Alternanthera reineckii ‘Rosanervig’

“Meta” is a still new, splendidly coloured form of Ludwigia inclinata var. verticillata with only moderate requirements. It was brought from the Departamento del Meta in central Colombia a few years ago. At the moment it is still a rarity. In its underwater form, this plant is very similar to Ludwigia inclinata var. verticillata “Pantanal”, with whorled, narrow leaves that turn bright red to orange in bright light. “Meta”, however, is easier to grow, comparable to L. inclinata var. verticillata ‘Cuba’.

Pearlweed is a bright green, low-growing stem plant perfect for beginners. It is a versatile species which can be used for both foreground, midground and background. Constant pruning will keep it low growing and spread runners horizontally. This plant grows best with moderate light and CO2 levels around 6-14ppm. However, pearlweed can usually get all the nutrients it needs from a nutrient-enriched substrate and healthy fish colony. For super dense growth, use high light and CO2. Bright light will yield bushy growth, while moderate light yields looser, upward growth. Once your pearlweed is established it will need to be pruned, as it can grow unruly when left unchecked. This plant will tolerate substantial pruning, so you can let it grow large and dense and then trim it into a desired shape if you wish.