Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Evaluate the amount of direct sunlight the plant receives.
- Check if nearby plants are shading your Amaranth.
- Measure the distance between leaf nodes.
Likely causes
Insufficient light
Most likelyHow to tell: The stems are long and thin with large gaps between the leaves.
What to do: Move the plant to a location with full, direct sun. It needs at least 6 to 8 hours of direct light daily.
Overcrowding
PossibleHow to tell: Plants are growing tall and thin because they are competing for light.
What to do: Thin out your seedlings or space your pots further apart. Ensure each plant has enough room for airflow and light exposure.
Find out what's wrong with your red amaranth
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
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When to worry
Legginess is not fatal, but it makes the plant prone to falling over. It is best to address it early in the growing season.
Stopping it coming back
Start your plants in the sunniest spot available and avoid planting them too close together.
Red Amaranth: leggy growth? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your red amaranth and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free
Questions people ask
- Can I fix a leggy plant by cutting it back?
- You can pinch back the top growth to encourage bushier side shoots. However, it will still need more light to stay compact.
- Does fertilizer help with legginess?
- No, extra fertilizer will often make the plant grow faster and even leggier if the light levels are low.
More problems with Red Amaranth
- Why is my Red Amaranth drooping?
- Why are there bugs on my Red Amaranth?
- Why are my Red Amaranth's leaves turning yellow?
- Why are my Red Amaranth leaf tips turning brown?
- Why is my Red Amaranth losing its leaves?
- Why does my Red Amaranth have spots on its leaves?
- Why is my Red Amaranth showing signs of root rot?
- Why are my Red Amaranth leaves curling?
Back to the Red Amaranth guide
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.