Japanese name: アマランサス（観賞用） Scientific name:Amaranthus
[Overview]
An annual.
The leaves are alternate and simple, ovate to linear.
The leaf margins are often entire.
There are garden varieties with leaves of various colors.
The flowers are small and borne in inflorescences at the stem tips or in the leaf axils.
[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed.
The optimal germination temperature is 16°C at night and 26°C during the day.
It dislikes transplanting, so sow directly where you want it to grow and thin the seedlings, or sow in plastic pots and transplant once 3–5 true leaves have appeared.
It prefers fertile soil that is sunny and well drained.
If the conditions suit it, it is easy to grow without any special care.
Rainfall is sufficient.
Fertilizer is not particularly necessary.
As the plant grows taller it falls over easily, so provide a stake.
There are no particular pests or diseases, but growing it repeatedly in the same place makes damping-off more likely.
