Bucephalandra Red stays small, with leaves roughly 2 to 4 cm wide, and it fits midground stone and driftwood crevices. It is easy, and like Anubias it grows attached to hardscape.
Did you know
The red in this Buce is not stable. The same plant drifts back toward dark green under low light, then flushes red again under brighter light.
Caring for Bucephalandra Red
Tie or glue the rhizome to wood or rock, and keep it uncovered. A buried rhizome rots.
Bucephalandra Red does best at lower light in a low-tech tank, with no injected CO2. A touch more light plus CO2 pulls out the red tones and white speckling the form is prized for. Dose a liquid fertilizer rather than root tabs, since it takes nutrients from the water as well as through its roots. It handles water from 72 to 81°F (22 to 27°C).
New leaves come slowly, and the plant rarely needs a trim. Divide the rhizome, or cut off a side shoot once it has a few leaves and tie it down on its own. Watch for algae on the older leaves.
Good to know
Bucephalandra Red is an undescribed trade form in the Araceae. It carries the 'sp.' label because it has never been formally classified. Submerged leaves show dark green to red color, with fine white dots and metallic blue hues on the surface.
In the wild
Bucephalandra Red is a Borneo endemic from the fast-flowing rivers and streams of Kalimantan. It grows on rock faces, both submersed and emersed as water levels change. It is a widely sold trade form, listed by Tropica as 139A, selected for its reddish leaf tone rather than taken from one documented population.
Common questions
Does Bucephalandra Red need to be planted in the substrate?
No. Bucephalandra Red 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 Red need CO2?
No, but it helps. Bucephalandra Red can grow without injected CO2, and added CO2 makes it grow faster.
How much light does Bucephalandra Red need?
Bucephalandra Red is a low-light plant, and the light that comes with a standard tank kit is enough for it.
Does Bucephalandra Red need root tabs?
No. Bucephalandra Red 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 Red?
Bucephalandra Red propagates by rhizome division and side shoots. Cut the rhizome into pieces with several leaves each, then tie or plant each piece. Cut a side shoot off once it has a few leaves and tie it down on its own.
How tall does Bucephalandra Red grow?
Bucephalandra Red grows to about 3.9 in (10 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)