Description
Plant Profile
Buce ‘Catherinae Red’ is a rare, beginner-friendly aquarium plant featuring compact, narrow, wavy leaves on short stalks. This variety is highly prized for its color transformation, showcasing a rich palette of emerald green, deep red, and purple hues once fully adapted to underwater growth. It’s a great pick for the foreground or midground of freshwater aquascapes, where it will slowly sprout from thin rhizomes to create dense, short clusters within a planted tank. Like all Buce, it thrives submerged or emersed and prefers to be mounted on driftwood or rock rather than buried in traditional aquarium substrate.
Key Features & Notes
The slender, rippled leaves provide a unique texture that is perfect for high-detail aquascaping and “miniature” forest looks.
Under stable conditions and quality LED lighting, the new growth can exhibit vibrant reddish-purple stems and leaves.
This is one of the most durable species in the hobby and thrives in shaded areas. It is an ideal choice for planted tanks where other plants might struggle.
Care & Planting Instructions
Prep the plant by removing it from the pot and clearing all rockwool from the roots.
Bucephalandra is an epiphytic plant that should be attached to rocks or driftwood using aquarium-safe glue or thread; never bury the horizontal rhizome in substrate, as this will cause the plant to rot and melt.
Avoid making drastic changes to your water parameters or lighting because unstable conditions are the primary cause of leaf melt in new specimens.
While this plant is hardy and low-maintenance in standard low-light aquarium plant setups, CO2 injection and regular liquid fertilizing will yield much faster growth and richer iridescence.
Final size and coloration depend entirely on your specific aquarium conditions; please note that photos are a representation, and individual plants may vary.
Quick Facts
Listed information should be treated as general guidelines only. Team Buce Plant encourages you to do thorough research to ensure healthy growth!
Attribute
Specification
Scientific Name
Bucephalandra catherinae ‘Red’
Common Name(s)
Buce Catherinae Red, Catherinae Red
Family
Araceae
Plant Type
Epiphyte (Rhizome)
Care Difficulty
Beginner / Easy (Low-Tech Compatible)
Light Requirement
Low to Medium
CO2 Requirement
Not Required (Accelerates growth & color density)
Placement / Usage
Foreground Detail, Midground Accent, Narrow Texture Accent
Height / Size
1″–2.5″ (2.5–6.0 cm)
Growth Rate
Slow
Water Parameters
pH 6.0–8.0 | Temperature 68°F–80°F (20°C–26°C)
Propagation Method
Rhizome Division (Separate with sharp shears)
Origin
Borneo (Endemic / Farm Cultivated)
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why is my Bucephalandra melting?
Bucephalandra melt can occur after changes in water chemistry, temperature, or lighting. If the rhizome remains firm, keep it attached to hardscape while the plant acclimates and produces new submerged growth.
2. Can I plant Bucephalandra in substrate?
Bucephalandra is an epiphyte, so never bury its rhizome in substrate. Attach it to driftwood or rocks, or wedge the roots into hardscape while keeping the rhizome exposed.
3. Is Bucephalandra ‘Catherinae Red’ beginner-friendly?
Yes. Bucephalandra ‘Catherinae Red’ is a beginner-friendly, low-light aquarium plant that grows without specialized substrate or pressurized CO₂, making it well-suited for low-tech planted aquariums.
