- Sku: 8807600
- Vendor: Squeaky's Aquatics
Bucephalandra 'Brownie Purple' - Cup
Your order is reserved — we hold off on packaging until you arrive, so it stays healthy in its display tank.
Bucephalandra 'Brownie Purple' (Bucephalandra sp.) is one of the most visually striking Buce varieties — chocolate-brown leaves with a deep purple flash that shifts with the light. The compact, slow-growing rhizome attaches to driftwood or rocks and creeps along like a tiny epiphytic shrub. Tissue-cultured in a cup — clean, snail-free, and pesticide-free for safe use in shrimp tanks. Pair with the rest of our freshwater plants.
Care Guide
| Care Level | Easy |
| Lighting | Low to moderate (more light = deeper purple) |
| CO₂ | Not required (helpful for color) |
| Temperature | 68–80°F (prefers cooler end) |
| pH | 5.0–7.5 |
| Placement | Attach to driftwood or rock — do not bury rhizome |
| Growth Rate | Slow |
| Origin | Borneo, Indonesia |
Why Brownie Purple
- Deep purple flash — one of the most colorful Buce varieties; brown-purple leaves stand out against green moss and wood.
- Compact, slow grower — stays in scale for nano and 10–20 gal planted tanks.
- Tissue culture cup — clean, snail-free, and pesticide-free; shrimp-safe out of the cup.
- Hardy and forgiving — tolerates a wide range of conditions, low-tech friendly.
- Flowers underwater — mature plants can produce delicate white spathes fully submerged.
How to Plant
- Rinse the tissue culture gel off in dechlorinated water and separate the plant into smaller rhizome pieces.
- Attach the rhizome to driftwood or rock with a small dab of super glue gel or thread.
- Never bury the rhizome — the rhizome must stay exposed or it will rot.
- Propagate by trimming sections of rhizome with 2–3 healthy leaves; reattach to grow new clumps.
Recommended Pairings
- Bucephalandra Kapuas Brownie Ghost — sister Buce variety with a contrasting tone.
- Christmas Moss Portion — pair on the same driftwood for layered greens-and-purples.
- Hygrophila Pinnatifida — another rhizome plant for driftwood mounting.
- More freshwater plants — round out your scape.
FAQ
Why isn’t mine purple?
Brownie Purple deepens its color under stronger light. Under shade or low light it leans brown-green; raise PAR or move it closer to the light to push the purple flash.
What if my Buce melts after I plant it?
Melt is normal for newly introduced Buces. Old leaves drop while the rhizome stays alive — new leaves come back stronger in your tank’s conditions over a few weeks.
Can I use it without CO₂?
Yes. Buces are some of the most low-tech-friendly rhizome plants you can buy.
How does it compare to Kedagang?
Kedagang has narrow wavy leaves with red-bronze flash. Brownie Purple is wider, rounder, and decisively purple-brown. Both are hardy and pair well together.
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Bucephalandra 'Brownie Purple' - Cup
