Bucephalandra sordidula 'Blue'
Bucephalandra sordidula
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Planting & care
This plant suits beginners. It grows in low light. It grows better with added CO₂.
Suitable for long-term aquarium use.
About this plant
Bucephalandra sordidula 'Blue' is a cultivated blue-coloured form assigned to the variable Bornean species Bucephalandra sordidula. The species occurs in West Kalimantan, Indonesia, where it grows as a rheophyte attached to rock along fast-flowing rainforest streams. The Blue form differs markedly from the narrow-leaved B. sordidula form historically introduced as Bucephalandra sp. "Melawi". It develops substantially broader oval leaves with margins that are only weakly undulating. Under submerged conditions the foliage develops a distinctive blue to blue-metallic coloration. The plant is exceptionally easy for a Bucephalandra and tolerates a broad range of water parameters and light levels. Aquasabi recommends approximately 20-27 °C. Low light is sufficient for survival, but medium lighting together with stable CO2, nutrients and good water movement produces stronger growth and coloration. It is primarily an epiphyte for rock and wood but may also be positioned on substrate as long as the rhizome remains exposed. Growth is slow and maintenance requirements are correspondingly low. Propagation is by removing side shoots or terminal shoots from established rhizomes.
Water conditions
Plant reference ranges, not dosing instructions or measurements from your aquarium. Consider livestock needs and measured conditions.
- Temperature
- 68–81°F (20–27°C)
- pH
- 5–7.5
- Carbonate hardness
- 0–14 °dKH
- Recorded CO₂ (mg/L)
- 5–30 mg/L
Growth & placement
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Width
- 2–4.7" (5–12 cm)
- How to propagate
- Divide the rhizome, head shoots and side shoots
- Ways to use it
- Small aquariums, Accent planting, Wood and rock layouts
Grow it successfully
What you’ll need to grow Bucephalandra sordidula 'Blue'
Start with this plant’s documented care needs, then use an AquariumLesson calculator to size the setup for your aquarium.
Taxonomy
- Major group
- Angiosperms
- Family
- Araceae
- Genus
- Bucephalandra
- Botanical name
- Bucephalandra sordidula
- Also known as
- Bucephalandra sordidula Blue, Bucephalandra sp. Blue, Blue Buce, Blue Leaf Buce
- Origin
- Asia, Borneo, Indonesia, West Kalimantan
- Order
- Alismatales
