Plant Profile
Common Name: Bucephalandra Red Mini
Buce ‘Red Mini’ is a rare, farm-grown aquarium plant with tiny leaves that develop a stunning reddish-purple tint when grown submerged over a long period. This variant is highly prized for its exceptionally small foliage, providing a premier choice for adding fine detail and a splash of deep jewel-toned color to high-end layouts. It's a great pick for the foreground of freshwater aquascapes, where it will gradually sprout from its rhizomes to create a dense, colorful colony.  Grow it emersed or submerged and attach it to hardscape for best results.
By choosing the Tissue Culture version of this plant, you are guaranteed a 100% pest-free, algae-free, and pesticide-free start for your aquarium. These plants are grown in-vitro in a sterile laboratory setting, ensuring no unwanted snails or hitchhikers enter your system. While these plantlets start smaller than potted versions and require more time to mature, they offer the cleanest and most reliable method for establishing a healthy Bucephalandra colony in planted tanks.
Key Features & Notes
- With consistent care and time, the tiny leaves mature into a rich palette of red and purple that contrasts sharply against neutral hardscape.
- This is one of the most durable species in the hobby and thrives in shaded areas. It is an ideal choice for aquascapes where other plants might struggle.
- It is perfectly at home fully submerged in an aquarium or emersed in high-humidity terrariums, vivariums, and paludariums.
Care Tips & Preparation
- Carefully remove the plantlets from the cup and rinse away the sterile nutrient gel under lukewarm, dechlorinated water before mounting. For instructions on how to properly plant tissue culture aquarium plants, click here.
- Bucephalandra is an epiphytic plant that should be attached to rocks or driftwood. Never bury the rhizome in substrate, as this will cause the plant to rot and melt.
- Avoid making drastic changes to your water parameters or lighting. Unstable conditions are the primary cause of leaf melt in new aquarium plants.
- While hardy, CO2 injection and quality water flow will yield much faster and more robust plant growth during the transition phase.
- Final size and coloration depend entirely on your specific aquarium conditions.
Additional Information
Listed information should be treated as general guidelines only. Team Buce Plant encourages you to do thorough research to ensure healthy growth!
Family Name: Araceae
Origin: Borneo (Endemic)
Skill Level: Easy
Growth Rate: Slow
Leaf Size: Long and curly, around 1"
Light: Low to Medium
CO2: Recommended for TC transition
pH Range: 6.0 – 7.5
Propagation: Divide the rhizome with sharp scissors
