Not a true aquatic. Hemigraphis alternata — Purple Waffle — grows deeply puckered leaves, green above and rich purple beneath, on low spreading stems. It is widely sold for aquariums because it tolerates submersion for months at a time, but it cannot live underwater permanently. Treat it as a terrarium, vivarium or paludarium plant that can take a temporary posting below the waterline. What You’ll Receive Sold as loose Fresh-cut Plants, Bunched plants, or Potted plants Fresh-cut plants | 2-3 stems, loose fresh-cut plants Bunched plants | 2-3 fresh-cut plants with foam, and lead weight Potted plants | 2-3 fresh-cut plants with net pot and rock wool Plant Profile Common name — Purple Waffle Scientific name — Hemigraphis alternata Also known as — Strobilanthes alternata, Red Ivy, Red-Flame Ivy True aquatic — No. Tolerates months submerged, then needs to recover emersed Origin — Java Placement — Terrarium, vivarium, paludarium; temporary aquarium use Shipped size — 2-3 stems Mature height — 3–6 in Growth rate — Medium Care Difficulty — Beginner Light — Medium. Partial sunlight or LED daylight CO₂ — Not required Humidity — High, with consistently moist soil when grown emersed Water — 70–80°F · pH 6.0–7.5 Substrate — Moist soil or nutrient substrate Growth habit — Terrestrial creeper. Tolerates temporary submersion Propagation — Cuttings Grower’s Notes It works underwater on a rotation, not permanently. Submerged it will hold for several months and may even put on growth and roots — which is why people believe it is aquatic. After that it needs lifting and growing emersed for a few months to rebuild reserves before it can go back under. Plant it once and forget it, and it will eventually collapse. The color is on the underside of the leaf. Plant it where the foliage tilts or trails so the purple shows, rather than viewed flat from above. Grown emersed it wants high humidity and wet soil — a closed terrarium or vivarium suits it far better than an open room. The recovery phase matters most right after a change of environment. Keep humidity high and the soil damp while it re-establishes. Cuttings root readily, so one portion becomes several plants across a vivarium floor. Notes Pictures are not the actual plants you will receive, but a sample representation. Unless specific, we don't guarantee plants will be free of pests or pesticides. Never release aquarium plants into natural waterways.
