Bucephalandra ‘Kedagang’

No, but it is a little less forgiving than Anubias. It needs only low to moderate light and no CO₂, and it attaches to wood or rock. Expect some leaf melt in the first two to six weeks after planting, and slower growth than Anubias once it settles.

Never bury the rhizome. Attach it to wood or rock; the roots grip on their own.

A little buce melt after planting is normal as it adapts to your water. Keep the rhizome healthy and new growth follows.

Yes, it is safe with shrimp and fish in the aquarium, and most fish leave its tough leaves alone. Like Anubias, it is an aroid that contains calcium oxalate, so keep trimmed leaves away from pets that might chew them.

It is hand-packed and sent by courier anywhere in India for a flat ₹99, free on orders of ₹999 or more. As a pre-order plant, it ships about 15 days after you order. If it arrives dead, send one continuous unboxing video within 4 hours of delivery on WhatsApp or email and we refund or replace it. Photos alone are not accepted.

Mainly because it grows very slowly. A nursery needs many months to grow a rhizome big enough to sell, so supply stays limited. Named cultivars like Kedagang are also in demand for their colour. We import Bucephalandra to order, which adds to the cost. That price does not mean it needs special care, though. See prices for every cultivar in our Bucephalandra price guide.

Yes, especially for low-tech, nano and shrimp tanks. It grows on wood or rock, needs only low to moderate light and no CO₂, and usually stays under about 10 cm tall. It is happy at 22–28°C. Most fish leave its tough leaves alone, and it is safe with shrimp. The trade-offs are slow growth and a higher price than Anubias.

No. Bucephalandra is one of the slowest-growing aquarium plants. After planting, expect two to six weeks before any melting stops and new leaves appear. After that, a healthy plant adds roughly one new leaf every two to four weeks, and a rhizome takes several months to branch. Moderate light, CO₂ and a little liquid fertiliser speed it up slightly. Above 30°C, growth slows further.

A Bucephalandra flower usually lasts a few days to about a week. The small flower, often white or pinkish, opens underwater and then fades. Flowering is a good sign that the plant has settled and is healthy. A plant can flower again later, sometimes several times a year. Once the old stalk turns brown, snip it off near the rhizome.

Yes. Kedagang spreads along a creeping rhizome, and once that rhizome is long enough to carry several leaves on each side you can cut it in two. Leave each part with at least three leaves, reattach both to hardscape, and keep the light moderate while they recover. Side shoots that appear on their own can also be snipped off and replanted.