Bucephalandra
Bucephalandra sp.
Also known asBuce · Buce plant
Water parameters
Light and nutrients
Substrate type: epiphyte. Propagation: rhizome division.
Substrate compatibility
| Substrate | pH effect | Nutrient load |
|---|---|---|
| Wood and rock mounts (Hardscape mount) | varies | none |
| Aquasoil (ADA Amazonia) | lowers pH | very high |
| Mineralized clay substrate (Seachem Fluorite) | neutral / inert | moderate |
| Inert sand (Pool filter sand) | neutral / inert | none |
With fish
Origin and habitat
A genus of the arum family Araceae endemic to Borneo, across Kalimantan, Sarawak and Sabah, where the plants are obligate rheophytes growing on mossy granite and sandstone rocks in fast forest streams. Taxonomy is tangled: a few dozen species are formally described, many by Wong and Boyce, but the trade carries hundreds of unnamed collection forms sold under locality or fancy names such as 'Kedagang' or 'Brownie Ghost' rather than true species names. Leaves are usually small, 1–5 cm, oval to lanceolate, thick and waxy, often with a blue or green iridescent sheen under light, and grow alternately along a creeping rhizome with roots beneath, much like Anubias. The genus exploded in popularity in aquascaping from about 2010, and because wild harvest from Borneo raises conservation concerns the hobby increasingly relies on tissue culture.
Care notes
Grown like Anubias: attach the rhizome to rock or driftwood with gel super glue or thread, and never bury it, which makes it melt and rot. It takes low to moderate light and grows slowly whatever the conditions; CO2 is optional but improves growth and colour. The iridescent sheen shows best under moderate light viewed at an angle, while harsh overhead light washes it out. Many forms flower underwater, producing small white or pink spathes, unusual among aquarium plants. Growth is slow, often a leaf every week or two per rhizome, so under bright light without CO2 algae becomes the main threat, helped by a cleanup crew of nerites or Amano shrimp. Buce dislikes sudden swings in water parameters, so acclimate it gently, and expect some melting after a move, which is normally temporary as the rhizome regrows adapted leaves within weeks. Propagate by dividing the rhizome. The huge range of named forms has made Bucephalandra one of the most collected aquarium plants, with keepers maintaining dozens of varieties. It is an ornamental epiphyte, not a crop, so it is unsuited to media-bed aquaponics or hydroponics.