| Life form | Herbaceous |
| Family | Amaranth – Amaranthaceae |
| Origin and distribution | In tropical regions of different continents. Synonyms: ocherednopylnik. In the photo above -alternantera gear (Alternanthera dentata) native to South America. |
| Ease of cultivation | Easy to grow |
| The size | Up to 25 cm. Alternantera grows more in breadth than in height, forming a spreading shrub. |
| Growth rate | High |
| Lifespan | Can be grown both as an annual and as a perennial plant. |
| Temperature | In summer: a high temperature of 68-82,4 ° F is desirable; in winter – minimum 50-59 ° F. |
| Humidity | The plant prefers high humidity, however, easily tolerates dry air. |
| Lighting | A bright or bright diffused light is desirable. The more intense the lighting, the more saturated will be the color of the leaves. With a lack of light, the leaves will be pale green. |
| The soil | The plant is relatively undemanding to the soil. For example, it can be grown in a mixture of 1 part of sod land, 1 part of leaf land, 1 part of coarse sand or perlite, and 1 part of peat. A good drain and a pot with an opening are desirable. |
| Watering | Watering should be moderate. alternantera not tolerate waterlogged, but excessive dryness it is harmful. Moisten as the earth coma dries out. |
| How to fertilize | Use complex fertilizer or top dressing with a reduced content of nitrogen. Fertilize during the vegetative season from March to August. Apply fertilizer approximately 2 times a month. |
| Reproduction | They propagate vegetatively with the help of cuttings. On the cuttings remove the lower leaves and root in the soil substrate, covering the stalk with polyethylene. The package is removed when the stem is put into growth. Usually a few pots are planted in one pot. You can also multiply by dividing the overgrown bush into several parts. |
| Bloom | Flowers do not have a decorative meaning, they are not ordinary. Blossoming occurs rarely. |
| Transplant and care | Transplanation is needed when the plant will take the whole pot or when it starts reproduction. It is better to transplant in early spring. Alternantera tolerates pruning, as a result of which it is well branched. It is better to spend it in the spring, leaving shoots 8-10 cm tall. Also it is desirable to conduct regular prishvipku. Shrubs can be given a variety of shapes. In summer it is useful to take the plant out into the open air |
| Difficulties | Main pests – whitefly, aphids and spider mites. Also, the plant is affected by gray mold in the form of a gray plaque on the shoots. |
| Toxicity | Some species, such as Alternanthera helleri are poisonous. |
