Bucephalandra Red Mini
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Plant information
Bucephalandra Red Mini
About this plant
Want Buce color in a nano tank? Red Mini keeps the deep ruby-to-bronze tone and metallic sheen of a full-size Bucephalandra on leaves an inch or two across. It attaches to wood or stone, needs no substrate, and stays small enough not to swamp a small layout.
What you'll receive
Sold as loose Bare-Root or Potted plants:
- 1 Bare-Root: Approximately 6+ leaves
- 5 Bare-Root: Approximately 25+ leaves total
- 10 Bare-Root: Approximately 50+ leaves total
- 1 Potted: Approximately 6+ leaves
- 5 Potted: Approximately 25+ leaves total
- 10 Potted: Approximately 50+ leaves total
- Like most Bucephalandra species, minor leaf melt may occur after introduction as the plant adjusts to new water parameters. This is normal and temporary — new submersed leaves will regrow from the rhizome once the plant stabilizes.
- Never release aquarium plants into natural waterways.
Plant details
- Common name
- Red Mini Buce
- Scientific name
- Bucephalandra sp. 'Red Mini'
- Origin
- Borneo
- Placement
- Foreground to midground, on wood or stone
- Mature height
- 1–3 in
- Growth rate
- Slow
Care guide
- DifficultyBeginner
- LightLow to medium. RGB lighting shows the red best
- CO₂Not required. It deepens color and speeds growth, nothing more
- Water72–82°F · pH 6.0–7.5
- SubstrateNot required. Attaches to hardscape
- Growth habitAmphibious. Also grows emersed in paludariums
- PropagationRhizome division
At a glance
Grower's notes
- Never bury the rhizome. Roots may sit in substrate; the rhizome cannot. Buried, it rots — the usual way an expensive Buce is lost.
- Light color matters more than intensity here. The red and bronze read strongest under RGB or full-spectrum lighting; under warm white the same plant looks muddy brown.
- Color builds over months. It arrives greener than the photos and darkens as it converts to submerged growth.
- Keep light moderate. It grows too slowly to outpace algae, so a bright spot means algae settles faster than the plant replaces leaves.
- Farm-raised, not wild-collected. All the Bucephalandra we carry is farm-grown, and much of it is raised from tissue culture rather than collected from Borneo.
How it arrives
A sealed Vitro Culture® bag
Lab-grown plantlets in nutrient gel, free of snails, algae and pests.
- Keep it sealed at room temperature, out of direct sun, until you're ready to plant.
- Rinse off all the gel under lukewarm water. Left in the tank, it clouds the water and feeds algae.
- Split into small portions and plant with tweezers. Small portions spread faster than one big clump.
Normal: a little melt in the first weeks as underwater leaves replace the leaves grown in the lab.
Rooted plants in a net pot with rockwool
The most stable option, with roots already established.
- Rinse the plant under clean water.
- Plant the pot as is, or ease the plant out and gently tease away the rockwool. Either way works.
- For epiphytes like Anubias and Bucephalandra, keep the rhizome above the substrate or tie it to wood or rock.
Fresh-cut stems in a net pot with rockwool
Freshly cut stems without roots, held upright in a net pot for a quick setup.
- Rinse the stems under clean water.
- Plant the pot as is, or remove the stems and plant them one by one, an inch or two deep.
- New roots usually form within a couple of weeks.
Rooted plants bundled with foam and a plant weight
Easy placement plus the stability of roots.
- Rinse the bunch under clean water.
- Place the bunch as is, or remove the foam and weight and plant each one separately.
- Give each plant room so light reaches the lower leaves.
Fresh-cut stems bundled with foam and a plant weight
Freshly cut stems without roots, ready to drop in.
- Rinse the stems under clean water.
- Remove the foam and weight and plant stems one by one, an inch or two deep, for the fullest look. You can also place the bunch as is.
- New roots usually form within a couple of weeks.
Loose, rooted plants
No pot or foam, so you can place them exactly where you want.
