Bucephalandra Melt: Stages of Growth

Are you getting Bucephalandra melt?

Don't throw those rhizomes away! This is normal when buce is adjusting to its new surroundings. If you ever end up with a piece with bare rhizome, leave it in your tank emersed or submerged and after several weeks, new leaf growth can occur.

Many species of Bucephalandra grow on long, thin rhizomes that can sometimes be mistaken as stems. Brownie Blue, Mini Coin, Black Pearl, Kedagang, and Hades are all examples of Buce with small to medium sized leaves. All buce leaves will grow vertically off of long rhizomes.



We will show you the stages of buce growth with some Bucephalandra Brownie Phoenix (farmed).

Bucephalandra Melt

Stages of Buce Growth:

Bucephalandra Melt

1. New shoots are just starting to develop along the rhizome. They look like tiny red spikes or roots.

Bucephalandra Melt

2. The new shoots will get a bit longer and split into reddish purple leaves.

Bucephalandra Melt

3. As the new leaves grow taller and larger, they develop to more of a dark green.

Bucephalandra Melt

4. Here is a fully grown patch of Brownie Pheonix:

Bucephalandra Melt

Bucephalandra Melt

Note: Dead rhizomes are black and brittle like the part shown on the left side. Even though this side is pretty much dead, new growth can still appear like the healthy portion on the right.

Bucephalandra Melt

Bucephalandra Melt

Remove all dead rhizomes, save the rest! (dead on left, healthy on right)

Trim with UNS Scissors for a clean cut.

Bucephalandra Melt





If you see buce melt please don't get discouraged. Buce will go through stages to become their most beautiful buce selves (just like us). Like we always say when it comes to aquascaping, time and patience is key!

