Bucephalandra – Emerse Growing Indoors
Tankquility cultivates a large proportion of its Bucephalandra collection as emerse plants in a temperature-controlled grow room.
Plants are housed in lidded glass tanks to maintain high humidity. This, combined with regular misting, facilitates the transition of our emerse Bucephalandra to aquarium conditions.
Within each tank is a raised platform constructed of drainage cell, which can be found in the garden/landscape section of large hardware stores. Egg crate may be used instead of drainage cell, but it is not as strong and can be more expensive. The structure of the drainage cell also helps to reduce light transmission to the sump below, helping manage algae growth. The platform is supported approximately 10cm above the floor of the tank with cut-to-size lengths of 40mm PVC pipe.
The water level in the tank should be 1cm-2cm above the platform. If the water level is too high, algae is encouraged to grow on the surface of the substrate, and this will negatively impact the health of the plant. An airstone operates continuously in the sump below the platform to increased humidity and provide ventilation. A heater can be placed within the sump to increase the tank temperature if or when required. Our grow room is maintained at 23°C, which is optimal for Bucephalandra.
Moderate lighting is provided above the tank with a white LED light bar. Bucephalandra prefer low to moderate lighting; if light levels are too high, plants will become pale. The appearance of some of the dark coloured species with metallic sheen is accentuated under low light.
Algae growth in the sump water can be a problem initially; another reason to keep light levels on the lower side! Algae will decrease in time.
We find 100mm pots are convenient for growing scrambling Bucephalandra varieties. When it comes to substrate, Tankquility has tested a number of different types, some of which are described in the "Growing Media" section below. We routinely use the following media layers for production:
Layer 1 (capping layer) - Scoria (particle size range 5mm-20mm). Scoria assists with algae control on substrate surface and with anchoring the plant. Sit the rhizome on top of the scoria, and the roots will grow onto the scoria and into the growing media.
Layer 2 (growing media) - The largest layer which provides the nutrient/fertiliser.
Layer 3 (base layer) - The bottom 2cm-3cm in pot. Jumbo Perlite (or sometimes filter wool) is used to retain media in the pot and to conserve media or raise the level of the growing media layer.
With the pot standing in water, the bottom perlite layer wicks water upwards and helps maintain the moisture level in the substrate layers above. Plants are misted regularly by hand to wet the leaves and supply additional water to the substrate.
Lastly, keep the tank clean. Fungus is encouraged when dead leaves and spent flowers are left to decay within the tank.
Growing Media
Coco peat-based media* (Currently being tested over a range of species)
- Canna Coco Professional Plus: 70%
- Chillagoe Medium Perlite (2mm-5mm): 30%
Kanuma-based media* (Suitable for some species)
- Kanuma: 25%
- Inpro Horticulture Pumice (Grade 1-7): 25%
- Scoria (Bonsai Grade): 25%
- ADA Amazonia: 25%
Fluval Stratum** (Go-to media for emersed and submersed Bucephalandra)
* Fertilise with Osmocote granules (15ml tablespoon/2L)
** Fertilise with Osmocote granules (pinch/66mm square squat pot)
Tips
When transitioning Bucephalandra from submersed to emerse, select a minimum 3-4cm rhizome tip cutting. Prune a few leaves off the cutting; leaving only the newest leaves will reduce water stress while new roots are forming.
Aim for a little air flow in the terrarium. Bucephalandra can be unpredictable, and air flow seems to help.
Actively growing emerse Bucephalandra benefit from periodic thinning out of the clump. Increasing ventilation around the plants in a clump helps to reduce the likelihood of a melting event.
Algae growth on the substrate surface can be controlled by adjusting humidity levels and ventilation; varying watering/misting frequency; lowering water level in the terrarium; using a substrate cap; chemical application - 3% hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) - spray plant/substrate surface and rinse off after two minutes (H₂O₂ decomposes rapidly to water and oxygen).
