Borneo (Indonesia), probably the Lamandau area of Central Kalimantan
Overview
Bucephalandra Lamandau Mini Purple is sized for nano tanks and single small stones. Place it near the front glass, where the small leaves and their color stay visible. It is an easy, slow-growing epiphyte.
Did you know
The shorter name Lamandau Purple covers two plants. Buce Plant uses it for tissue culture cups of this mini, while Aquasabi's Lamandau Purple has leaves about 4 cm long.
Caring for Bucephalandra Lamandau Mini Purple
Glue several small clumps close together to cover a rock sooner. Keep every rhizome above the substrate, since a buried rhizome rots.
Nature Aquariums rates its light need at about 15 to 40 PAR, which is low to medium light. It needs no CO2, though added CO2 speeds its slow growth. The pink and purple tones develop under good light and stable water at 72 to 82°F (22 to 28°C). It feeds through its roots and from the water column, so liquid fertilizer suits it better than root tabs.
Its thin rhizomes creep and branch into a low mat over the months. Divide a rhizome into pieces with several leaves each to start new clumps.
Good to know
Lamandau Mini Purple is a Bornean aroid (Araceae) whose Bucephalandra species has not been identified. Its obovate leaves stay about 1 to 2 cm long and turn from dark green to pink and purple with a silvery sheen. Buce Plant sells it beside Deep Purple, and the two listings differ in size and tone. Deep Purple grows 3.5 to 7.5 cm tall, against 2.5 to 6 cm for Lamandau Mini Purple. Deep Purple's teardrop leaves age to dark olive with a purple and blue sheen.
In the wild
The trade name of Lamandau Mini Purple points to Lamandau, a regency of Central Kalimantan in southwestern Borneo. The shops give no closer site, and Wet Spot sells it as an undescribed species (sp. nov.). BucephalandraEU lists it with two other Lamandau forms, Lamandau Green and Lamandau Mini Red. Shop stock comes from nurseries and from tissue culture labs such as UNS and Aquatic Farmer.
Common questions
Does Bucephalandra Lamandau Mini Purple need to be planted in the substrate?
No. Bucephalandra Lamandau Mini 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 Lamandau Mini Purple need CO2?
No, but it helps. Bucephalandra Lamandau Mini Purple can grow without injected CO2, and added CO2 makes it grow faster.
How much light does Bucephalandra Lamandau Mini Purple need?
Bucephalandra Lamandau Mini Purple is a low-light plant, and the light that comes with a standard tank kit is enough for it.
Does Bucephalandra Lamandau Mini Purple need root tabs?
No. Bucephalandra Lamandau Mini 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 Lamandau Mini Purple?
Bucephalandra Lamandau Mini Purple propagates by rhizome division. Cut the rhizome into pieces with several leaves each, then tie or plant each piece.
How tall does Bucephalandra Lamandau Mini Purple grow?
Bucephalandra Lamandau Mini Purple grows to about 2.4 in (6 cm) tall. It grows slowly and rarely needs trimming.
Low lightEpiphyte2.4 in (6 cm)
Low lightEpiphyte2.4 in (6 cm)
Low lightEpiphyte3.9 in (10 cm)