Bucephalandra Deep Purple is a small to medium Buce with compact, oval to teardrop-shaped leaves. Buce Plant lists it at about 3.5 to 7.5 cm and suggests it for nano tanks. It is a favorite for nano tanks.
Did you know
Deep Purple gets its purple-blue from a structural iridescence that develops only after it has grown underwater for a while. Freshly potted or emersed-grown stock often looks plain green until it converts to submersed growth.
Caring for Bucephalandra Deep Purple
Glue the rhizome to hardscape and keep it exposed. A buried rhizome rots.
Bucephalandra Deep Purple is easy in low to medium light. It grows without injected CO2, and CO2 makes it grow faster. It takes nutrients through its roots and from the water, so a liquid fertilizer suits it. Keep it at 72 to 82°F (22 to 28°C) with a pH of 6 to 7.5.
It is less tolerant of sudden parameter swings than Anubias. Stable water and gentle acclimation help it hold its color. Divide the rhizome into pieces with several leaves each to make new plants.
Good to know
Deep Purple is a horticultural selection, not a described species, so it is sold under its trade name. Its genus, Bucephalandra, belongs to the family Araceae. The genus is prized in the hobby for the iridescent coloring many of its forms develop.
In the wild
Deep Purple is a compact Bucephalandra trade form from the clear, fast-flowing streams and shaded riverbanks of Borneo. Like the whole genus, it lives as a rheophyte on rock, adapted to low light under the forest canopy.
Common questions
Does Bucephalandra Deep Purple need to be planted in the substrate?
No. Bucephalandra Deep Purple grows attached to rock or wood, so tie or glue the rhizome in place. If you plant its roots, keep the rhizome above the substrate, since a buried rhizome rots.
Does Bucephalandra Deep Purple need CO2?
No, but it helps. Bucephalandra Deep Purple can grow without injected CO2, and added CO2 makes it grow faster.
How much light does Bucephalandra Deep Purple need?
Bucephalandra Deep Purple is a low-light plant, and the light that comes with a standard tank kit is enough for it.
Does Bucephalandra Deep Purple need root tabs?
No. Bucephalandra Deep Purple feeds from the water, so a liquid fertilizer suits it better. Root tabs only help if its roots reach into the substrate.
How do you propagate Bucephalandra Deep Purple?
Bucephalandra Deep Purple propagates by rhizome division. Cut the rhizome into pieces with several leaves each, then tie or plant each piece.
How tall does Bucephalandra Deep Purple grow?
Bucephalandra Deep Purple grows to about 3.1 in (8 cm) tall. It grows slowly and rarely needs trimming.
Low lightEpiphyte3.9 in (10 cm)
Low lightEpiphyte2.4 in (6 cm)
Low lightEpiphyte2.4 in (6 cm)