Bucephalandra sp. "Motleyana Red"

This rather small perching plant is marketed as Bucephalandra motleyana "Red", but certainly does not belong to the species B. motleyana. It is more similar to Bucephalandra pygmaea or the "Brownie" forms. That is why we are calling it B. sp. "Motleyana Red" for the time being. We do not know its exact origin, but all Bucephalandras come from the island of Borneo, where they occur as flow-adapted plants (rheophytes) on rocks in the flood zone of streams.
The trading name "Motleyana Red" does not really fit, as the plant is predominantly olive-green in colour. It grows compactly under water, branched and densely covered with leaves and forms a bush about 5 to 7 cm high and at least 13 cm wide over time. The rhizomes grow ascending and are slightly reddish in colour at the tip of the shoot. The leaves are obovate, the leaf blade is about 25 to 28 mm long, the petiole 6 mm long. The relatively soft leaves have an olive-green, somewhat glossy upper surface, sometimes with a bluish sheen, and a light grey-green underside. As with all Bucephalandras, adhesive roots develop on the rhizome.

Bucephalandra species and forms are primarily epiphytes on rock or wood where they attach themselves by their roots. They can also be fixed to the bottom, however the rhizome must not be buried to avoid rotting. The plant will root on its own and benefit from the nutrients in the substrate. The growth is generally slow to very slow.
Bucephalandras cope with poor light conditions, however they develop their most beautiful look with medium lighting, good water current and constant nutrient and CO₂ supply. They also tolerate strong lighting, sufficient CO₂ and nutrient supply provided. The favourable temperature range is about 20 to 27°C.

We recommend to put Bucephalandras into already cycled aquariums. It is best to leave the plants in peace so they can grow. Sudden changes of parameters may lead to shedding of leaves, normally, however, the plants regrow slowly and produce new shoots on the rhizome. Bucephalandras are easily propagated by cutting terminal and side shoots that also promotes the ramification of the plant.