Bucephalandra pygmaea ‘Bukit Kelam’ Tissue Culture by Tropica Tropica

 

In nature, Bucephalandra usually grows on rocks or wood in rivers and streams – much like Anubias, which they resemble regarding use and care in the aquarium.

Bucephalandra ‘Bukit Kalem’ is an easy, slow-growing plant that prefers lower light levels. A nice, dense appearance is ensured by the willingness to branch, even without trimming.

The green leaves are 2 cm wide and 5 cm long with wavy edges. Tiny white spots will appear on immerse leaves.

The creeping stem, rhizome, must not be covered when planting. This will cause the plant to rot and die.

The stunning appearance gives the Buce species (common name: Bucephalandra) its unique status in the world of aquatic plants. 

Native to Indonesia (especially found on the island of Borneo), Bucephalandra refers to more than 30 species with various leaf shapes (oval, long and straight; or round and wavy; or droplet) and coloration (from green to blue to even dark purple). Despite the diversity, Buce possesses a distinctive feature that can tell them apart from other aquatic plants: bright shiny spots on its leaves. Such mini iridescent dots can reflect the colors when viewed in different angles, allowing the plants to self-highlight in aquariums.

Bucephalandra is a hardy species. Most of them can thrive under low lighting conditions with little to no CO2 and fertilizers supplementation. Despite the fact, these supplements do benefit the plants in terms of enhancing their color and growth rate as well as the ability to resist algae. Buce can tolerate a wide range of water parameters; however, they prefer soft levels of hardness. Since their wild habitats contain fast-moving currents, they would appreciate being cultivated in similar conditions.

Planting Buce species is not difficult but quite special. They prefer anchoring themselves to hardscapes such as rock or wood to growing in soil. Hence, in doing so, you may need a fishing line or specialised glue to attach and help them establish well to hardscapes. Buce can grow in either emersed or submersed form. When grown underwater, Buce leaves tend to be more delicate yet show more intense bright color hues.

What You Can Expect From This Plant:

• Unique appearance with diverse leaf shapes and colors 

• Hardy disposition

• Compatible with matured aquascaping tanks

RECOMMENDED TANK PARAMETERS:

• Temperature: 71° – 82°F (21° – 27°C)

• pH: 6-8

• GH: 5 dGH or more (though the species reacts positively with soft water) 

• Minimum tank size: 10 gallons

CARE GUIDELINES:

• Supplements: CO2 and fertilizers supplementation is not necessary but highly recommended

• Lighting: Low

• Origin: Indonesia, especially mostly found on the island of Borneo

• Potential height: up to 10 inches (25 cm)

• Aquarium placement: Foreground to midground 

• Growth rate: Slow 

See more details about care guide for Bucephalandra here.