Plant Profile Common Name: Bucephalandra Catherinae Red 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. It is perfectly at home fully submerged in an aquarium or emersed in a high-humidity terrarium, vivarium, or paludarium. Care Tips & Preparation 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. Carefully remove the plant from its pot and clear away all rockwool from the roots. For a deep dive on prepping potted plants, click here. Avoid making drastic changes to your water parameters or lighting. Unstable conditions are the primary cause of leaf melt in new specimens. While this plant is hardy and low-maintenance, CO2 injection will yield much faster growth. We recommend researching your specific water chemistry to ensure your plant thrives. Final size and coloration depend entirely on your specific aquarium conditions. Please note that photos are a representation, and individual plants may vary. Please research appropriately to ensure your plant thrives. 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: AraceaeOrigin: Borneo (Endemic)Skill Level: EasyGrowth Rate: SlowLight: Low to MediumCO2: Not necessary but recommendedpH Range: 6.0 – 8.0Propagation: Divide the rhizome with sharp scissors
