Alternanthera, Joseph's Coat cuttings

I recently received some Joseph's Coat 'Partytime' cuttings and now that I have rooted them, they are not as vibrant as they were initially. I read that the vibrant pink coloration is enhanced with higher light levels and want to place them under my grow lights but not sure how to go about reintroducing them to bright light. Any help would be appreciated :)

I wish I had a "before" pic but this is what they look like now. All have put out new leaves, have checked a few and they have roots, now I want to make them pink again! Should I wait for more new growth? Or are they ready for light again now? They have been in indirect low light in my living room, away from windows and air vents.

Oops I forgot the pic!

Hi there!

My impression of the Alternantheras is that the color patterns are not uniform and not predictable. The two darker varieties I am growing, "black knight' and 'red hots' do seem paler in less than full sun. Over the summer I transplanted my 'Party time' momma plant into a container in full sun. She actually paled and instead of that lush deep green the leaves were a yellowy-green. not much by way of new growth either.

They do not mind drier soils.

Here are some photos to illustrate about keeping them indoors and sun angle.

The 'Party time' is my 3 pot collection of the momma plant and rooted cuttings/small plants. Sitting in a west, northwest window receiving most of its light as reflected off the white house next door. Party time does not receive any direct light and the foliage is fine. I kept this plant near this same space last winter. My neighbor asked if I was trying to kill it, I'd forgotten to water, but it came back nicely. So my impression is that 'Party time' wants less light than the darker varieties.

The 'black knight' new growth is green and will deepen in purple hue with the more light it gets. It has done well for me in part sun or part shade. I have seen images of whole hedges of this plant as dark as it can be - and in full sun - it's striking.

The 'red hots' are purply pinky greeny with some yellowy swirls. I started these 3 small plants from cuttings. one kept getting dug up by varmints but the two larger plants each have a small flower forming at the terminal point. these plants don't flower/seed a lot - at least not the black knight or party time, so I'm impressed with this new variety.

Both the red hots and black knight are on shelves near an east facing window. They get passing light - full sun - for about an hour a day. I don't know if it impacts their coloration or is enough light to make a difference. It does, however, cause them to dry out very fast. As they are small rooted cuttings, I am very careful with the amount of direct light they get at this stage.

Them's my thoughts. Hope this helps.

Well hey! How funny I even got the cuttings from you Amanda! Lol!
I actually moved them right after I made my last above post.. They look happier than ever! In full bright light! But now that I read your reply, thanks for that btw, I'll be watching for the first signs of distress..
They've been rooming in w my agaves who've been getting about 8 hours a day of BRIGHT artificial light. Whatcha think? Hope I don't hurt them, but they look real happy after a few days so far..
I googled the black knight alternanthera and it is sooo dramatic! That will be going on my wanted list! Lol! I can already see it surrounded by Dusty miller, maybe some kniphofia and exotic looking coral bells..
I'm interested to see how they do outdoors in 2014, minus one or two I'll keep as houseplants.. They sure are pretty cherry little things!
Which is in the third pic next to the bird and euphorbia looking thing? I love the coloration! Almost coffee colored..
Thanks for all the advice, I'll add it to my ever growing spreadsheet of plant care info. Told you I was OCD. Lol!

I've been growing the black knight from cuttings every year for years. Don't have a parent plant anymore. Mine won't be large enough to send cuttings I don't think, but I can send you your very own rooted cutting when the weather is stable enough.

Actually the middle picture are the 'Red Hot' cuttings and the coffee colored (?!) cuttings next to the bird in the terra cotta colored plastic pot are the 'Black Knight' cuttings! Like I said, they are not black unless they get full sun.