Bucephalandra 'Mini Needle Leaf' Care Guide
Bucephalandra 'Mini Needle Leaf' is one of the smallest Bucephalandra forms, a slow, resilient Bornean epiphyte for nano scapes and shrimp tanks.
Overview
Bucephalandra 'Mini Needle Leaf' is one of the smallest Bucephalandra forms, with very narrow, needle-like leaves. It is a fine-textured epiphyte that grows very slowly but is resilient, making it well suited to small-scale aquascapes and shrimp tanks. Like all Bucephalandra it grows from a creeping rhizome and is attached to hardscape rather than planted in substrate.
Taxonomy
- Family: Araceae
- Genus: Bucephalandra
- Scientific name: Bucephalandra sp. 'Mini Needle Leaf'
- Common synonyms: Buce Mini Needle
Habitat
The genus Bucephalandra is endemic to Borneo. The plants are rheophytic (stream-dwelling) herbs that grow as dense mats over stones and rocks in streams and rivers within moist tropical forest. In the hobby they are valued for their slow growth, diverse leaf shapes and striking colors.
Growth requirements
- Light: medium (low to medium tolerated)
- CO2: not necessary but recommended for best results
- Temperature: 22-28 °C (72-82 °F)
- pH: 5.5-7.5
- GH: 2-12 °dGH
- Growth rate: slow
- Maximum height: about 6 cm
Placement
It is attached as an epiphyte to hardscape in the foreground or midground of nano tanks; it can also be fixed at ground level. The rhizome must never be buried, as this causes it to rot. It is attached with thread or gel-type super glue and benefits from good water current.
Propagation
Propagation is by rhizome division: a section of rhizome with leaves and roots is separated and re-attached to hardscape.