- Rinse the plants under clean water.
- Plant the roots into the substrate, or tie the rhizome to wood or rock with cotton thread (never glue). Don't bury the rhizome.
- Trim any broken leaves; new growth follows once settled.
Loose, fresh-cut stems
Freshly cut stems without roots, for full flexibility.
- Rinse the stems under clean water.
- Plant stems one by one, an inch or two deep, with a little space between them.
- New roots usually form within a couple of weeks.
A bulb, ready to sprout
Bulbs ship either dormant or already sprouted with leaves, depending on the option you choose.
- Rinse the bulb under clean water.
- Rest it on the substrate or press the base in slightly. Don't bury the top.
- A dormant bulb can take a few weeks to send up its first leaves.
A young sprouted tuber
Ready to pot up and grow into a full plant.
- Pot it in a wide container of heavy garden soil, crown just above the soil.
- Start shallow and lower it deeper as the leaves grow.
- Give it full sun once the leaves reach the surface.
Attached to hardscape
Already growing on rock or wood, so it's ready to place.
- Rinse the piece under clean water.
- Place it anywhere in your layout. No planting needed.
- Keep the rhizome out of the substrate.
Packed fresh to travel well
- Open the box as soon as it arrives.
- Rinse the plants under clean water.
- Plant or place them the same day if you can.
Check your plants within 24 hours of delivery. That's your Live Arrival Guarantee window.
Shipping & Live Arrival Guarantee
Live Arrival Guarantee
Every live order is backed by our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee. If a plant arrives dead, we'll make it right.
How it works
- Tell us within 24 hours of the delivery time on your tracking.
- Send photos of the affected items in their original, unopened packaging, plus a photo of the shipping label, to hello@aquariumplantsfactory.com with your order number.
- We'll make it right with a replacement, store credit or refund for the affected item.
Good to know
- Some melting or yellowing as plants adjust from greenhouse to aquarium life is normal. They regrow from healthy roots and rhizomes.
- Please bring your package indoors and unpack it the day it arrives.
- Free promotional items and shipping charges are not covered.
The complete rules, including what's covered and what voids the guarantee, are in our Returns, Refunds & Live Arrival Guarantee. If anything conflicts, that policy applies.
Shipping Information
At a glance
- Free shipping on orders of $150 or more (after discounts) within the contiguous United States, by USPS.
- Free thermal protection is included with every shipment, all year round.
- Processing: most orders leave us within 1 to 2 business days. Tracking is emailed when your order ships.
- USPS (2 to 5 business days) ships Monday through Saturday.
- UPS 2nd Day Air® ships Monday through Wednesday. Order by Tuesday at 6:00 AM Pacific Time for same-week delivery.
- UPS Next Day Air® ships Monday through Thursday. Order by Wednesday at 6:00 AM Pacific Time for same-week delivery.
- Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and military addresses ship by USPS at a flat rate shown at checkout.
- Weather holds: during extreme heat or cold we may hold live orders until it's safe to ship.
- We ship within the United States only.
Please bring live plants indoors and unpack them the day they arrive. Every live order is covered by our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee.
The complete rules, including lost packages and address issues, are in our Shipping Policy. If anything conflicts, that policy applies.
FAQs
What is your return policy?
All sales are final, so we don’t accept returns or exchanges once your order ships.
The one exception: if your plants arrive dead or damaged, our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee covers a replacement, store credit or refund. Just email clear photos of the plants in their original, unopened packaging, plus a photo of the shipping label, within 24 hours of delivery.
Can you cancel my order?
We can only cancel your order if it hasn’t been fulfilled yet, and we can’t guarantee the cancellation will be possible. Please reach out to us as soon as possible and we’ll do our best to help.
What is your shipping policy?
We ship your order as soon as possible. Most orders ship within 1–2 business days, except live animals and backordered items.
Shipping speed depends on the carrier; you can choose the shipping service at checkout.
View more at Shipping Information.
