Little Ruby alternanthera is excellent to grow in containers or as a ground cover in landscape beds.
Growing information:
- Warm-season bedding plant.
- Full to part sun.
- Grows 12″ tall by 14-16″ wide.
- Space 12″ apart.
- Plant after danger of frost through midsummer.
In this post
How do you grow a little Ruby?
Position: Full sun to part shade. Little Ruby™ Alternanthera loves humidity, is heat tolerant and can handle light frost better than other forms. Care: Water as required for 8-13 weeks until established. Plant in a well mulched garden (chunky mulch is recommended).
Can you grow little Ruby in pots?
This popular plant can be used as a ground cover, in borders, containers and green walls. Requires well drained, moist soils. Water well for the first 8-13 weeks until established.
Can you grow little Ruby from cuttings?
It can be propagated by cuttings; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation. Little Ruby™ Alternanthera is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor containers and hanging baskets.
How do you grow a ruby plant?
Place your Ruby in a location where it can receive bright, indirect light. Too much direct sun will scorch the leaves, but this plant will not fare well in low light spaces. Placement a few feet removed from southern or western exposure is ideal, or directly in an eastern facing window works too!
Is Little Ruby perennial?
Alternanthera dentata ‘Little Ruby’ is a very compact, groundcovering perennial with attractive, dark burgundy foliage. It is a hardy, easy care plant, and forms a neat, mounding, dense plant. It bears clusters of small cream flowers, but the plant is grown for the foliage.
Do you prune little Ruby?
You can trim it during the growing season to keep its dense shape. Choose a well mulched garden for this plant and water it as required for 8-13 weeks, until it is established. If required use slow release fertiliser in spring. Lightly trim this bush in winter to remove the flowers and encourage dense, compact growth.
How high does little Ruby grow?
40cm
Alternanthera dentata ‘Little Ruby’ is a compact form growing to only to 40cm in height and spreading to almost a metre. It has a sprawling habit, in warmer climates grow as a perennial in colder climates grow as annual planting after the last frost. It produces dense clusters of small white flowers in summer.
What can I plant next to little Ruby?
Landscape plants to die for
- Little Ruby™ Alternanthera dentata ‘LRU30’ PBR (front)
- Obsession™ Nandina domestica ‘SEIKA’ PBR.
- Blush™ Nandina domestica ‘AKA’ PBR.
- Sweet Mist® Phormium tenax ‘PHOS2’ PBR.
- Blaze™ Dianella tasmanica ‘NPW2’ PBR.
- Wyeena® Dianella tasmanica ‘TAS300’ PBR.
- Silverlawn™ Liriope muscari ‘LIRSS’ PBR.
How do you revive a small ruby?
Your Little Ruby Is Dying, What Can You Do? The Little Ruby wilts easily if not watered or gets dry, but it recovers quickly after watering it as long as there are no other issues such as pest and rotting. Water it enough to keep the soil moist, not to make it soggy or too wet.
How do you grow off cuts?
Insert the cuttings into the compost to just below the lowest set of remaining leaves and cover with a clear plastic bag, so they stay moist. Keep the compost damp, but remove excess moisture, if necessary; too much, and you will get mould. You will know the plant is rooting well when you see new leaves appearing.
Does Alternanthera come back every year?
If you experience sub-freezing winter temperatures where you live, you can grow Joseph’s coat or calico plant as an annual, occasionally pinching back stems any time during the plant’s life. The plants can also over-winter indoors or thrive as houseplants year-round, notes Fine Gardening.
How do you grow plants from stem cuttings?
How to do it
- nonfowering stems from the mother plant. Prep For Planting.
- dipping cut end in dish with powdered rooting hormone. Dip Into Rooting Hormone.
- chopstick poking hold in potting soil.
- placing cutting into the planting hole.
- placing tie on plastic bag over nursery container.
- pulling plant out to check root development.
How do you take care of a ruby?
Ruby jewelry is best cleaned with warm, sudsy water and a tightly woven microfiber or other soft cloth. Do not use ultrasonic or steam cleaners on fractured or filled gemstones. Take all your fine jewelry to a professional jeweler at least twice a year for a thorough cleaning and inspection.
How do you take care of a ruby red plant?
Fittonia nerve plant likes well-drained moist soil, but not too wet. Water moderately and let growing nerve plants dry out between waterings. Use room temperature water on the plant to avoid shock. Growing about 3 to 6 inches (7.5-15 cm.)
How do you take care of a red ruby plant?
Ficus Elastica Ruby Watering
In summer you want to keep the soil moist but let it dry out slightly between waterings. To monitor this, you can use your finger to poke into the top 5 cm of potting mix and feel the soil moisture level before watering. If it feels particularly wet, let it dry out for longer.
What is the difference between little Ruby and little maroon?
A couple of years ago a new form of alternanthera appeared called Little Ruby. It was an absolute hit with deep-burgundy leaves and compact growth and now there’s another version called Alternanthera dentata Little Maroon, which is even more compact.
How do you propagate Alternanthera little Ruby?
Vegetative Propagation
Late summer or spring are the best time to take cuttings, or clones, of alternanthera plants. A sharp blade ensures a clean cut of the short stem cuttings. They are placed in moist soil until well-rooted. Sections 1 to 2 inches in length will root readily.
Why is my Alternanthera losing leaves?
These issues are usually caused by too much light/heat or just forgetfulness – remember, the brighter the location, the more watering you’ll need to do. Over-watering symptoms include the central foliage beginning to yellow rot, little to no new growth, yellowing lower leaves and eventual plant death.
Is Little Ruby native plant?
Native to the West Indies and Brazil, the plant is chiefly grown for its coloured foliage. It is one of the dozen synonyms of Alternanthera brasiliana, and is alike in appearance with Alternanthera bettzickiana, which all have strikingly similar looking cultivars.
Is Little Ruby drought tolerant?
Little Ruby Alternanthera (Alternanthera dentata)
Highlights: Excellent ground cover with gorgeous foliage of ruby, burgundy and green colors. Tolerates heat, humidity and drought as well as many soils. Grown as a summer bedding plant.