low lightadvancedepiphyteslow grower
Bucephalandra Care: Tie to Wood, Slow Growth Tips
Bucephalandra sp.
Bucephalandra offers unique colors and textures for aquascapes. This slow-growing epiphyte attaches to hardscape.
Advanced Care
- Light
- Medium
- Growth Rate
- Very Slow
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Placement
- Epiphyte
Overview
Bucephalandra is a rare and stunning epiphyte known for its iridescent leaves and incredible variety of colors and textures. It is highly prized among aquascapers for adding detail to rocks and driftwood in nature-style layouts.
Care Guide
Attach the rhizome to hardscape using super glue or fishing line, keeping it completely above the substrate. Provide stable water parameters and moderate flow, as sudden changes can trigger leaf melt. Patience is essential because this plant grows extremely slowly.
Plant Data Profile
Taxonomy
- Family
- Araceae
- Origin
- Borneo
Growth
- Growth Rate
- Very Slow
- Emersed Capable
- Yes
- Rhizome Plant
- Yes
- Floating Plant
- No
Water Parameters
| Temperature | Recommended: 20-28 C (Survivable: 18-30 C) |
| Water pH | Recommended: 5.5-7 (Survivable: 5-7.5) |
Lighting
- Requirement
- Medium
- PAR Min
- 20 μmol/m²/s
- PAR Max
- 80 μmol/m²/s
Nutrition & Fertilization
- CO₂ Requirement
- Low
- Nitrate Demand
- Low
- Phosphate Demand
- Low
- Potassium Demand
- Low
Algae Sensitivity
- Black Beard Algae
- High
- Green Spot Algae
- Moderate
- Diatoms
- Moderate
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my Bucephalandra melting after I added it to the tank?
Bucephalandra is sensitive to sudden parameter changes and may melt when introduced to a new tank. Remove the affected leaves, maintain stable conditions, and the rhizome will usually produce new growth.