Bucephalandra Catherineae care guide

Propagating Bucephalandra catherineae 'Bicolor'

Overview

Bucephalandra catherineae 'Bicolor' is a selection of the Bornean species B. catherineae, part of the slow-growing rheophyte genus Bucephalandra in the family Araceae. In the wild these aroids grow as dense mats over stones and rocks in streams and rivers, anchoring with a creeping, rooting rhizome rather than rooting into soil. This bicolored form shows a dark olive upper leaf and a reddish-purple underside that flashes when the leaves curl in the current.

Because the genus is slow and spreads via a creeping rhizome, 'Bicolor' is multiplied by dividing that rhizome, not by cutting and replanting stem tops.

Propagation Method (Rhizome Division)

'Bicolor' is propagated by dividing the rhizome — the horizontal stem that carries leaves and roots. Each division needs healthy leaves and roots so it can re-attach and continue growing. New plantlets occasionally appear on leaf edges and can be removed once they have rooted.

Step-by-Step

1. Select a mature plant with several leaves and a firm, visible rhizome.
2. Lift it gently from the hardscape and rinse off debris.
3. Cut the rhizome into pieces, each keeping a few leaves and some roots.
4. Tie each piece to wood or rock with cotton thread or fishing line, or fix it with a small dab of cyanoacrylate glue gel.
5. Place the divisions where flow is good and keep the rhizome fully exposed.
6. Wait while new two-tone leaves form slowly over the following weeks.

Conditions for Healthy Growth

'Bicolor' has flexible, low-to-medium light needs and grows in shade or full light; CO2 is not required but speeds growth. Bucephalandra melts less in cooler water but tolerates temperatures up to discus levels (above 27 C / 80 F). It needs a stable, clean, well-filtered environment, so add divisions only after the tank has matured.

Maintenance

Once attached, 'Bicolor' needs little care. Remove melted or dying leaves so they do not pollute the water, keep flow across the foliage, and let new growth anchor with fresh roots. A bare but healthy rhizome will still produce new leaves when fixed to rock or wood.

Common Challenges

• Buce melt: freshly added plants often melt back, then the rhizome regrows leaves if it stays firm — add only to a stable, mature tank.
• Never bury the rhizome, or it rots.
• Very slow growth requires patience; no visible growth does not mean the plant has failed.
• Algae builds on old leaves of slow growers — improve flow and avoid excess light to protect the two-tone colouration.

Propagating Bucephalandra catherineae by Rhizome Division

Overview

Bucephalandra catherineae is a true species within the genus Bucephalandra (family Araceae). Like all described species in the genus, it is recorded only from Borneo, where these plants are rheophytic herbs forming dense mats over stones in streams and rivers. Bucephalandra are slow growing, hardy, and particularly suited to growing on hardscape such as rock or wood; they can be grown on substrate as well, provided the rhizome is not buried.

Propagation focuses on producing healthy divisions that re-establish on hardscape and continue the slow, steady spread typical of the species.

Propagation Method (Rhizome Division)

Bucephalandra catherineae is propagated by dividing the rhizome. When breaking up a clump, individual rhizome pieces should be no shorter than about 1.5 inches (shorter is acceptable only for very small species). Bare rhizome will produce new leaves provided it is healthy and growing well when stuck to a rock or wood surface.

• Divide only healthy, well-growing clumps.
• Keep at least ~1.5 inches of rhizome per piece, with leaves and roots if present.
• Attach divisions to rock or wood — never bury the rhizome.

Step-by-Step

1. Detach the clump from the hardscape and rinse off debris.
2. Cut the rhizome with clean, sharp scissors into pieces of at least ~1.5 inches, keeping leaves and roots on each where possible.
3. Fix each piece to rock or driftwood with thread, a zip tie, or gel superglue applied to the rhizome and pressed against the hardscape.
4. Return divisions to clean, well-filtered water with good flow in a mature tank.
5. Leave undisturbed; healthy bare rhizome will push out new leaves over the following weeks.

Conditions for Healthy Growth

The species prefers clean, well-filtered water with good flow and slightly cooler temperatures, around 71–79 °F (about 22–26 °C); cooler water means less stress and melting, though it tolerates discus temperatures above 80 °F. It survives in planted tanks without CO2 injection or heavy fertilisation, but reaches fuller potential with good flow and CO2. Lower light suits it best.

• Light: low to moderate.
• Temperature: cooler (~71–79 °F) reduces melt; tolerates warmer.
• CO2: not required; beneficial for fuller growth.
• Placement: epiphyte on rock or wood, rhizome exposed.

Maintenance

Maintain clean, well-filtered water and good circulation, and keep temperatures on the cooler side to minimise stress on this slow grower. Remove any decayed leaves and let the rhizome creep across the hardscape at its own pace; divide again only once the clump is large enough to spare healthy rhizome.

Common Challenges

As a slow grower, B. catherineae experiences less stress and fewer melting problems in cooler, clean, well-filtered water with good flow. Reducing stress at planting is the key to a smooth establishment.

Sources

1. Wikipedia: Bucephalandra catherineae (CC BY-SA 4.0)
2. Wikipedia: Bucephalandra (CC BY-SA 4.0)
3. Tropica Plant Database
4. 2HR Aquarist plant database