Can I change my shipping address?
We can only update your shipping address if the order hasn’t been fulfilled yet, and we can’t guarantee the change will be possible. Please contact us with the updated address as soon as possible and we’ll do our best to help.
How does “Buy 2 Get 1 Free” work?
Add 3 or more eligible plants from our Buy 2 Get 1 Free Collection to your cart to activate the automatic discount. Mix and match freely. For every 3 eligible plants, your lowest-priced eligible plants are free at checkout.
View the Buy 2 Get 1 Free Terms.
Would it be possible to hold my order?
Unfortunately, we’re unable to hold orders for live plants because of high demand and quick sell-outs. Please place your order when you’re ready for us to ship it promptly.
What is your Live Arrival Guarantee policy?
We offer a 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee. If your order arrives dead, email at least two clear photos of the plants in their original, unopened packaging and a photo of the shipping label within 24 hours of delivery. After 24 hours, conditions are out of our control.
View more at 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee Policy.
Are your plants free from pests, algae, and pesticides?
Our plants are very clean, but we can’t guarantee they will be 100% free of hitchhikers (snails, algae, pests), because we can’t be responsible for your aquarium. We recommend rinsing all plants with clean water and quarantining them before use.
Plants in our Tissue Culture collection are 100% free of pests and algae and have never been in contact with any aquarium.
We don’t guarantee our plants are free of pesticides. We use homemade, organic pesticides in our greenhouse to control pests, and never pesticides containing copper, which is toxic to invertebrates such as snails, crabs, and shrimp.
We don’t guarantee your aquarium’s success and aren’t responsible for its inhabitants, including but not limited to fish, shrimp, snails, and turtles. Please quarantine all plants before use!
Are your plants grown emersed or submerged?
It depends on the species. Most of our plants are grown hydroponically in a controlled-environment greenhouse.
Common stem plants such as Ludwigia, Bacopa, and Myriophyllum, and rheophyte/epiphyte plants (Anubias, Bucephalandra, Microsorum, Bolbitis, etc.) are grown emersed, hydroponically, in a controlled high-humidity environment.
True aquatic plants that can’t grow emersed — such as Vallisneria, Elodea, Najas, Cabomba, Potamogeton gayi, and Ceratophyllum demersum — are always cultivated submerged, underwater.
Should I remove the foam, weight, or pot before planting?
It’s totally up to you — we usually keep them as they are!
What’s the difference between fresh-cut, bare-root, and potted plants?
All options offer the same high quality; they differ in how they are prepared and packaged:
- Fresh-cut Plants: loose, freshly cut plants without roots. Great flexibility if you prefer to plant them your own way.
- Fresh-cut Bunched: freshly cut plants without roots, bundled with foam and a plant weight, ready to place in your aquarium.
- Fresh-cut Potted: freshly cut plants without roots, potted in a net pot with rockwool for stability and a quick setup.
- Bare-root Plants: loose, rooted plants you can position exactly where you want.
- Rooted Bunched: rooted plants bundled with foam and a plant weight — easy placement plus the stability of roots.
- Rooted Potted: rooted plants potted in a net pot with rockwool — maximum stability and a low-maintenance setup.
Choose based on your planting preference and your aquarium setup.
Noxious weed info
Please review your state's regulations on restricted plants, as we are committed to not shipping plants that are restricted in your area. Do not release any plants into the wild or waterways, as this can harm local ecosystems by introducing invasive species.
Your cooperation in protecting the environment is appreciated. For continuously updated information, refer to the USDA State Noxious Weed list here.
Thank you for your responsible commitment to environmental preservation.
Why Aquarium Plants Factory?
How we grow, clean and pack your Red Mini Buce.
Aquarium Plants Factory
Typical online shops
Customers praised this mini aquatic plant for its "gorgeous foliage" and vibrant color. Most arrived healthy despite extreme temps, with one reviewer noting "each plant had AT LEAST 20 leaves." Fast shipping and excellent packaging were highlighted. Some concerns about size expectations and long-term viability with tissue culture origins.
