Description
Plant Profile
Meet Alternanthera Reineckii Bronze, aka AR Bronze, a hobby favorite whose olive-green to bronze leaf tops and magenta-copper undersides bring a warm, earthy color shift most red stems can only dream of pulling off. And unlike its notoriously high-maintenance red-stem cousins, AR Bronze holds onto its rich tones without demanding a whole routine. Growing 4 to 12 inches tall, it fills in as a dense midground accent or a colorful background hedge that plays beautifully off bright green neighbors.
Tissue Culture cups ensure your aquascape gets a super clean starting point. Lab‑grown and fully sterile, it arrives without pests, snails, duckweed, or any unwanted algae. It’s the go‑to option for anyone who wants peace of mind when adding fresh greenery to a carefully maintained setup.
Key Features & Benefits
Bronze, olive, and copper leaf tops with magenta undersides add warm contrast.
Beginner-friendly red stem variant that holds color easily.
Dense foliage shelters dwarf shrimp and shy fish.
Care & Planting Instructions
Thoroughly wash away the nutrient gel from the roots with your fingers before parting it out into manageable portions.
Use fine-tip pinsettes to plant small stem clusters 1 inch apart into aquarium soil.
Provide medium-to-high lighting; regular dosing of liquid fertilizers like UNS Plant Food to maintain healthy nitrate and phosphate levels alongside pressurized CO2 injection will prevent dull orange fading and speed up growth. See our guide to growing red aquarium plants.
Maintain stable water parameters and avoid sudden parameter swings to prevent stem melting or rotting.
Trim main stem tops with sharp straight scissors once they reach the desired height, and replant trimmings directly into substrate to propagate and expand coverage. Read our trimming & propagation guide for details.
Quick Facts
Listed information should be treated as general guidelines only. Team Buce Plant encourages you to do thorough research to ensure healthy growth!
Attribute
Specification
Scientific Name
Alternanthera reineckii ‘Bronze’
Common Name(s)
Alternanthera Reineckii Bronze, AR Bronze
Family
Amaranthaceae
Plant Type / Taxonomy
Tissue Culture Stem Plant
Care Difficulty
Easy to Moderate
Light Requirement
Medium to High
CO2 Requirement
Required (Essential for vibrant coloration and fast growth)
Placement / Usage
Midground / Background Bushing
Height / Size
4–12”+
Growth Rate
Moderate to Fast
Water Parameters
pH 6.5–7.5
Propagation Method
Cuttings (Cut stem and replant tops)
Origin
Central & South America
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why are the lower leaves falling off my stem plants?
Lower leaf loss (leggy stems) usually occurs when lighting cannot reach the bottom of the plant due to overcrowding or shading from larger plants. Spacing individual stems slightly apart during initial planting and maintaining strong light penetration will keep lower leaves healthy.
2. Why are the leaves on my AR Bronze dulling to an orange color?
While AR Bronze is easier to keep colorful than other red stems, leaves fading or dulling to a muted orange usually indicate insufficient lighting, low nitrates, or a lack of macro nutrients. Regular dosing with liquid fertilizers like UNS Plant Food restores deep bronze and magenta tones.
3. How do I prepare Alternanthera Reineckii Bronze Tissue Culture before planting?
Carefully remove the gel from the roots by washing the plant in a bowl of room-temperature water or gently rinsing it under a tap. Once the gel is removed, separate the dense cluster into smaller clumps or individual stems and plant them into substrate using fine pinsettes.
