Lagenandra 'Bleeding Heart' - Cup

Lagenandra meeboldii 'Bleeding Heart' is a striking, easy-care rosette plant whose new leaves emerge in rich shades of pink, red, and copper before maturing to a deep olive green with a subtle hammered texture. A slow, undemanding grower in the same family as the crypts, it brings lasting color to the midground without needing high light or CO2. It arrives as a clean tissue-culture cup, grown in vitro and free of snails, algae, and pesticides. Browse the rest of our freshwater aquarium plants.

Why Tissue Culture

Tissue-culture plants are propagated in a sterile lab and sold in a sealed cup of nutrient gel. That means no hitchhiking pest snails, no nuisance algae, and no pesticide residue, so it is completely safe for shrimp, fry, and sensitive invertebrates. Rinse the gel off under dechlorinated water before planting, and you start with clean, healthy growth.

Care Guide

• Light: Low to medium. It thrives in low light, while brighter light deepens the red and copper tones in new leaves.
• CO2: Not required. Injected CO2 speeds its slow growth and intensifies color, but is optional.
• Substrate: Root it into any nutrient-rich planted substrate. Root tabs feed its heavy root system.
• Planting: Plant the roots but keep the crown and rhizome above the substrate so it does not rot. Like crypts, it may melt back at first, then push out fresh leaves adapted to your tank.

Specifications

In the Aquascape

Bleeding Heart Lagenandra makes a bold midground accent. Its warm red and copper new growth stands out against green plants and dark hardscape, giving a low-tech tank a pop of color that usually requires high light and CO2. Place a single plant as a focal point or group a few for a larger splash. Its slow, tidy growth means little maintenance once established.

Pairs Well With

• Bucephalandra 'Brownie Purple' for another easy, slow rhizome plant that loves the same low-tech setup.
• Bucephalandra Kedagang to layer more texture across your hardscape.
• Spiky Moss to carpet the foreground and soften the base.
• Neocaridina shrimp that thrive in the same calm, planted conditions.

FAQ

Why did my Lagenandra lose leaves after planting?
Like crypts, Lagenandra can melt when it adjusts to a new tank. Leave the rhizome in place and it will grow fresh leaves suited to your water within a few weeks.

Do I need CO2 or high light for the red color?
No. New leaves emerge red and copper even in low light. More light and CO2 simply make the color richer and growth a bit faster.

How deep do I plant it?
Bury only the roots and keep the crown and rhizome above the substrate so they do not rot.

Is it safe for shrimp and fry?
Yes. Tissue-culture plants are grown without pesticides and arrive free of pests, so they are completely safe for shrimp, fry, and other sensitive invertebrates.