- Each plant had AT LEAST 20 leaves or more. These little guys are really a nice addition.
- Each bare-root plant is actually a clump which can be separated into 3-4 individual plants.
- Outstanding foliage and color. Enjoying it immensely.
I glued them to some lava rock and they look really good. Arrived one day later than eta but was in fine shape.
These seem to be doing fine so far. They're growing new leaves after a couple weeks in my aquarium, which is a good sign. I am a little worried about longevity, since they seem to be a bit weak, so time will tell whether they truly establish or fail to thrive.
Bought 16 of these and glued to a large piece of driftwood.I am pleased at the results.
My order arrived quickly, and all plants were in wonderful condition despite there being a heatwave in AZ with temps higher than 115° F. Every single plant looks incredibly healthy, and I'm very pleased with the order. Will definitely order from APF again!
I’ve ordered from multiple sellers of buce plants and even buceplants.com itself and they sent me such shitty buces, they came in yellow with black spots. Melted within a week.
But the buce plants from Aquariumplantsfactory by far is the best quality I have ever seen! I’ve had these 3 minis in for a couple days now and they already started sprouting some new leaves. I’ve ordered from APF before which I received very healthy plants that are still thriving for over 2 months now. Every single plant is in great shape and currently thriving.
I received 1 clump and it looks like it came from a tissue culture because the roots were covered with a gel like substance. Leaves are "mini" as stated but opened up real well once in the tank. I am really happy with my purchase and once this is back in stock I'll be ordering another round. Can't beat the B2G1 free option
Arrived alive and well. Petite and gorgeous foliage.
Outstanding foliage and color. Enjoying it immensely. Plan on trying other varities of bucephlandra
Perfect condition and fast shipping! I will order from here again for sure.
A lot smaller than I thought. I thought from this company for two years now most of them are great don't know what happened
Very tiny. Fit perfectly on my rock
Beautiful
I’m really happy with what I’ve received from APF! I’m always a little hesitant when buying plants online. I was pleasantly surprised when I opened the package. These beautiful Buce plants were exactly what I was hoping to get and they are doing great!
Thanks APF👍
Plants arrived extremely healthy and are doing well in my aquarium. Each "bare-root plant" is actually a clump from tissue culture which can be separated into 3-4 individual plants. The quality of the tissue culture is also very high, and much better from other sources.
Healthy ,sturdy little plant . Very happy with purchase .
I was thrilled to see the quality and fine packaging on this beauty! The page said 5 leaves or more. Well each plant had AT LEAST 20 leaves or more. These little guys are really aa nice addition.
The plants I received looked great, I ordered the bare root red mini buce it came in a nice tight clumps and looked very healthy, my only concern is if it will survive long term. Even though I ordered the loose root plants what i received was obviously cut from a tissue, rooting gel still attached. I have bad luck with tissue cultures so I hope they do will long term as they did look great when I received them.
Arrived quick and heathy.
I ordered 2 pieces and get one free. All are very nice and healthy. I am very happy with my purchase. Thank you APF
I just love these and all the other plants I ordered are beautiful.
All from the first and second batch I ordered are doing well. Well packed, fast shipping...AWESOME PLANTS!
Arrived healthy and ready to grow
Very healthy, arrived in great condition and have already perked up in my tank. solid value using the buy 2, get 1 free deal
Great shape when they got here and all was very healthy. They are in my tanks and so far are adjusting just fine!
PERFECT for my small starter aquatic plant terrarium. I am using old glass canisters and these are just the right size. They arrived in great shape even after sitting at the post office for a week waiting out the hurricane.
Plants came in were Beautiful. Customer service Great.
Mune arrived with no actual errors, but the plants were healthy, large, and vibrant color. They have done amazing, not a single leaf lost. They are a great deal with the b2g1.
Beautiful color! Very Healthy plants! Good size portion!
