

 

G'day fishytank,

I don't have experience with that plant although I did buy dragons flame a similar plant. I have it in a tank now and leaves often fall off I pulled it out to throw it away but I was surprised to see loads of new roots so I'm thinking it's melting away a bit then it's gonna grow back well.

I believe these semi aquatic plants are found leaves and stem out of water, roots in water

 

G'day fishytank,

I don't have experience with that plant although I did buy dragons flame a similar plant. I have it in a tank now and leaves often fall off I pulled it out to throw it away but I was surprised to see loads of new roots so I'm thinking it's melting away a bit then it's gonna grow back well.

I believe these semi aquatic plants are found leaves and stem out of water, roots in water

Hi Peter

Thanks for your info.

I got the plant in April sometime and it was already submerged at the fish store, so it has possibly been submerged for a good amount of time. None of the shoots have dropped leaves. It doesn't seem to be showing any sign of unhappiness due to being grown submerged other than not seeming to grow much.

I don't know what the growth rate of this plant is but it doesn't seem like it's really been growing. However, I do have it planted in pea gravel (which I will be moving to sand soon), and I have considered maybe it's due to an incorrect planting substrate. I do fertilize and other plants in the same tank are growing.

What does any of this tell you?

 

I have no experience with that particular plant fishietank but might give you an insight into what you are working with?

Imagine a lake or river that floods regularly every year. Plants that grow on the margins called marginal plants can survive under water for a few months each year. Like trees they stay alive in a flood but will die if the flood lasts all year round.

You have a plant that is not suitable to live in an aquarium. It can survive in a terrarium or planted with most of the plant out of water.

Quote
“ I kind of want to leave it in the tank without removing it at all “

Answer it will die.

 

I have no experience with that particular plant fishietank but might give you an insight into what you are working with?

Imagine a lake or river that floods regularly every year. Plants that grow on the margins called marginal plants can survive under water for a few months each year. Like trees they stay alive in a flood but will die if the flood lasts all year round.

You have a plant that is not suitable to live in an aquarium. It can survive in a terrarium or planted with most of the plant out of water.

Quote
“ I kind of want to leave it in the tank without removing it at all “

Answer it will die.

Well if it dies, it won't impact my livestock (being shrimp), correct?

 

I have no experience with that particular plant fishietank but might give you an insight into what you are working with?

Imagine a lake or river that floods regularly every year. Plants that grow on the margins called marginal plants can survive under water for a few months each year. Like trees they stay alive in a flood but will die if the flood lasts all year round.

You have a plant that is not suitable to live in an aquarium. It can survive in a terrarium or planted with most of the plant out of water.

Quote
“ I kind of want to leave it in the tank without removing it at all “

Answer it will die.

That's a really great way of putting it!

 

There is no if about it fishietank. The question is when it dies not if.

I do not know how big the shrimp tank is but would think it to be ten gallons or smaller? You are mistaken if you think the water quality will not effect shrimp with a rotting green plant in water. However you should have amble time to see the terrestrial plant is dead and remove it before the water quality is effected much by just looking at the tank each day as you walk past?

Only last month I myself made the mistake of buying “ dragons tongue “ . When I realise I had been tricked into buying a marginal plant I removed it from under water and put it in a container with other terrestrial pothos plants at the surface with just the roots in water.

 

Only last month I myself made the mistake of buying “ dragons tongue “ . When I realise I had been tricked into buying a marginal plant I removed it from under water and put it in a container with other terrestrial pothos plants at the surface with just the roots in water.

Hey flyfisha,

I too bought that same plant, dragons flame/tongue it's currently underwater and dropping leaves but it's roots are doing well, how has yours been with the pothos did it do ok.? I like the plant just don't know how to keep it correctly...

 

PeterFishKeepin
I cut the 25 cm plants in half. The lower section with the roots is in with pothos previous picture. The top new growth half I have temporarily attached to an air line .
While it’s all still alive it’s far to early to say if ether is actually growing in their locations?

 

Thanks, I might have to do the same thing