Bucephalandra 'Brownie Hercules' Care Guide
Bucephalandra 'Brownie Hercules' is a robust large-leaved Borneo aroid (Araceae) cultivar with bronze-brown new growth, a slow epiphyte for midground hardscape accents.
Overview
Bucephalandra 'Brownie Hercules' is a robust large-leaved aroid cultivar of the Brownie group. New foliage emerges bronze-brown and matures to dark olive-green, suiting it to midground accents on rocks and wood. It is an epiphyte grown attached to hardscape rather than planted in substrate.
Taxonomy
- Family: Araceae
- Genus: Bucephalandra
- Scientific name: Bucephalandra sp. 'Brownie Hercules'
Habitat
The genus Bucephalandra is endemic to Borneo, where the plants grow as rheophytic herbs forming dense mats over stones and rocks in streams and rivers within moist tropical forest. Stems are creeping and rooting.
Tank requirements
- Temperature: 22-28 °C (72-82 °F)
- pH: 6.0-7.5
- GH: 3-12 °dGH
- Maximum height: about 12 cm
- Lighting: low
- CO2: not required
- Placement: epiphyte / midground
Growth and care
Growth is slow. The plant grows in low to medium light; added CO2 is not necessary but can speed up growth and improve coloration. The rhizome must not be buried, as covering it can cause rot, so the plant is attached to rock or driftwood with thread or aquarium-safe glue. Leaves may melt after transfer from emersed culture, but new growth emerges from the rhizome.
Propagation
Propagation is by dividing the rhizome with sharp scissors at natural bends, then attaching the new piece to hardscape.